Confederate States of America
| Quartermaster-General's Department |
| Richmond, October 3, 1862 |
| |
| Hon. W. P. Chilton |
| Chairman, etc. |
| |
| Sir, |
| I have the honor to submit to you and to
the committee of which you are chairman my views in regard to the
transportation of troops, military stores, etc., over the various
railroads in the Confederacy. I am opposed to taking military
possession of the roads and submit the following reasons therefore:
Should the Government do this I feel assured that the officers and employees
of said roads would promptly resign rather than be subject to the
orders of officers of the Army of every grade, wholly ignorant of
railroads and their management. This would throw into confusion our
means of communication throughout the Confederacy. Greater expense
would be incurred in operating the roads, the new officers being
ignorant of the most economical and available sources of labor and
supplies of material. The work done would also be done in a manner
less secure and durable than when under the supervision of those
permanently connected with the road. There would be great difficulty
in keeping the accounts for private freight and passengers distinct
from that of the Government, for citizens as well as troops must be
transported and supplied, the Government meanwhile coming under
heavy pecuniary responsibilities to the stockholders, whose trustee
it has assumed to become. Should a period of great emergency arise,
confusion, delay, and irreparable disaster might be produced by the
change from experienced to new operators on the many roads.
|
| As to the best mode of securing the rapid and
safe transportation of troops and military supplies of all kinds,
the following suggestions are made: The appointment of an able,
methodical, and energetic person as chief of transportation, to have
entire control over and power to regulate all matters pertaining to
transportation, to make all necessary rules and regulations, and
after conference or correspondence with the several railroad
presidents and superintendents, to bring into harmonious action the
different roads in the Confederacy; all officers of the Army, of
whatever grade, to be ordered not to interfere with the management
of roads or running of trains, and to be governed by the rules and
regulations of the chief of transportation as agreed upon with the
railroad companies; all complaints against railroads to be made to
and settled by him under the direction of the Quartermaster-General;
when cars are taken beyond the roads to which they belong the
Government officers should see that they are not used for
store-houses; that the roads using them be charged for their use,
and that they are promptly returned, for from these causes arise
three-fourths of the difficulties in transportation. It is also
suggested that the right of seizing for the use of the Government
certain articles of absolute necessity, such as cloth, leather,
etc., be granted when parties holding the articles will not sell
them to the Government, or ask extortionate prices, the impressment
to be made in conformity with the act of Congress on the subject. It
does not occur to me that any further legislation is required to
promote the efficiency of the Quartermaster's Department. Existing
laws and orders are amply sufficient if officers do their duty. The
prospect of clothing the Army from the resources of the Confederacy
is very good. Wool is coming in in abundance from Texas to be
manufactured into cloth in Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina,
Alabama, etc. The propriety of allowing leather and wool and
manufactured clothing suitable for the Army to be brought into the
Confederacy free of duty is respectfully submitted. Any questions
the committee may desire to have answered the undersigned begs it
will present.
|
| Very respectfully |
| A. C. Myers |
| Quartermaster-General |
|