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Richmond Va. Feb. 9th 865
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Lt Col F. W. Sims Chief Rail Rd Bureau
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Sir,
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I have the honor to enclose herewith an account against
the Confederate States for engines and cars destroyed at Atlanta by
military orders on the 1st of September 1864, amounting to the sum of
six hundred and twelve thousand and five hundred dollars.
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The claim is supported by extracts from the record of a
court of enquiry ordered by General Hood, to investigate the losses
which then occurred which record is now on file in the Judge Advocates
Office & other extracts herewith shown are certified by Maj ???.
From this record it appears by evidence taken under oath that the cars
and engines lost on that occasion were in the service of the
Government, & were subject to military order, -- that the officers
in charge were responsible for their detention in the city until too
late to remove them & that they were destroyed by military order.
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The claim is further supported by a paper showing an
assessment of value made by E Crockett, Master Machinist, M&W R Rd
& three other competent men familiar with the subject matter &
I believe from your knowledge of Rail Rd property you will agree with
me in saying that the estimate is a very low one. I take this occasion
to remark that the Road submits to a settlement at those figures in
the belief that the amount will be promptly paid, to me on my
present visit to the City of Richmond. Any considerable delay &
inflation in the currency may render it proper for the State
which is the sole proprietor of the W&A RR to depart from that
estimate.
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There is a wide distinction between this case and the
ordinary one of property destroyed by the enemy or by our own army
from military necessity. We had four engines of the W&A RRd
& 40 cars burned by Stoneman's raid below Macon in August last.
About them I say nothing. But here the Engines & cars were
placed at the point of danger not in regular course of business but bt
military order & authority as much so as a wagon & team
of mules similarly circumstanced, which loss is in every sense both
legal and equitable the act & the deed & the fault of the
officers in charge, for which the Government is clearly responsible,
& I cannot think that the Department will hesitate to
pay.
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I have the honor to be Colonel
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Very Respectfully ???
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Geoe Hillying Auditor
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W&A RR
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Office W&A RR
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Augusta Ga Jan 10th 1865
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| Confederate States |
| To Western &
Atlantic RR |
| Sept |
1st |
1864 |
For engines (3) & cars (19) destroyed at
Atlanta by military orders detailed statement of which estimate
of value is herewith furnished |
$612,000 |
00 |
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Macon, Ga Sep 12th 1864
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| Confederate States of
America |
| To Western &
Atlantic R. R. |
| For the following Engines and cars
burned in Atlanta by order of Genl Hood Comdg on the night of
Sept 1st 1864 |
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Engine |
General |
Value |
$200,000 |
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Missouri |
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$200,000 |
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Etowah |
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$70,000 |
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$470,000 |
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| Freight cars numbers 448, 1121, 627,
298, 208, 64, 389, 270, 155, 260, 1007, 1161, 101, 1123, 1171,
110, 258, 1045 |
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Total 18 |
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Express & passenger car |
1 |
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19 cars |
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3 Engines |
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$470,000 |
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19 cars Vale each $7,500 |
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142,500 |
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$613,500 |
| We the undersigned Certify that we
were acquainted with the Engines and Cars mentioned in the above
account, that we are acquainted with the value of Engines &
cars, and believe that the price estimated for the Engines and
cars in the above account is a just and true value of the same. |
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E. Crockett MM W. & A. R. R. |
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Sunt A. Knight Fm Car Shop |
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F. H. Alley M. C.& W. R. R. (W. & A.
R. R.) |
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Thos ??? M. M. & W. R. R. |
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