| Charlotte, April 30th 1864 |
| |
| Major S. B. French |
| CS |
| Richmond VA |
| |
| Major, |
| I wrote you yesterday from
Columbia t which I refer. On arrival here this morning I find a telegram
from Capt Witherspoon "Will forward dispatch from Major French by mail
tomorrow." With no clue to the import of your despatch I shall hold over
here until tomorrow, altho I intended to have gone on to Salisbury &
Raleigh this afternoon. |
| 1991 bags Commissary corn
{13 car loads} & 70 bags peas
{1/2 car load} went forward from this
yesterday {North Carolina RR}. Today troops
& ordnance engross most of the transportation, and there are some 5000
bags corn (mostly Qr Masters) at the Depot {33 car
loads}. There is an insufficiency of rolling stock on the North
Ca road, and nowhere that I have been is it ample, to meet the
requirements of all the Departments of the Government. |
| The movement of private goods
has been stopped when Government goods offer and the capacity of the
roads are inadequate for ready & prompt shipments with the present heavy
pressure. |
| It has been my business
however to secure precedence as far as possible for Commissary stores. |
| Very Respectfully |
| W H Smith |
| Major & CS |