Montgomery, Ala., March 22, 1862
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| Hon. S. R. Mallory |
| Secretary of the Navy, Richmond, Va. |
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| Sir, |
| ***** |
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I have been some days in Atlanta completing
orders for our iron. It has been a difficult and perplexing Job, but
I think it is all so arranged now as to be put on without
difficulty. Scofield & Markham {Iron
Works, Atlanta} think they can complete the order next week.
The bolts will also be finished. The port doors are completed and
shipped.
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We have until the past few days been sending iron by the upper line
of railroads. The operations of the Army rendered that route
impassable, and we changed the direction via Mobile, but I learn
from the steamboat men that it does not go forward from Mobile, and
that a quantity of it has accumulated on the wharf there. There are
parts of the first course, or layer, of the iron detained and we can
not go on without the authority to command the cars and engine
necessary to forward it. It is therefore indispensable.
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| I think we can put the iron all on about the time
we can get it all there if we can arrange to have it come through
regularly. I attempted to go to Mobile by railroad, but the rains
rendered the road impassable, and I have returned to go by the
river. When I left Atlanta the railroad agent told me that our shaft
had not passed that place. If it has been detained on the way, will
it not be best to send a special agent with authority to find that
and other articles that are on the route, and bring them through?
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| Very respectfully,
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| Nelson Tift
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