| {The below document is not
complete, with about 1/2 the sections missing in the National
Archives. I have put the fragments into the order that makes the most
sense to me, but there is really no way to know how they should be
arranged.} |
| Office Selma Iron Works |
| December 16, 1864 |
| |
|
Col. F. W. Sims
|
| Supt. R. R. Bureau |
| Richmond Va. |
| |
| Dear Sir, |
| ????? |
| Since we received your favorable reply from Augusta in
relation to the documents of the Car Contract & being fearful that
the recent operations of the Federals through Georgia may have interfered
with the transmission of the paper money &c we have concluded to
send one Special Messenger Mr Jno. Hudson, the bearer hereof to
Richmond to see you. We have had no communication directly or
indirectly from you since the one forwarded by you from Augusta &
as that was in every ????? |
| ????? |
| We ask that you fund and now the entire advance as the
60 days will have elapsed before this reaches you from the date of
contract. Also that if it is practicable you will put me in
communication with your inspector that we may notify him upon the
completion of the cars as per contract that he may receive them
&c. Wont you also make a requisition upon Col. W. R. Hunt Chf of
??? B?? ????? |
| ????? |
| with the necessary documents that will enable me to get
the 13 Conscripts & 7 men from the Army. Concerning which we had
an understanding about when you were here. I have some 6 or 8 of the
conscripts that I am now holding with a view to try & would want
to get what I require as soon as competent men could be secured, but
these did not like to let pass for good men are not to be |
| ????? |
| hereby Iron of such grade as I may select. This I shall
require for the Wheels to mix with the iron that we have purchased for
that purpose. Jno Hudson has full authority from us to receive &
receipt for all monies, documents &c necessary in this contract
and has also instructions from us to obtain either a spike machine
from the Tredegar Works or a full detailed drawing of one i. e. the
Caney Machine. |
| Mr H bears with him a communication from
Col. Hunt to Col St John which will no doubt be all |
| ????? |
| remind me of the same in the celebrated painting of the
last men at the time of the Deluge -- they are about played out. |
| Should Mr Hudson find any men that are
available would you please assist him in getting them transferred to
this point. Also should you have forwarded the Contracts, if
practicable will you furnish Mr H. with duplicates or give him such
instructions as will enable him to get them on his return that the
cars |
| ????? |
| We at once proceeded in our preparations as far as the
circumstances would allow depending upon the receipt of the proper
documents and advances from Richmond for the full consummation of the
Contract. We have obligations ourselves for materials tools & some
preparation in view of the speedy prosecution of this work to an
extent that requires that we should avail ourselves of the advance as
soon as possible and if it is so that you cab do it |
| ????? |
| the facilities he will require but in anticipation of
any add?? that he might require I would respectfully recommend him to
your notice. |
| Our Mill is now turning out from 20 to
30000 # of iron daily & in view of the pressing demand for spikes,
and at the recent solicitation of a number of leading RR men we have
constructed to put up and run one of these machines. |
| Would you also please furnish Mr Hudson |
| ????? |
| about making of them as soon as possible. |
| Yours very Respectfully |
| H. H. Ware |
| Prest Selma Iron Works |