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Hd Qrs &c Charleston S. C. Novr 7th 1863 |
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General G T Beauregard |
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Commanding &c |
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General, |
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I have the honor to return herewith the Report of Captn Jno
McCrady, Engineer, Octr 19th 1863 in regard to the Rail Road connexion
between the Savannah, Albany & Gulf R Road, and the temporary rail track
on the rice field dams between the sand bluffs and the batteries for the
defence of Savannah river, with the endorsement of Brig. Genl Mercer to
while my attention was called. |
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In my recent visit to Savannah, I found time to examined
fully the whole subject matter and was forced to the conclusion that the
Rail Road connexion over three miles of tracks, was an unwarrantable
expenditure of time & money, involving and amount of labor entirely in
disproportion to the object to be accomplished, viz: the substitution of
sand in the parapets, traverses, bomb proofs & magazines of the river
batteries for the rice field earth of which they are now composed. |
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A temporary track from these Batteries to the sand bluff, a
distance of about 5000 feet (less than a mile) was all that was needed
in the case. The materials for constructing the light track could have
been taken down by way of the Savannah River and thence through the
canals of the rice fields to the line of the track. In fact all the
materials used in its construction up to this time have been transported
in that way. As to the expense of taking dirt, cars, and a light engine
(if one could be used) by way of the Savannah river & transferring them
to the end of the temporary track near to the Batteries, it would have
been as nothing compared to the cost of building three miles of Rail
Road, part of which involved heavy cutting to get down to the
level of the bottoms. Again, the construction of the connexion,
obstructed a large amount of labor from the defensive works during the
most favorable season for operations. The winter months are now close at
hand, & scarcely any of the work on the batteries has been done. Had the
simple construction of a light track to the bluff, 5000 feet long, been
entered upon with judgment & rigor at the time I urged it upon Captn
McCrady (the 28th of August last) much of the important work at
Batteries Lee & Lawton and at the Naval Battery would have been done.
Instead of this, these works are still very incomplete and far from
defensible, and must remain so for some time to come. The judgment
exhibited by Captain McCrady in the conduct of this part of the Engineer
operations committed to him, is not business like, and shows a lack of
experience in his profession. I urge upon him redoubled efforts to
retrieve if possible the errors of the past, and directed that all labor
that could be employed advantageously, should be applied to the river
batteries until they were placed in a defensible condition. |
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As three miles of track forming the connexion have been
built at such a heavy cost of labor and valuable time, it will be
best to let the work remain until such time as it shall be necessary for
the iron to be removed for the use of the main line of rail road
essential to military transportation. |
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I do not think the ulterior object referred to by Brig.
Genl Mercer in his endorsement (understood in conversation with him to
be transportation of ordnance & ordnance stores, troops, &c.) justify
the application of such labors to the connexion, when the labor was
essential for other purposes. The Savannah, Albany & Gulf R Road and its
Depot occupy central positions for supplying the works on the land
approaches t Savannah and the new road adds but little to the facilities
of supply already existing. |
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I send herewith a map showing the relation of the Savannah,
Albany & Gulf R Road to the batteries on the river, and the location of
the connecting road. The short section of the road from the bluff at
A. to Batt'y Lee is all that was needed for the purpose
contemplated. |
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Very resp'y |
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Yr obdt Servt |
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J. F. Gilmer |
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Maj. Genl & 2d in command |
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