| N. E. & S. W. Ala. R. R. |
| Engineers Office |
| Marion Miss. Aug. 24 1861 |
| |
| A. Battle Esqr |
| Pres. N. E. & S. W. A. R. R.
{Northeast & Southwest Alabama RR} |
| |
| Dear Sir, |
| I am just now in receipt of
your favor of the 6th ult. appraising me of the order passed by the
Board of Directors at a Meeting held in Eutaw on the 2nd day of July in
reference to the Engineering department. I am very sorry it did not come
to hand sooner & that it did not 'twas your fault, as the superscription
shows. |
| In regard to Mr Woodruff; I
have to say: That he is not now in the employ of the R. R. Co., nor was
he kept one day longer on the Road than "his services were actually
needed" -- and furthermore; it is universally acknowledged to be not
only the right of the Chief Engineer to determine when the
services of an assistant are necessary, but the duty also, and it
is well known to you, Mr. Battle, that such matters have, heretofore, on
this Road, been left entirely to the Chief Engineer. Mr Woodruff went
home about the 10th of July; & from that time to the 15th he was engaged
in the General offices in Tuskaloosa. Since then (July 15th) his
services have not been actually needed", consequently he is not
employed, and the action in regard to him was taken by me without any
knowledge, or even idea that the President & Board had moved in the
matter. |
| Now, about my Salary. Do you
honestly think that, under the circumstances, you & the Board have
treated me properly in passing an order to cut down my Salary $500,
without saying one word to me on the subject? I admit the right is in
the Board to fix upon the Salary which shall be paid the Chief Engineer,
& mine was fixed or rather I agreed to take the position for $2500 per
annum, & the President & Executive Committee said naught against the
amount. Let me call to your mind these facts: I did not solicit the
appointment. I did not want it. I had made some arrangements to go off
to the wars, & was very anxious as all of my friends know, to do so; and
went up to Tuskaloosa to resign my position on the road & hand over all
Rail Road papers in my possession. Any you know very well, that it was
not until after a lengthy interview with Mr Rodes, in which I became
satisfied that he was so situated that honor forbade his remaining here,
and the interests of this R. R. Company & of all concerned with it,
demands that one of us should remain, that I consented to take charge.
You, as President (& I supposed you reflect the wishes of the Board)
entreated me much to do so & now I learn that a little more than two
months after you & the Board pas an order, without giving me the
slightest intimation of it beforehand, not only cutting my salary down
20 pr. ct., but clearly implying that I am keeping an assistant when
"his services are not actually needed." Such, from your letter, I take
to be the full purport & meaning of the order of the Board. Really I am
surprised! Now is this right? |
| I hope therefore, if this is
the determined action of the Board, you will take the necessary
steps to relieve me at once of all charge on your Road. No more
effectual course could have been fallen upon, than the one taken, to get
clear of me; |
| You will please let me hear
from you promptly & oblige. |
| Yrs very respectfully |
| G W Robertson |
| Chf Engineer &c |
|