| Augusta,
Ga., February 6, 1865 |
| |
| Maj. Gen. J. F. Gilmer |
| Chief Engineer, Richmond, Va. |
| |
| General, |
| In reply to your communication of the
26th ultimo, in relation to the repairs to the Georgia railroads,
General Beauregard instructs me to say: |
| First. That he has been at all times
ready to co-operate with Captain Grant and render him every aid and
facility in his power. This willingness has been communicated to
Captain Grant on several occasions. |
| Second. Delays in the prosecution of the
work are sometimes unavoidable, and wherever any act of "impressment"
on the ground of "military necessity" has arisen, the
authority for the exercise of such a power has, in order to avoid
delay, been given. |
| The engineers have only asked for such
authority in two instances--the impressment of iron from the Augusta
& Savannah and the Macon & Brunswick Railroads. The authority
was granted in both cases. To-day an application was made for
transportation of the iron, but military pressure for the
transportation of troops and supplies is so great and means so
limited that a delay for several days in answering this call will
ensue. But as soon as the necessity shall cease the means of
transportation will be ordered. |
| Third. It is impracticable at present to
order the removal of the iron from the Mayfield {Milledgeville RR} and Washington {Georgia
RR} Branch Roads. They have now become lines of communication of the
first importance. Washington and Abbeville {Greenville
& Columbia RR} may become our future
base of supplies for the army in Virginia. |
| The Athens Branch {Georgia
RR} is important as an
auxiliary to the other roads. The order for the removal of the iron
from the Mobile and Girard Railroad was recalled, because it was
ascertained that only a few miles of T rail could be obtained from
that road on the end near Columbus, the other portion of the road
being laid with flat rail. It was deemed unnecessary to destroy the
usefulness of the entire road for the few miles of iron which could
be made available where no equipment could be obtained. In lieu of
iron from this source, the Fort Gaines road {South
Western RR} was resorted to. |
| Fourth. General Beauregard directs me
also to say that he is personally unacquainted with Captain Grant,
who may be fully possessed of all the professional skill and
intelligence accredited to him, but that, judging of his energy by
his results, the general feels bound to give credit to the general
reputation of Captain Grant's "slowness," which reputation
extends from this place to Montgomery. In the same length of time
Major Hottle has nearly repaired a length of road equal to that
under charge of Captain Grant, which the latter will not complete
until the first or middle of April. |
| In conclusion: general, you may rest
assured that every aid and facility in the power of General
Beauregard will be given to Major Myers and Captain Grant to push
forward their labors to rapid completion. |
| I have the honor to be, general,
respectfully, your obedient servant, |
| George Wm. Brent |
| Colonel and Assistant Adjutant General |