| Washington, September 7, 1861 |
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| General McClellan |
| |
| Dear Sir, |
| A dispatch from our master of
transportation, Mr. William P. Smith, received last evening, says: |
| |
| Have just heard that Confederates have
taken up about 9 miles of the iron on our track above Martinsburg
for repairs of their roads toward Richmond, and have also removed a
considerable portion of our telegraph wires for transfer in the same
direction. All this is in addition to five locomotives and some
$40,000 worth of valuable machinists' tools and materials for
railroad repairs, &c., lately taken from our Martinsburg shops,
and of which they stated they were greatly in need at the South. The
engines were hauled by turnpike through Winchester to Strasburg or
some other point on Manassas road. They will require heavy repairs,
however, before use. |
| |
| With the wear and tear upon the Southern
roads, caused to an extraordinary extent by military transportation,
and with the blockade preventing their obtainment of materials and
machinery fro repairs, it will not require much calculation to
determine the to them almost inestimable value of this property of
which they have just robbed our company. Thus the great capabilities
of our road to aid the Government in the suppression of the
rebellion, if our line were connected through, are used in part to
facilitate the operations of the rebels. I know that you will
appreciate the bearings of this late outrage more readily than
probably any other person, and that as soon as you have the means
placed in your hands you will remedy the matter, or rather prevent
its repetition. |
| It may be desirable for you to know that
at Piedmont we have about as much of a stock of materials and
machinists' tools as were taken from Martinsburg, and probably half
as much at Cumberland also. The great value of such things to the
Confederates at this time, irrespective of other considerations, may
tempt them to make raids in that direction also. |
| Very respectfully, your obedient servant, |
| J. H. Sullivan |
| General Transportation Agent Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad |
|