Headquarters, Near Farr's Cross-Roads
|
September 22, 1861 |
| |
|
To the
President |
| |
| Sir, |
| In confirmation of my telegram to you in
relation to the detention of cars at Manassas, I respectfully submit
a letter from Major Cabell, chief quartermaster, and a note to him
from the agent of the Orange & Alexandria Railroad. |
| Most Respectfully, your obedient servant, |
| J. E.
Johnston |
| General |
| |
| [Inclosure
No. 1] |
| Chief Quartermaster's Office, Army of the Potomac |
| September 19, 1861 |
| |
| Maj. Thomas G. Rhett |
| Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of the Potomac |
| |
| Major, |
| I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of a telegram which was received from President Davis by
General Johnston, and referred to me. In reply, I beg leave to state
that I received a telegram from Colonel Myers, Quartermaster
General, early this morning, and made the necessary inquiry and
issued the necessary orders to have the cars sent down at once.
There are no cars detained for storage either at this place or
Manassas, nor have I ordered or allowed any cars to be taken for
that purpose. No cars of the {Virginia}
Central Railroad, from which the complaint originated, I understand
from the president of the Orange & Alexandria Railroad, have been
detained here. There were, so he informs me, but twelve cars at
Manassas Junction, and those belonged there, yesterday evening, and
the military superintendent of the road was informed of that from
Manassas by the agent of the road. I have given this my personal
attention, and have never permitted cars to be detained here a
longer time than it was absolutely necessary to unload them, and I
cannot understand why the delays are always attributed to this
place. From the best information I can obtain, the delay of the cars
is on the western terminus of the Central road, at a place called
Millborough, and when investigated it will in my opinion prove
correct. |
| It is impossible to unload a train of
cars in an hour, but every exertion is made to unload cars promptly,
and to insure a speedy unloading when troops arrive the baggage is
always taken and placed on the side of the track before the tents
are pitched. I feel confident that an investigation of this will
show that no cars have been detained for longer than absolutely
required for unloading. |
| I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, |
| W. L. Cabell |
| Chief Quartermaster Army of the Potomac |
| |
| P. S. -- I inclose a note from the railroad agent at
Manassas. |
| W. L. Cabell |
| Major and Quartermaster |
| |
| [Inclosure No. 9] |
| Manassas, September 20, 1861 |
| |
| Maj. W. L. Cabell |
| |
| Dear Sir, |
| In answer to your inquiry I would state
that the cars at this place are unloaded with all possible dispatch
and returned. There are none in use as store cars. |
| Yours, very respectfully |
| James A. Evans |
| Agent |
|