NA, CS 4/25/1864

Columbia, April 25th 1864
 
Major S. B. French
CS
Richmond VA
 
Major,
   Referring to my reports of the 23d I have now today my return to this place. There was forwarded from Augusta last week 14335 sks Comy Corn {95 car loads}, here, there are today, 500 bags of corn {3 1/3 car loads} & 100 of peas {3/4 car load} which will be loaded today. So every thing this way is working well, private freight does not move when Govt freight offers, but such is the enormous difference in the rates between the two, that the temptation to ship through private when Govt freight offers, is too great. At a recent convention of RRd prests at this place it was decided to demand from the Govt. $1 p hundred lbs for every hundred miles, the rate hitherto has been 50 cts. and for private freight they now charge from $3 to $5 p hundred pds for every hundred miles!
   Capt Witherspoon informs me that he has some 1200 bags peas here {9 car loads}. I urge him to send them on to you immediately, but he fears he will be transcending his authority & refers to Major Guerion. Major Sloan the Chf Qr Master for the collection of tithes in this state informs me that there are heavy accumulations of bacon at Depots on the Greenville {& Columbia RR} Laurens & Charlotte {& South Carolina RR} roads, 600,000 lbs {37 1/2 car loads} had accumulated last month & there will be over 1,000,00 lbs this {62 1/2 car loads}. Commissaries cannot procure packages for shipping this bacon and unless speedy steps are taken for its removal it is likely to be lost to the Government. In view of all this, it occurs to me that the best thing I can do will be to run down to Charleston & confer with Major Guerion. Much of this bacon he can with his reduced forces spare to Richmond. At all events the bacon must be properly cared for & removed.
   Major Echols at Charlotte telegraphs here that he had but 863 bags Govt corn at the Depot there {6 car loads}, so I think it my best course to run down to Charleston by the early morning train.
I am Major Very Respectfully
W H Smith
Major & CS

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