NA, M 1/30/1865

Office Chief Inspector of Field Transportation
Second Dt
Augusta, Ga. January 30th 1865
 
A. H. Cole
Inspr Genl Fld Tr
Richmond Va
 
Col,
   I enclose copy of order from Adjt & Inspr Genl Office with endorsement, please forward. Troops are arriving here without transpt, Johnsons Division of Lees Corps or a part of them are here & the others of the Corps on the way. Stewart also is said to be on the way. I expect I will have to withdraw wagons from the Wagon Line from Mayfield to Milledgeville {this is the route that the Milledgeville RR would have taken, if it had been allowed to finish its construction earlier in the war} . The reports today are that Sherman is moving on this place on both sides of the river, how true it is I cannot say, though we know he is coming up he Georgia side in some force. The rumors of peace movements are doing much harm, every one of the luke warm are becoming bold & a great many of the staunch ones are becoming indifferent, as they think that at effort at re-construction is being made. Things in our Dept are gloomy, but I will do the best I can, hoping soon to be relieved from the duty & some new hand more fertile in resources & with more physique to carry them out may be appointed.
I remain very respfly yr obt Svt
Norman W. Smith
Maj & Chf Insp

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