Dalton, January 9, 1864
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| The President |
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| Major Cummings, who is charged with
procuring subsistence for this army, writes from Atlanta that the
difficulty in supplying us comes from the employment of a large
number of cars in transporting Government cotton to Wilmington.
Rolling-stock and road necessary for transporting our supplies are
thus and to such extent as to make it difficult to furnish daily
rations. I beg you to consider this. |
| J. E. Johnston |
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Indorsement
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| The President refers this telegram to the
Quartermaster-General for his attention and remarks. |
| By order. |
| J. Chesnut |
| Colonel and Aide de Camp |
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| Quartermaster-General's Office |
| Richmond, January 16, 1864 |
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| Respectfully returned to the President. |
| It is true that railroad transportation
is deficient on all the great lines which connect our armies with
their sources of supply, but it is believed that this is a
difficulty incident to our present condition. It is also true that
some portion of this transportation is absorbed in forwarding cotton
to Wilmington for shipment abroad; but without return cargoes, in
the shape of blankets, woolen cloths, shoes, &c., it is scarcely
possible to keep our armies in the field. Amid these conflicting
claims upon a limited amount of transportation, it is respectfully
submitted that the means at hand are used to the best advantage,
preference being always given to subsistence and forage in cases of
necessity. The railway directly in General Johnston's rear {the
Western & Atlantic RR} is indeed very much pressed, and,
I regret to add, not in very good condition. As it belongs
exclusively to the State of Georgia and is controlled by the
Executive of that State, this bureau has not been able to exercise
that control over it that is readily yielded by other roads.
Governor Brown has been earnestly appealed to by this bureau quite
recently, and it is hoped that General Johnston will also represent
to him the important relation which the road sustains to the army
now protecting the State of Georgia. |
| Respectfully submitted |
| A. R. Lawton |
| Quartermaster General |
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