| Office Ala & Miss Rivers R Rd |
| Demopolis Ala Nov 6th 1863 |
| |
| Maj W H Dameron |
| Chf C. S. Comy for Miss |
| |
| Sir, |
| Our Superintendent Col
Pritchard has shown me the correspondence in relation to the lot of
Sugar seized by you at Meridian, including yours of yesterday, recd by
him today. I have asked his permission to answer you. Allow me to state
that we have no desire to keep back anything from you relative to the
purchase or ownership of the 26 hogsheads. |
| The superintendent informed me
he had purchased a lot of Sugar of a Mr Grier at $1.25 p lb to be
delivered at this place. He not knowing exactly the number of hogsheads
he could supply agreed to deliver from 25 to 50 saying at the time to
Col. Pritchard, if there was more than he wanted in the lot we might
take only as much as we needed. It turns out that he only shipped us 34
Hhds, not more than we will want. We consider it of much more value to
us than the price paid, for it is the only chance we have of procuring
supplies of meat even for operating our road. We have been paying for
some time as much as $2.50 pr lb for bacon, and little to be had at that
and though under the contract we would not loose the value of the Sugar
if not delivered by Mr Grier, we would be seriously injured by loosing
our only means of supplying our hands and performing our duties to Govt.
We have been urged lately by the President & the highest military
authorities to go on immediately and construct the 5 or 6 miles of
additional road to complete our connection at this place, as of the
utmost importance to the defence of the State of Mississippi. But the
difficulty of feeding hands has thus far prevented our making even a
beginning. When I heard of the purchase of the Sugar I felt greatly
relieved on that hand, believing we could find those who could & would
exchange meat for Sugar, when they could not or would not sell meat. If
in this we are to fail, I see no possibility of our going on ??? to
carry out the wishes of Govt. or even to operate our road, for hands
cannot work without meat. |
| I assure you we have not the
slightest wish to advance the objects of speculators. No one holds them
as a class in less esteem than I do and no one feels more the absolute
need of supplying our brave soldiers. But when properly viewed I think
the Railroads, especially, those as yet only struggling as it were into
existence, and of such public importance as ours is said to be, and most
important aids to the efficient defence of the country, and requires
rather the protection than harsh measures or even indifference from
those in authority. |
| We are not familiar with the
impressment laws & may through ignorance have done or written something
inconsistent with their requirements. If so I beg you to set it down to
the right cause. In conclusion I shall feel greatly gratified if your
sense of duty will allow the release of our Sugar & Hope you will write
me on rect of this giving such information as you may deem proper. |
| Very Respectfully Your Obt Servt |
| W. P. Bocock Prest |
| Ala & Miss Rivers RR Co |
|