| Confederate States of America |
| Quarter Master Generals Department |
| Richmond January 31st 1862 |
| |
| Hon J. P. Benjamin |
| Secretary of War |
| |
| Sir, |
| A contract was made, by direction of the
late Secretary of War, with Mr W L Clark, President of the
Winchester & Potomac Rail Road Company, under the terms of which
iron taken from the track of the Baltimore & Ohio RR was to be
delivered to the Winchester company at a certain rate per ton, the
payment for which was to be made in transportation of Government
stores &c. About 3000 tons of iron have been received by that
company under this contract, already {enough
to lay about 30 miles of road}. It is not at all probable
that there will be any necessity for employing this road, in
transporting public freights; and it is certain that the
indebtedness of the Winchester Company cannot be liquidated in the
mode proposed -- nor, is it able to pay that indebtedness in money
being without funds and in bad credit. The iron obtained from the
Baltimore & Ohio road is indispensable for the repair of other rail
roads in Virginia, which are constantly employed in transporting
public supplies, to the full extent of their capacity. I suggest
therefore, that the contract with the Winchester company should be
annulled, and that the iron, heretofore delivered, the same not
having been laid down, should be returned to the Government, with a
view to its transfer to those rail roads, to which I have referred.
I submit that your speedy consideration of this subject is
important. |
| A. C. Myers |
| Q. M. General |
|