| Office of Mississippi Central Railroad Company |
| Grenada, July 23, 1863 |
|
|
| Hon. Jefferson Davis |
| President Confederate States of America, Richmond |
|
|
| Dear Sir,
|
| I asked a few days since by telegraph if
the public interest would be best subserved by the destruction of
the equipments of this road, the
New Orleans
and
Jackson
{New Orleans, Jackson & Great Northern},
and the Mississippi
& Tennessee
roads. The present value of these equipments is not less than
$5,000,000, and if destroyed they could not be now replaced at any
cost. I also expressed the opinion that these equipments could be so
disabled and the tracks of the road so destroyed as to render the
whole useless to the enemy for a period quite as long as if totally
destroyed, when their ability to procure new equipments is duly
considered. Would it not be better to incur some risk of these
equipments falling into the hands of the Federals for a time than to
destroy them entirely? If they remain on the road in a disabled
condition they may become a base for the re-equipment and
reoperation of the road, should the fortunes of war and
circumstances permit, but with their entire loss all such hope will
be destroyed until after the restoration of peace. There is great
danger of equipments and road being unnecessarily destroyed by some
timid officer left in charge on the first alarm of danger. Such has
frequently been the case in times past. I hope you will have the
order for the destruction of these equipments countermanded if
consistent with public interest. I have to-day addressed a letter to
the honorable Secretary of War in reference to the organization of
an independent company from our employés. Should it be submitted to
you, permit me to ask a favorable consideration of the request
therein contained, and should you favor me with a reply please
direct to
Macon
,
Noxubee County
,
Miss.
, as we are without mail facilities.
|
| Respectfully, your obedient servant,
|
| W. Goodman
|
| President
|
|
|
| [First indorsement]
|
| Respectfully referred by the President to the
honorable Secretary of War.
|
| Wm. M. Brown
|
| Colonel and Aide-de-Camp
|
|
|
| [Second indorsement]
|
| September 8, 1863
|
| Telegraph not to destroy except in last
necessity.
|
| J. A. S.
|
| Secretary of War
|
|