| Sabine River, Texas |
| Orange, September 5, 1863 |
| |
| Capt. Edmund P. Turner, Assistant
Adjutant-General |
| |
| Sir, |
| I would most respectfully
call your attention to a matter that has come under my observation
while on a tour of inspection in my department, relative to the
facilities the Government possesses for the transit of its materials
of war on the Sabine River. |
| Arriving at Beaumont the
night of the 3d instant, I found that place to be the terminus of
the Texas & New Orleans Railroad, leaving 20 miles to the proper
terminus of that road lying idle for want of proper
attention. The Government at present is compelled to submit to
extortionate rates of transit and delays and inconveniences without
number by running a boat from Beaumont, by the Neches River, to
Sabine Lake, and thence to Niblett's Bluff, via the Sabine River,
increasing the distance 40 miles, which could be decreased to 40
miles and a certain mode of transit if the railroad from Beaumont to
Orange was put in running order. At times and often the boats in
this district are delayed by grounding upon the bars at the mouths
of the Neches and Sabine Rivers, which circumstance might materially
frustrate the calculations of the major-general commanding if he
should desire the rapid concentration of re-enforcements in this
vicinity. By having this 20 miles of road made available, the
facilities of the major-general would be increased for the defense
of the Eastern Sub-District of Texas, and might be the means of
checking the advance of the enemy should he make an attempt in this
quarter. |
| I consider this matter of
the greatest importance, and would most respectfully recommend the
major-general commanding to order Captain [H. B.] Andrews to place
at the disposal of the president of that road at least 150 negroes,
to be applied upon the road east of the Beaumont Bridge to Orange,
which force, he says, will enable him to complete the road in a
week's time. If Captain Andrews cannot spare the negroes from his
bureau, then have an order issued to the superintendent of the New
Orleans and Texas Railroad {Texas & New
Orleans RR} to take a suitable number of negroes from the
west side of the river, now employed on that road, and place them on
that portion from Beaumont to Orange. No delay should occur, as the
rainy season will set in the latter part of this month, when it
would be impossible then to work in the swamp through which this
road lies. |
| I make this statement
because the steamers in this district are very old and more or less
out of repair, and liable at any time to fail, notwithstanding all
my exertions to keep them in order. The distance from Beaumont to
Niblett's Bluff, by the railroad to Orange and then by boat, is 40
miles, and by the route at present taken via the bay it is 80 miles,
with the obstacles of two bars to contend with, which at any time
are liable to delay everything in this quarter. |
| Hoping this subject will
inert with your earliest attention, I beg leave to remain, very
respectfully, your obedient servant, |
| Leon Smith |
| Commanding Marine Department |
|