| Jackson |
| Jany 30, 1863 |
| |
| Lt Genl Pemberton |
| Vicksburg |
| |
| Genl, |
| I had a conversation today with Sam Tate,
President of the M & C {Memphis &
Charleston} Rail Road Co. If he can be clothed with
proper authority I think his services can be obtained as Military
Superintendent of Rail Roads west of the Alabama river, which he
thinks is quite enough for one man. He is a man of great intelligence,
indomitable energy and excellent judgment, and if you can secure him
you may esteem yourself fortunate. |
| Maj Thomson, knows him well and can tell
you all about him. |
| Mr. Tate informs me that there are large
quantities of subsistence & forage in De Soto and adjacent
Counties, that can readily be got out if the {Mississippi}
Central & Miss &
Tenn RR. be repaired as promptly as they should be. In this connection
he gave me the name of A L Maxwell, of Chattanooga, as an excellent
and energetic Bridge Builder, who has one hundred efficient hands with
all the necessary tools&. Mr Tate thinks that Mr Maxwell could in
a very brief period repair all the bridges on the roads named. |
| In connection with this subject he says
that from 25 to 60 miles of Rail Road Iron could be secured with which
the Southern {of Mississippi} Road can soon be put in good order, and thus increase its
efficiency. |
| Mr Tate is at present, he informs me,
under the orders of Genl Bragg, but I presume that officer can have
very little use for him. |
| Mr T left this heading for Demopolis,
Ala., where he will remain about a week. |
| I have the honor to be Genl |
| Respectfully Yr Obdt Srt |
| W H M Caudle {?} |
|