| Headquarters District of West Louisiana |
| Alexandria, February 29, 1864 |
|
|
| Brigadier-General Boggs |
| Chief of Staff |
| |
| General, |
| I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of Captain Freret's communication on the subject of
railroads and telegraphic wire. As there was not sufficient wire
reported to make an independent line, no orders were given to remove
it. I will have it sent to department headquarters as soon as
possible. Measures were taken more than a year since to insure the
destruction of the engines and cars on the Baton Rouge{, Grosse Tete &
Opelousas}
railroad whenever the enemy threatened a permanent occupation of
that region. I carefully inspected the country between Livonia
and Bayou Alabama
last summer, with a view to removing this rolling stock, and was
deterred making the attempt by the impassable swamp 5 miles in
extent. At that time, too, I had entire control of the Atchafalaya, with steam-boats running on that stream and no danger of
interruption by the enemy. The attempt will be made if the
lieutenant-general commanding desires it. Instructions have been
given to take to pieces carefully off the engines and tenders on the
Monroe and Vicksburg {Vicksburg, Shreveport
& Texas} Railroad and remove them to a safe point west of
the Ouachita. The iron on that road was also ordered to be removed
and can be sent to Shreveport, if necessary.
|
| Respectfully, your obedient servant, |
| R. Taylor |
| Major-General |
|