| Supt Office Ala & Fla Rl Rd Co {Alabama
& Florida (of Alabama) RR} |
| Montgomery Feby 6/1865 |
| |
| Maj E H Harriss |
| |
| Sir, |
| In explanation of the delay in
the transportation of troops, complained of, over this Road, I would
say, that in no instance have we failed to start from Pollard, the
Southern terminus of our Road, with any troops which have arrived from
Mobile on the first schedule after arrival. The irregularity of
arrivals from Mobile has in two instances required us to detain
soldiers at Pollard all night in order to avoid sending them out on irregular
Trains & the hazard connected with all such trains, especially
when running at night, but in both cases the troops were sent out
early next morning on the first schedule. In as many as three
instances, troops have been stopped over night on the Road on account
of the condition of the prairie portion (upper 35 miles) of our Road,
which owing to the excessive recent rains is not in my judgment such
as to warrant the running of heavy trains of troops over it at night.
Whenever the Road is in that condition, I have considered that the
public interest was best served by taking a little more time &
bringing the men through safely to hurrying them through at the risk
of getting off the track & perhaps blockading the Road for several
days, and thus reducing the aggregate of troops transported by an
entire suspension of operations for even one single day. I am fully
impressed with the importance of expediting the troops and will do any
and every thing in my power to give expedition to their travel over
this Road, consistent with the safety of the troops. In conclusion I
will say that first day I consider it prudent to bring the troops,
ornitly through, it shall be done. |
| Very Respectfully |
| Yr obdt Servt |
| Saml. G. Jones |
| |
| {on the back of the
letter} |
| I think the reason
given by Mr. Jones, Eng. & Supt of the Road are valid, & as
nearly all the Troops have come ford, I doubt the propriety of forcing
them to change his schedule. My own opinion is that the section of his
Road running through the Prairies is dangerous to run over at night,
rendered so by recent heavy rains. |
| E. H. Harris |
| Q. M. |
|