| San Antonio January 19th 1863 |
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Major General J Bankhead Magruder
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| Dear Sir, |
| A report has reached this
place, how true I know not, that an order has been issued or is likely
to be issued, for the destruction of the San Antonio Railroad {San
Antonio & Mexican Gulf RR} extending from Lavaca to
Victoria and of all the rolling stock there to belonging. The large
interest I have in this road, as a stockholder, prompts me to address
you on this subject. I shall not presume to address myself to you in
relation to the defence of this part of our Coast, having entire
confidence, as most persons have, in your ability to adopt the
necessary measures to secure that end. My aim is to bring to your
attention facts connecting with this road and the owners (for it is
owned by some half dozen persons) of which you may not be fully
informed. |
| At a very early day of the
present struggle the Directory offered the use of this road to the
Confederate Government, and, since the first day of April last, the
road has been constantly used by the Government in the transportation
of mail, troops stores, munitions &c. at an almost nominal price. |
| If the town of Lavaca is to be
defended, the road as heretofore, must continue to be regarded as a
military necessity, since the low flat prairie from Victoria to
Lavaca, during the winter and spring months, would become almost
impassable for waggons, even if transportation of that kind could be
found without the road in case of the landing of the enemy at
Indianola or Lavaca, with a force too strong to be resisted, it would
be impossible to remove the cannon and other heavy stores of a
retreating party over a wet prairie by mule or ox teams. From
Indianola to Victoria there is a far better waggon road up the margin
of the Guadeloupe bottom than that across the prairie from Lavaca to
Victoria. Although the distance of the former is some twelve miles
greater than the latter I believe the road from Indianola, when the
prairie is very wet, may be travelled by ox and mule teams heavily
laden in less time than is required for making a trip on the direct
road from Lavaca to Victoria by the same mode of conveyance. |
| But it may be said that this
road may fall into the hands of the enemy and be used by them to reach
the interior. If such were necessarily the case we would oppose no
obstacle to its destruction. But the road could prove of no avail to
the invaders unless they also had the engines and rolling stock. These
to enable ????? and the engines to need be taken ???? and thus be
placed out of their power unless Victoria was also captured, and even
then would prove useless. Two or three miles of the iron might also be
taken up and transported to Victoria which would render the road
entirely useless. If it be said they might bring engines and iron from
New Orleans, the answer is this would require time, and the forces of
Texas might be assembled in the meantime to repel them before they
could bring the iron and lay it down on the portion from which it had
been taken up. Then it would be of immense advantage to be able to
pursue the retreating foloner this road as well as again to ensure the
defence of the Bay. This could not be done in any length of time,
through the blockade, should the iron and engines be destroyed. |
| Suppose, however, that the
policy of defending the Bay should be abandoned and it should be
determined to make the defence only at Victoria then would it not be
much wiser for the government to incur the expense of grading the road
thirty miles into the interior from Victoria, and with the materials
between Lavaca and Victoria to construct this road. In case Victoria
is to be defended a road thirty miles west into the interior would be
of incalculable benefit. A part of this grade is already made (some
four miles) and the balance is light, and only some two or three small
bridges over sundry streams would be required. The grade could be
rapidly made and the road soon laid with the material below Victoria.
The owners of the road would be willing to take the road thus
constructed at its fair value as a part compensation for their road
below Victoria. |
| Of course this only suggested
in the event the coast towns on Lavaca Bay and Matagorda Bay are not
to be defended during the present war. |
| Presuming the short but very
pleasant acquaintance I had the great fortune to make with you in San
Antonio some years past I have addressed you privately on a
subject in which I fell deeply interested. |
| I am, Sir, Yours |
| Most Truly |
| T A Paschallra |
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