| Office Chief Inspector of Field
Transportation |
| Second District |
| Augusta, Ga, February 10, 1865 |
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{no address given, but it is probably to Lt. Col. A H
Cole, Chief of Field Transportation, Richmond} |
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Dear Colonel, |
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Matters are now in a very awkward fix for our branch of
the service. The enemy have occupied the South Carolina R R from
Williston to Edisto turn out, a distance of 32 miles. I presume the
destruction is complete and if no further destruction of R Roads
ensues, this makes the supplying of the Army very difficult. The
Army is being concentrated beyond the gap and all stores needed,
which has to be furnished from this part of the District must be
wagoned. At present, as the troops are fitted out here as the arrive
from the West, there is no trouble and and Smith has collected a
large portion of his stores at Columbia. So for a month, or until we
retire beyond Columbia I think we will get on under the present
arrangements, but after the supply in Columbia is exhausted, it
would be necessary if Smith is to supply the army unaided, to wagon
over three gaps first from Midway to Mayfield, then from Washington
to Abbeville, and afterwards from Alston to Winnsborro or Chester,
in a, in all a distance of 90 miles in we go to Winnsborro, or 111
if to Chester. I dont think, in many articles which we supply, the
demand can be met if we have so much wagoning. In the main matters
as animals, wagons, ambulances and setts of harness Smith can
continue to supply all he can get to the army. Under these
circumstances I think it would be well for Johnston to be looking
out what aid he can give this District. By looking on the map you
will see if the enemy occupy Columbia nearly the whole of Smiths
District will be in the rear of the enemy and pretty effectively cut
off from the army. You will appreciate then the difficulty of
getting supplies to it. After the troops now arriving are fitted up
and gone on, Smith will collect everything he can at Columbia and
Chester and use every effort to meet the demand but the forwarding
must of necessity be so slow I have little doubt he will have to be
assisted. |
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This matter of wagoning over long breaks in Rail Roads
gives me much concern. The amount of supplies transported for the
expenditure of stock and material seems very disproportionate and as
it is becoming a system we ought to understand it better. Maj Smith
has now a train of fifty impressed wagons on the line from
Thomasville to Albany, distance 56 miles and is taking steps to
increase it to 100 wagons. He has a train of 70 Gov wagons, from
Midway to Mayfield, and proposes to increase that to 120, distance
36 miles. He is putting on a train of impressed wagons from
Washington to Abbeville, 120 in number distance 40 miles. And in all
likely hood in the course of a month it will be necessary to put a
train of 120 Gov wagons on the road from Athens to Chester, distance
35 miles. All taking 460 wagons over a route of 167 miles. And what
is the benefit we get: By my estimate these trains are equal in
capacity to about 1200 bushels of corn per day. Will this do? I
would like if you would consider this subject on the memorandum I
have given. |
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***** |
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Very Truly Yours |
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Wm H Gibbons |
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