| Office Richmond & Petersburg Railroad Co. |
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Richmond, Va., March 14th 1863 |
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Hon. James A. Seddon |
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Secretary of War |
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Sir, |
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On returning to my office this morning after an absence of
some days caused by sickness I find the motive power of this
Company in such a precarious condition that without speedy repairs the
transportation over this Road must be greatly diminished to the serious
detriment of the public service, and this in spite of the most earnest
efforts of the Superintendent to keep his engines in good order. This
difficulty grows out of the fact that we cannot procure mechanics to
keep our engines in suitable repair. Every day they are going out on the
road, and are in such bad condition that they can handle little more
than half a load to each train. This unfortunate state of things with us
must of course grow worse unless we can get a sufficient number of
artisans to repair our engines. The Superintendent tells me that if you
would detail four men for sixty days he thinks he could get his engines
up fixed good running order. |
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I enclose a letter of Major Carrington, A. Q. M. which will
show forth asgent(?) is the need for additional transportation
for the army; while the letter of Mr. Sanford, Supt of the Petersburg Rd
shows that unless engines can be had the corn trains engaged in
supplying Gen Lee's army must soon be stopped. |
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I have deemed it my duty to place this statement of facts
before you so that you might understand fully the danger which threatens
the Govt transportation over this important route. I would most
respectfully urge that it is simply a choice whether by a detail of a
few men from the army the transportation absolutely necessary for the
maintenance of that army shall be kept up and better by refusing such
details the motive power of this Road shall be permitted to become
incapable of performing the service without which the army cannot
subsist. |
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I am, very respectfully |
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yr. obt. Servt. |
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Charles Ellis, Prest R. & P. RRd Co |
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{Enclosure} |
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NA, SWR 3-12A-63 |
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{Enclosure} |
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NA, SWR 3-12B-63 |
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