UG, B&A 9/1/1862

Office of the Brunswick & Albany RR
Waynesville Sept 1st 1862
 
To His Excellency Joseph E. Brown
Governor of Georgia
 
Governor,
   Colonel ?ant arrived here last night and handed me your letter of the 27 inst: directing me to give him every facility for the running of the rolling stock and motive power (placed by your Excellency on this road) to Savannah
   The condition of the stock I have reported to your Excellency from time to time, and in my report of Aug 6th stated as follows
   "There is now stationed here, and on picket duty from Saint Mays River to the Altamaha River, on the main land, six full Companies of horse under the Command of Lt Col Clinch. These will be kept here, as I am informed by Gen Miner. It requires all the cars we have and two Locomotives to do all the business of the Road, and we have to run extra trains with forage and provisions, quarter master stores &c to the canal Bridge, five miles this side of Brunswick. We also require one spare Engine, in case of Repair or accident" from my report, an additional Company of horse has been ordered to be raised for the Coast Service as Cartin?? & messengers, under the Command of Cap L. J. Hopkin
   The Road is being run Daily, and regularly from this place to Tebeauville, connecting with the up and down trains of the Savannah Albany & Gulf Rail Road, and carrying Quarter Master & Commissary Stores from Thomasville & Savannah to subsist the troops Stationed in this Military District
   With regard to the dismantling of the Road, I Reported to your Excellency Aug 6 that my explanations and remonstrances stopped the taking of the track at the Canal Bridge. From the date of my report I met the agt of the Navy Department, Col. J. G. Miner at Macon, and went with him to Savannah, where we had two interviews with Gen Mercer. The result was, that the Agent was content to take the iron piled here, which was torn up from Brunswick to the Canal Bridge, and to give us six months time to arrange with the Confederate Government for the preservation of the Road. I was about to start for Richmond last week for this purpose, when I was struck down with fever, and am now confined to my Bed
   There are many reasons which I would wish most respectfully, to lay before your Excellency, why the Road should not be broken up, at least not without due and timely notice being given to the People who are dependent upon it.
first Troops could not be subsisted in this section, for the protection of the People, negroes, property and Salt Works without the Road. Therefore the Government would be compelled to withdraw them.
second Should the troops be withdrawn from the Sea Board and Rivers, Barges would visit the Rice plantations on the Satilla River and destroy the present large crop of rice and corn on that River. Government expects to obtain from these Planters 250,000 bushels of rice. Many of the Planters have apportioned out half their Rice Plantations in corn and half in rice.
third The negroes on these plantations and on the plantations which are worked on the Sartilla River and Buffalo &c can easily be taken by Barges.
   From the large Plantations on the Altamaha River, the Planters have moved their negroes to plantations on the line of the Road where they plant corn & Potatoes. The Troups, Dents, Kings, Cowpers and others have large bodies of negroes on our line of Road. These Negroes are now prevented running to the Enemy by these troops. Should the troops be removed, the Planters would be compelled to leave their crops now planted, or run the risk of losing these negroes. This would ruin them.
fourth Salt is being made at points stretching from the Altamaha along the sea board of Glym & Camden Counties principally upon small arms of the sea around Brunswick. These Salt Works are increasing steadily, and the salt made is of the best quality. These would have to be destroyed should the troops be removed from here.
fifth Before the Rolling Stock and Motive Power is taken from the Road, humanity would require that time be given to remove the old men women & children from this section of the County, which would be left open to the forays of the Enemy. Thousands of negroes are yet working on the Plantations in this sec of the County, all of whom should be sent away before the Rail Road is stopped
sixth From opinion gathered at Richmond it is now evident that our Government believe that the war will be carried on next winter on our Sea Board. Dr J. G. Hopkins of this place has just Returned from Richmond, and to day informed me that is the general impression. Taking this in view, it is evident that the Brunswick & Albany Rail Road will be a most important Military Road, and should it be dismantled now, it would in all probability have to be rebuilt, and restocked.
seventh We cannot get motive power or rolling stock from the Savannah Albany & Gulf Rail Road for this road. Mr Fulton the Supr informed me that the S. A. & G. R. R. had not Rolling stock enough to do the business of the Road promptly
   For the above reasons which might be carried on at greater length, I most respectfully ask your Excellency to enquire if necessary into the condition of this section of the State, and the condition of the population, prior to ordering any the stock from the Road, and I most respectfully ask that my letters and reports of April and Aug may be examined by your Excellency to show that I have kept your Excellency informed of the condition of the Road. I ask this because of expressions in your Excellency letter of the 27 inst. which lead me to believe that you had formed an opinion that the stock was ???, and that every thing here was in a state of confusion.
   I wish here to state that the Locomotives and cars are in good condition, and laying aside the wear of parts of machinery, wheels &c, in better condition than when your Excellency placed them on the Road.
   I hold the stock sent to the Road, subject to your Excellencys order, and will see that it is sent, when I receive the order to send it.
I have the honor to be
Your Excellency's
Obedient servant
Charles L. Schlatter
Superintendent
 
P. S. I have as yet received no bills from the State against the B. & A. R. R. I would most respectfully ask the favor of your Excellency to direct that the charges made for the use of the stock to this road, be sent to me at as early a date as possible.

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