OR, Series 1, Vol. 51, Part 2, Page 78

Alabama and Florida {of Alabama} Railroad Company
Montgomery, Ala., April 30, 1861
 
President Charles T. Pollard
 
Dear Sir,
  In a day or two the road will be completed and my conviction of the necessity of having a watch stationed at our principal bridges, mentioned in a recent conversation, has been strengthened by noticing the arrest of some parties in North Carolina for attempting to destroy the bridges on the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad. It is true our road traverses a friendly territory throughout its entire length, but knowing the unscrupulous character of the enemy with whom we have to deal, and satisfied of the presence amongst us of his emissaries, who would glory in inflicting on our road an injury, and through it a most severe blow against our Government, I deemed it my duty to call attention to the matter and ask your instructions. As the Government is so deeply interested in the maintenance of uninterrupted communication with Pensacola, the Secretary of War might feel that the most useful disposition which could be made of a portion of the numerous volunteers offering service would be to station a sufficient force at the important bridges, a list of which I append on next page. 
Very Respectfully,
Saml. G. Jones
Chief Engineer
  First bridge across Pine Barren Creek, 25 miles above Pensacola, 700 feet long;
next bridge across Canoe Creek, 38 miles above Pensacola, 300 feet long;
next bridge across Escambia River, 44 miles above Pensacola, 2,000 feet long;
next bridge across Little Escambia, 47 miles above Pensacola, 500 feet long;
next bridge across Burnt Corn, 55 miles above Pensacola, 1,000 feet long.
  There are other bridges over Murder Creek and Sepulga and about 1,100 feet in length, but they are so far in the interior that I do not apprehend much trouble; but from Pensacola to Burnt Corn the railroad runs parallel with the Big Escambia for a few miles distant, and an enemy under the guise of a timber trader might prowl around in the neighborhood of the road and do any amount of mischief without much probability of detection, unless in the manner suggested, by having a guard stationed at the bridges.
S. G. J.

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