| Headquarters Military Division of the West |
| In the Field |
| October 23, 1864 |
| |
| Lieut. Gen. Richard Taylor |
| Commanding &c. |
| Selma, Ala.
|
|
|
| General,
|
| General Beauregard directs me to call
your attention to the following points and instructions which he
desires to be carried out:
|
| First. The railroad from Jacksonville
to Selma
{Alabama & Tennessee River RR} will be abandoned as a means of supplying the Army of Tennessee, the
base having been transferred from Jacksonville
to Tuscumbia. Henceforth the lines of communication for army
supplies to that point will be the Mobile & Ohio and the Memphis
& Charleston Railroads. These roads will be put forthwith in
complete running order and be well supplied with rolling-stock.
|
| Second. Block-houses and small
field-works should be constructed at proper points on these roads
for the protection of bridges and trestle-works. They should be
large enough to hold one or more companies of infantry.
Major-General Smith, chief engineer, has been directed to confer
with you on the subject of field-works, &c. Negro prisoners as
far as practicable should be employed on the block-houses and
field-works.
|
| *****
|
| Fifth. The railroad from Selma
to Jacksonville
will be completed as early as practicable, as heretofore ordered,
but the rolling-stock will be gradually reduced to the amount used
thereon prior to the movement of General Hood's army from
Jonesborough.
|
| *****
|
| Seventh. The iron between
Memphis
and
Corinth
should be removed, commencing at or near Memphis. The road should be destroyed as effectively as possible to prevent
its use by the enemy against us.
|
| *****
|
| I have the honor to be, general, respectfully, your
obedient servant,
|
| George Wm. Brent
|
| Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General
|