Executive Department
| Memphis, Tenn., April 19, 1862 |
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| General Slaughter, |
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Having learned that the managers of the Memphis & Charleston
Railroad are censured to some extent, and even suspected of
disloyalty, by the military authorities, from the fact that a part
of the rolling stock and machinery of that road fell into the hands
of the enemy when Huntsville was captured. I do not propose to enter
upon explanation as to who is responsible for this misfortune. I
leave them to make their own explanations, and only desire to state,
as a matter of justice to the president and superintendent of that
road, that I have for years known those gentlemen intimately, and
know the fact that they were zealous and industrious Southern-rights
men at a time when the overwhelming majority of our people were
Union men, and when a man was more or less odious if regarded as a
secessionist. |
| Though differing with me on
other political questions, they earnestly supported me and my policy
throughout this revolution and from the beginning of the war. I know
of no two gentlemen in the State who have been more disposed to
sacrifice their time, their energies, and their private fortunes for
the promotion of the cause of the Confederate States. There are none
whose loyalty I would be more willing to trust. |
| As railroad men they have
been heretofore eminently successful, and certainly possess very
high business qualifications. |
| This much I have deemed it
proper to say as a matter of justice to them. |
| Very respectfully |
| Isham G. Harris |
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