| Richmond Va. Decr 8th 1864 |
| |
| The undersigned Supt of the Knoxville &
Kentucky RR, in the matter of the impressment of the John Williams
Engine begs leave to submit: |
| That on the 17th day of September 1864
according to contract previously made, Said Engine Commenced hauling
salt to Georgia, and it has been in the employment of said State ever
since. It has, up to this time, been engaged in work for the State,
except when in shop for repairs and except when hauling troops to
Saltville just before the Battle at that place. |
| The undersigned had received no notice
whatsoever that the officers of Government desired to contract for it
or intended to impress it before he contracted it to Georgia. The
first notice he received bore date Novr 23, 1864. For some time
previous to that date also he had come under obligations to Col Robert
L Owen President of the Va & Tenn RR to engage regularly in
transporting the salt of Georgia in consideration that he would allow
the undersigned access to his Shops & for materials furnished for the
purpose of repairing the Engine. Owing to his obligations thus
previous undertaken to Georgia and to Col Owen, he was not at liberty
at the time said letter was presented to him to make any contract or
arrangement that would take the Engine from its employment of Georgia
on said R Road he then and there so informed the Agt. |
| To Hon Sec of War |
| C. A. Mee Supt. |
| Richmond Decr 8th 1864 |
| The above statement so far as related to
me as Prest of Va & Tenn RRd is correct. I agreed in Octr (I do not
remember the date) to furnish Col. Mee with tires for his engine Jno
Williams; it was in this, as in other portions of her machinery almost
worn out. I engaged also to provide labor & material to put it in
running order, upon the condition, that it should be kept on this
road, would assist me in Conf. States transportation when demanded &
should haul salt for the other States, which I could not do with the
cars of the Va & Tenn RRd, as the State of Va claimed priority of this
transportation for the Conf. States & for herself. Seven cars
belonging to the E Tenn & Va RRd & two belonging to the Nashville &
Chattanooga RRd which formerly assisted in this transportation have
been taken to the Danville RRd and I cannot assist the different
States in their salt transportation. I have placed this engine in
running order & it commenced on Monday last hauling salt for the Conf.
States to be credited to the Georgia agents under requisitions made
upon them. there are several engines on the South Side RRd requiring
less repair than this did and they could with the exertion of the
smallest amount of energy be put in running order |
| Ro. L. Owen |
| Supt Va & Tenn RRd |
|