| P. 42 |
| Lack of system and authority
to command the men to be transported caused much confusion and delay,
until I reported that it was impossible to carry the number of troops
equal to the capacity of the trains or to expedite their movement,
unless the officers commanding such were instructed to be governed by
the person immediately in charge of transportation. After long
experience of this kind, General Lee ordered that the troops upon
arrival at the point of embarkation should be governed in embarking by
the officer in charge of the train. This enabled me to carry out the
plan of having each regiment, or command, march in line parallel to
the train in waiting, counting them off by companies. The captains of
the companies were required to place them in the cars accordingly. |
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