| Meridian Miss |
| Jany 13th 1865 |
| |
| Lieut. Col. F. W. Sims |
| Chief of R R Bureau |
| Richmond Va. |
| |
| Sir, |
| I returned to this pace last night, having
been absent on the line of the Memphis & Charleston RR & upper
end of Mobile & Ohio RR since middle or latter part of October
last. Was hard at work repairing M&C RR {Memphis
& Charleston RR} when Gen Hoods Army
recrossed the Ten. River. About this time the enemy cut the Mobile Road
{Mobile & Ohio RR} & I took all hands & went to work on that Road & repaired
it & had the cars running in six days, a less time than the enemy
were on the road. Got to work on some of the bridges before the fire
was out. Genls Hood Beauregard & Taylor gives us great credit for
our prompt and efficient services. If any credit for repair of R. R.
is due any one it is to your Dept ??? is given to it by everyone Genls
& all & not to this Engineer or any other Dept. Gen Taylor
said to me today that if RR were to be built or repaired your officers
would have to do it. If they did not it would not be done. This I take
as rather complimentary. We had accumulated a large supply of
commissary stores at Corinth. So the army had plenty to eat even if
the road was cut & we rebuilt it several days before the stores on
hand were out. |
| I return you Mr Livermores letter. I think
we should give him the rates he asks for. His road being ??? within the
enemy's lines & being maintained at heavy expense. I do not think his
demands are objectionable. If you agree with me please return the
papers with your approval. I will forward them to the auditor of the
Road. |
| I enclose you the papers in regard to the
salt swindle. Since I wrote you Allen sued with a writ of Re?? &
got possession of the salt, but as good luck would have it he was
thrown from his horse since & killed & no doubt the Devil has
him before now. Capt. Hudson the officer under whose authority he was
acting says he gave him no authority to keep or exchange salt for
provisions & never gave him any authority to go to Mobile. He not
only reserved transportation for the salt but also obtained it for
himself. The papers show for themselves. The papers I send you were
taken from Allen by Maj. Dameron after I had stated the salt at this
place & turned it over to Maj Dani?? Chief Commissary for Mobile.
I think the officer at Mobile who gave the Transportation for the salt
should be made responsible. |
| Yours Respectfully |
| Geo Whitfield |
| Maj & Q. M. |
|