| Central {(of
Georgia)} Rail Road Bank |
| Savannah, Ga. Dec. 13 1862 |
| R. R. Cuyler, Prest. |
| Geo. A. Cuyler, Cahsr. |
| |
| His Excellency John Gill Shorter Gov |
| Montgomery Ala |
| |
| Sir, |
| Your favor of the 10th instant
was received to day. It will give me pleasure to aid your people, if I
can possibly do so, and I will make a hearty effort to do it. I beg to
explain my condition to you. |
| Before the Legislature of
Georgia authorised the impressment of cars, for Gov Brown telegraphed
me to send a full train, Engine, men and all to Saltville for salt for
the people of Georgia. I promptly furnished the train from the Central
Company. At the same time the Macon & Western Road furnished an
Engine and Six Cars, and the South Western Six Cars making another
train. Both these trains have made a successful trip and returned. The
Central train left Macon on the 11th ins on a second trip, and may be
expected back in ten days. If Gov Brown will allow me, I will let that
train go back to Saltville for you, on the necessary arrangements
being made. The So. Western Road is under pressure carrying corn up to
feed the Western Army, and the Central is, I may say, the only
reliance of Gen Beauregard in case of sudden call to move troops,
either on the Gulf Road {Savannah, Albany &
Gulf RR} or the Charleston {&
Savannah} Road, both these roads being deficient in rolling
stock. It will never do for me to send cars, the only war in which I
can serve you is by sending a train under my own men. I write to Gov
Brown by this mail to ask him (for that is necessary) to make the
necessary arrangements for the trip, in your behalf. |
| He arranged for furnishing my
men with provisions above Atlanta. I have not contemplated making any
charge to Georgia, beyond the actual cost expended by me, and I would
be proud to do the like for you. I enclose your letter to Gov Brown
with a copy of this. |
| On tomorrow night I go to
Augusta, to meet on Monday, Mr Wadley who has been recently appointed
by Government, Agent for transportation, with very full powers. Of
course, I do not now how far his powers or orders will hinder me in
the free use of my rolling stock. But Mr Wadley is a prudent and
reasonable man, and I will take care to impress upon him the necessity
which exists in relation to salt. I return to Savannah by next Tuesday
morning and I will write to you again on that day. |
| I am happy to inform you that
the quantity of salt manufactured on our coast is beginning to tell
handsomely. I see that the article has suddenly fallen in Richmond
from one dollar & a half per pound to half a dollar. |
| I have the honor to be |
| Yr ob svt |
| R R Cuyler |
|