| Richmond Dec 3d 1861 |
| |
| Hon J P Benjamin |
| Secy of War |
|
|
| Dear Sir, |
| In conformity to your instructions given
to me on the 22d of November, I have commenced to have the line of
Telegraph between Mobile and Meridian put up. Today our Genl
Superintendent, Mr J R Dowell, who was ordered to attend to the work
received the enclosed dispatch from the Agent (Mr Turner) who was sent
to attend to the delivering of the posts. |
| By this dispatch I learn that the Supt of
the Rail Road {Mobile & Ohio RR}, (Mr
Fleming) undertakes to say that the line shall not be built and
that he will burn the posts as soon as they are delivered. |
| I am at a loss to understand why he is
threatening to take this course for I cannot conceive how the location
of a line of Telegraph along the Rail Road can in any way injure his
interests, or prevent him if he thinks proper to do so, from building
one for his own use if he does not elect to user our wire. |
| I have instructed the Agent to go on and
carry out the orders I received from you without delay. If the threats
announced by Mr Fleming are carried out, I may have to ask the
protection of the Government in executing this order. |
| Very Respectfully |
| Your Obedient Sevt |
| Wm S. Morris Prest |
| South Telg Cos |
| |
| Attached telegram: |
| Southern
Telegraph Form |
| |
| Received at
Dc 4 186 at
o'clock minutes |
| By Telegraph from Mobile Ala to J R Dowell |
| |
| I succeeded in making contracts for posts
for half way on as reasonable terms as possible to be delivered by 15th
inst at that point I was informed by Fleming none should be delivered on
the road by any one & if so they should be burnt as fast as delivered at
Winchester(?) I hurried back with Judge Brown who was on the train & who
talks more liberal than any one else & is to have a meeting of his Board
tomorrow to determine so nothing defeats but will allow no one to occupy
the road without his consent not even the military. I deem it much
better to wait his decision before anything more is done. |
| W Tanner |