| Richmond Decm 1st 1864 |
| |
| J. M. Young Esq. |
| |
| Dear Sir, |
| In relation to the report of my delay on
the 25th inst. from Burkeville to Danville, with Genl Youngs
Brigade, I would simply say |
| I was ordered to take no passengers
beyond Burkeville. Owing to some defect in Smoke Stack of Engine I
reached Burkeville about one hour and thirty minutes behind
time. |
| I ordered all passengers off the Cars
and locked them and reported to the officer in command of Brigade,
to put on his command. |
| Instead of 500 men his transportation
called for six hundred and fifty. In addition to the 650 over 30
furloughed soldiers were allowed to mix in with the Command, without
my knowledge and several ladies, wives of the officers, to
take seats. |
| The number Seated at Burkeville was 700
instead of 500, without my consent or authority. The Engine could
have made time and reached Danville on time with 500 men, as the
number of cars could have been reduced, but with 700 passengers
admitted by the officers & the number of cars required for that
number, I could not make time. It was necessary to cut the train
into two parts on one grade and pull one and pull one part at a time
up the grade. |
| The additional 200 allowed by the
officers in command to get on the cars was the sole cause of the
delay. |
| The above is most respectfully submitted
by your Ob't Serv't |
| Thos C Epps Jr |
| Conductor R&DRR {Richmond
& Danville RR} |