OR, Series 1, Vol. 53, Page 362

Headquarters Military District of Florida
Lake, City, July 5, 1864
 
Maj. Charles S. Stringfellow
Assistant Adjutant-General, Charleston, S. C.
 
Major,
   In the execution of the order which I have received from department headquarters in regard to taking up the iron, fixtures, &c., from the East Florida railroads {in this case, the Florida Railroad}, in conjunction with the officers of the Engineer Bureau, who have been charged more immediately with that work conflicts of authority have arisen between the authorities of the State and Confederate Governments, which, if not judiciously harmonized, may lead to embarrassments of an unfortunate, if not very serious, character. I therefore propose to submit a brief statement of the present situation for the consideration of the major-general commanding. In March last, when it was supposed by the friends of and parties interested in the road that the Government was about to take up the iron for military uses, an injunction was prayed and obtained from the circuit court of this district, and served upon Lieutenant Fairbanks and others, who had been directed to commence the work, restraining them from doing so, &c. Lieutenant Fairbanks consulted Major Meriwether, of the Engineer Bureau, under whose orders he was acting, as to the course he should pursue. The result was that he gave no heed to the process of the court. About this time I received the order of the major-general commanding, directing me to give Lieutenant F. all assistance in my power to take up the iron, &c. Work was commenced. I furnished the detail for the work and the necessary military guard to protect the working party, and impressed the engines and flat-cars necessary for transporting the iron to Live Oak. After some two or three miles of the iron had been taken up an officer of the court summoned Lieutenant Fairbanks to appear before the judge at a given day thereafter, and show cause why he had not obeyed the former process, or why he was in contempt, &c. This process Lieutenant F. declined to obey also. Subsequently the sheriff attempted to arrest Lieutenant Fairbanks and take him before the court, but was prevented from executing the process through the instrumentality of a military force which I had placed at Lieutenant Fairbanks' disposal. The judge (Dawkins) finding it out of his power to enforce the orders and decrees of the court in the premises submitted a history of the case to the Governor of the State, and requested that the power of the State be interposed to uphold the dignity of its courts, and to enforce their decrees. Judge Dawkins has since informed me, unofficially, that the Governor had promised him that his authority, &c., should be upheld. Thus the matter stands. As I was not made a party to the suit, and as no restraining order had ever been served upon me, together with the fact that my former acquaintance with the judge had been of a very pleasant character, I had unofficial access to him which Lieutenant Fairbanks and others who were directly parties did not enjoy. After the injunction had been served upon Lieutenant Fairbanks--which was before I had received any instructions in the premises--I foresaw difficulties arising which would result in a conflict of State and Confederate authority unless steps were taken to avert it. Consequently, when the second process was served upon him, requiring him to come in and purge himself of contempt, &c., I did not hesitate to advise him to do so.
   From what I knew of Judge Dawkins' disposition to yield a hearty support to the Confederate authorities in everything, and of the great necessity--military necessity--which the Government was under, of having the iron at once, I did not apprehend any difficulty whatever in the way of his acquitting himself before the court, and of procuring, upon motion, a dissolution of the injunction. This advice was given because of the well-grounded faith I had in the course which the court would pursue in case a showing was made for a dissolution of the injunction. Lieutenant Fairbanks at first consented to take the course I advised, but on referring more particularly to his written instructions he concluded that he could not enter the courts of the State without violating his written orders. When the matter was submitted to the Governor of the State by Judge Dawkins he (the Governor) immediately sent the attorney-general of the State to my headquarters for the purpose of conferring on the subject, and devising, if possible, some means of avoiding a direct conflict as feared. The Governor also wrote me on the subject, but only in general terms, leaving the details to be canvassed by Mr. Galbraith, attorney-general, and myself, in our personal interview. Mr. G. urged the importance of Lieutenant F. appearing in court, purging himself of the contempt and moving to dissolve the injunction. Lieutenant Fairbanks was consulted, and agreed to suspend further work till he could take legal advice in the matter. I am today in receipt of a communication from him in which he informs me that upon consulting Messrs. Yonge & Hogue, attorneys-at-law, he has concluded not to appear in court, &c.
   This is a brief summary of the case as far as I am informed of it. I am still of the opinion that at any time before the final decree of the court is entered in the case, if Lieutenant Fairbanks will appear in court, disclaim all contempt (perhaps suffer a nominal fine for the same), move to dissolve the injunction, and, in sustaining his motion, make proof of the great military necessity which exists for taking up the iron, the court would sustain his motion. I feel confident this would have been the result before the matter reached its present status. Now, the legal contempt has been persisted in till perhaps personal feelings may be more involved than parties themselves may be aware of. Of course I shall carry out my instructions; that is, I shall furnish labor and military protection to the working parties who are taking up the iron. But I have deemed it my duty to give the history of the matter for the information of the major-general commanding. It may not be improper to remark in this connection that one lever which the friends of the road wield potentially in exciting the people against the action of the Engineer Bureau in this case, arises out of their constant asseverations that this action is not approved at Richmond, but is the action alone of subordinate officers, without the sanction of the President or Secretary of War. I do not believe the people could be induced to take sides with any party, class, or corporation who openly refused to acquiesce in any demands the Government might make upon them; but in this case they are made to believe that it is not the Government, but interested officers who are seeking to obtain the iron, as they say, by despoiling a weak State of her resources to enrich other more powerful and influential communities.
I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Patton Anderson
Major-General
 

First indorsement

Hdqrs. Dept. of S. Carolina, Georgia, and Florida
July 12, 1864
 
Respectfully forwarded.
   I have directed Major-General Anderson to furnish no force to resist the regularly constituted State authorities, the force he has heretofore given being intended to assist Lieutenant Fairbanks in his work and protect him from interruption by unorganized parties. This matter threatens serious trouble, and I call especial attention to it. Lieutenant Fairbanks does not act under my orders. His instructions come, I believe, from the Engineer Bureau at Richmond.
Sam. Jones
Major-General
 

[Second indorsement

Adjutant and Inspector General's Office
July 21, 1864
 
Respectfully submitted to the Secretary of War.
H. L. Clay
Assistant Adjutant-General
 

 Third indorsement

July 23, 1864
 
To Engineer Bureau
 
You will please confer at once on this with me.
J. A. S.
Secretary
 

 Fourth indorsement

Engineer Bureau, July 30, 1864
 
Having conferred with the honorable Secretary of War in person and sent forward Mr. Howard, attorney, to attend to the case in the courts of Florida, this paper is respectfully returned to the War Department.
J. F. Gilmer
Major-General and Chief of Bureau

Home