| Grenada Mi 18 June 1863 |
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| Col B S Ewell |
| A A Genl & Chief of Staff |
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| Col, |
| It is my duty to call your attention to
the destruction being wrought in the works at Fort Pemberton by the
removal therefrom of the cotton bales used in their construction. Some
3000 bales were employed in the construction of the parapet of Fort
Pemberton, and the several detached works erected for its support,
besides which there were a number of bales left there not used in the
work, all the property of the Government. The cotton in the parapet
was for the most part covered with earth to prevent fire, but portions
of it were left exposed and uncovered. I am informed that Mr Hurd's
wagon has been employed ever since the departure of our troops in
hauling cotton away from Fort Pemberton to Hund's plantation, some 6
or 7 miles distant, that he has hauled away all the loose bales not
used in the work, and all the bales from the parapet not covered with
earth; that he has removed all the bales used in a small advanced work
hear his own (Hund's) plantation; that Hardin Scales has removed all
the bales from several detached works on the Tallahatchie River below
Fort P; that Scales told Mr Strong he removed these bales by direction
of Hund for which he (Scales) was to receive from Hund one dollar per
bale. Scales lives 3 miles from the Fort, & Hund about 6 or 7 miles.
My authority for this Statement is Mr Strong a respectable planter
living one mile below Greenwood, and 2 miles from Fort P. If this
thing has not been ordered by some Military authority, which seems to
me exceedingly improbable, then it is nothing less than wholesale
robbery, and should be immediately and severely punished. |
| In a former letter I asked for an order
to impress certain mills at Crystal Springs to saw lumber of
Tallahatchie Bridge Miss & Tenn R. R. While it would be unsafe to
erect that bridge at this ????? explain that it will necessarily
require ????? to saw & frame the lumber, which they purpose doing at
Crystal Spring about 25 miles south of Jackson and have it ready to
transport by rail whenever required to the site of the bridge near
Panola. It will take 4 weeks to erect the bridge after the timbers are
delivered. So that if the order to impress were given now, it would
require about 2 months to finish the work. This road is so essential
to the supply of the army, that the sawing & framing of the timber at
Crystal Springs, might be hazarded without impropriety I think. |
| Since writing the above the Yankees have
burnt the Yokona bridge on the Miss & Tenn RR, 15 miles this side of
the Tallahatchie bridge. A small party came down, drove the guard,
about 40 men, away & effected its destruction & retired. If you will
allow me to suggest it, I would erect Stockade forts at the
Yallahbusha the three Ittillatobas, Yokona & Long creek bridges all on
that Railroad this side of Panola. Small stockades could be soon
erected, and would in the majority of cases enable a small force to
save the bridge. If desired, I will direct their construction & would
need for that purpose, authority to impress negro labor teams &c in
the vicinity of each bridge. |
| Most respectfully yours |
| Minor Meriwether |
| Engineer Corps Army Miss |
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