NA, GH&H 11/20/1861

The State of Texas
County of Galveston
 
   Know all men by these presents that I, James M. Brown, President of the Galveston, Houston & Henderson Rail Road Company, have and by these presents do, let or hire unto the Confederate States of America by Major Sachfield Maclin Acting Chief Quarter Master for said Confederate States, the said Rail Road for transportation purposes, for the full term of one month commencing on the 30th day of November A. D. 1861 and ending the 30th day of December A. D. 1861, and the said Sachfield Maclin for the Government of the said Confederate States, agrees to pay unto the said Company, for such service the sum of Twenty five thousand dollars at the Expiration of the said term, if in funds to meet said payment, and if not then paid at as early a date thereafter as possible.
   And the said James M. Brown President as aforesaid, does further agree to furnish to the order of the said Confederate States the full capacity of the said Road, reserving for the use of his Company, only the Mail and Passenger trains and furnishing to the order of the Government (made in reasonable time) all other stock and labor upon the said road and binding the said Company to keep the same in good condition for service (unavoidable accidents excepted) during the said full time of one month. The said Road and Employees are to be and remain under the control of the present officers of Company and the orders of the Confederate Government are to be made by requisition upon the President of the Company who will have the same complied with as early as possible the Confederate Government to furnish all labor for the loading and unloading of the cars.
   In witness whereof the parties have hereunto signed their name in quadruple at the City of Galveston this 20th day of November A. D. 1861.
James M. Brown
Sackfield Maclin
Major C. S. Army
Actg Chief Quartermaster
Department of Texas
{Exactly the same contract made for January 1862}

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