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Richmond Sept. 8/64
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| Maj. J. H. Alexander |
| A. A. G. |
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| Major,
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| The impressment of the
Brunswick & Albany railroad iron was made by Capt. G. E. Walker
& myself & its removal was nearly completed before the
appointment of Col. Meriwether. The Agent employed to execute the work
reported regularly to me & continued to do so for some time after
the appointment of Col. Meriwether. After Col. Meriwether's visit to
Richmond there was an understanding between us that he would take
charge of this business. |
| On Jany. 8th, which was some
little time after the completion of the work, the agent superintending
the work reports to me the completion of the same & states the
following disposition made of the iron: "I have delivered to T.
A. Jackson Chf. Engr. 1034 tons of iron & 30,000 spikes. I have
delivered to Genl. Mercer or Capt. McCrady Chf. Eng. for the State of
Ga. over 4 1/2 miles of iron & 23,000 spikes. I have delivered to
the S. C. R. R. 15 miles of iron -- the balance of the 56 miles taken
off the Brunswick road lays on the line of the {Savannah,
Albany &} Gulf Road at Tebeauville, ready to be loaded
& shipped when ordered, & the spikes boxed up, with the
exception of what lays under the iron." |
| My agent selected Mr. Janson
& the R. R. Co. another to measure the iron. I have the detailed
report signed by these two making 4503 03/100 tons. Col. Meriwether
was not satisfied with this measurement & had the whole remeasured.
He thus reduced the amount to 4385 53/100, which amount is credited to
the Company in the acct. made out by Col. Meriwether, between the
Confederates States & the Brunswick & Albany R. R. Co. |
| In a letter from Col.
Meriwether, of Feby. 22d he states that he had made a full settlement
with Col. Schlatter. Payment was delayed by Dr. Daniel, the C. S.
Agent of Sequestration, attaching $299,550, in Col. Meriwether's
hands. In the same letter Col. M. states that he has given the S. C.
R. R. Co. an order for 5 miles more & recommends that still
another 6 miles should be given to them, which I believe was done. |
| From this data I make out the
following statement of the disposition made of the iron: |
| T. A. Jackson |
Chf. Eng. Navy |
1034 Tons |
| Genl. Mercer |
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4 1/2 miles |
| S. C. R. R. Co. |
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15 " |
| Remaining at Tebeauville |
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about 24 1/2 " |
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| I cannot convert the tons into
miles {page torn} weight
from 50 to 60 lbs. per yard. |
| With the foregoing evidence I
am willing to certify the correctness of the account given by Col.
Meriwether to Col. Schlatter. |
| Very respectfully |
| Your obdt. Sev. |
| Chas. F. M. Garnett |
| Commissioner |