OR, Series 1, Vol. 23, Part 2, Page 929

War Department, C. S. A.
Richmond, Va.
July 24, 1863
 
Maj. Gen. S. B. Buckner
Commanding Knoxville, Tenn.
 
General,
   The President has received a communication from the presidents of each of the leading railroads in your department, manifesting serious apprehension lest, in the course of military operations, the defense and protection of their roads should be abandoned by the Government, and earnestly entreating that, in the event of such contingency being contemplated, they may receive early previous notice, so as to be enabled to save as much as possible of the rolling-stock and movable property of their roads. Their apprehensions, though not very clearly expressed, seem based on the supposition that, from military exigencies, your department, or a large portion of it, may be abandoned to the enemy. As you are aware, no such thought has been entertained by the Government, and only the last necessity will induce the abandonment of any material part of your most important department. Still, to quiet such apprehensions, the President has given the assurance of his fixed purpose to maintain your department and lend all the protection possible to their roads, and has added the promise that you would be instructed, in case of any abandonment through overruling necessity, they should receive as early notice as the exigencies of the occasion would allow. You will, therefore, bear this application in remembrance. Do all in your power to allay such unreasonable apprehensions, and in the unfortunate event, not anticipated, of a compulsory abandonment or any movement of your forces exposing their roads to peculiar danger, you will, with all the prudence and secrecy practicable, endeavor to give the presidents of such roads timely warning.
Your obedient servant,
J. A. Seddon
Secretary of War

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