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Mem. & Char. R. R. Office
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| Memphis |
| Apl. 18th 1862 |
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| Genl. Beauregard or Genl Bragg |
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| I herewith submit the
despatches & correspondence, to show my instructions & action
in relation to the removal of the machinery on the Eastern Division of
this Road, let it be remembered that Mr. Hurt was the Military
Supt. of this & all other connecting Roads, & had entire
control of the rolling stock on it & also that I have never
received any direct order to remove any machinery except through our
own supt. -- Mr. Hunt & he were together consulting &
throughout the process of removal was going on, until the 9th Inst.
When I received a despatch from the mft. saying he had, "Military
order to resume running of Trains to Stevenson." |
| After that I supposed Mr. Hurt
being on Genl. Beauregard's Staff had heard that there was no danger
of an early approach of the enemy & had given this order; nor did
I hear anything to undeceive me, until I heard that Huntsville had
been taken possession of by the enemy and all the machinery we had
there was captured. I went to Huntsville on the second Inst. &
issued to Mr. Hoffer, the asst. supt, an order marked A. I also empowered
Geo. P. Beirne, Chairman of the Executive Committee to bring 3 more
Regiments west; that it arrived at Huntsville in the night of the 10th
& attempted to proceed on Schedule time at 5 a.m. on the 11th, was
interrupted by the enemy, one train escaping under their fire &
run to Stevenson, the enemy taking the other two Train & pursuing
& taking everything on the Road up to Stevenson. |
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If there was any known danger why were we ordered to run
trains on the 9th & why were more troops ordered through, to come
on the 10th & 11th inst. & if anything was known of their
movement, why was not our officers of the Road notified of it.
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Neither you or Giulteneur can regret our loss of the
machinery as much as I do.
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Yours truly
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Sam Tate
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Prest.
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