| Executive Department |
| Tallahassee |
| January 17, 1865 |
| |
| His Excellency Jefferson Davis |
| President Confederate States of America |
| |
| Sir, |
| I have the honor to submit to you the
following suggestions looking to the defense of the people of
Florida
from the forces of the enemy at Savannah. I approach the subject with diffidence, knowing the great cares
which engross your attention, and that every available resource is
now needed to meet the masses of the enemy at other points. Yet
there are considerations vitally connected with the continuance of
the war which demand that every means which can be spared by the
Government shall be used to protect Southwest Georgia and Florida
from the enemy's raids. Amongst these considerations I suggest as
most important the supplies of subsistence and forage, the country
being as yet unpenetrated by the enemy; also the general
disaffection to be apprehended from their successful inroad, the
re-enforcements they would obtain by slaves, and the proximity of
this entire region to the Gulf coast, which if once occupied will
render its recovery extremely difficult. I am constrained from a
careful observation and from all the information I have received to
regard with the most serious forebodings the effect on public
opinion in the State of
Georgia
of the recent march of the enemy through her territory and their
establishment at Savannah. |
| This state of feeling, together with the
abundant supplies, the short distance from Savannah, and the facilities supplied by the
Albany
and Gulf Railroad {Atlantic & Gulf RR} to
Thomasville, and the connection with Florida
at Live Oak, present the inducement and the means for a successful
and ruinous invasion of Southwest Georgia
and Middle Florida. I would respectfully submit for your
consideration the following measures, which, in my opinion, are the
most effectual that can be adopted to protect this portion of the
Confederacy until the movement of the main armies shall enable us to
arrive at more practical results: |
| First. The assignment of the southwest
counties of Georgia
and Alabama
bordering on Florida
to the Military District of Florida. |
| Second. The retention of the reserves
and the detailed men of those counties in the district for military
service therein. |
| Third. The immediate removal of the iron
from the
Albany
and Gulf Railroad from a point as near Savannah
as practicable. |
| Fourth. The construction of a railroad
from Thomasville
to Albany
and of a railroad from Quincy
to the Appalachicola
River, which I recommended years ago. |
| With proper energy and military ability,
with the use of the militia forces of this State and the adjacent
counties of Georgia, which I doubt not can be procured through
officers of this State well known in those counties, and with the
co-operation of the Executive of Georgia, I shall feel some degree
of confidence that we shall be able to defeat any force which the
enemy will probably send against us during the pendency of larger
operations elsewhere. Without such measures we may fall a prey to a
comparatively small force. |
| I respectfully and earnestly urge your
immediate and favorable consideration of this subject and the
adoption of such measures as will carry the suggestions made into
immediate effect. |
| I have the honor to be, very respectfully, |
| John Milton |
| Governor of Florida |