| Demopolis 20 Jany 1865 |
| |
| General G. T. Beauregard |
| Commanding Military Division of the West |
| Tupelo, Miss |
| |
| General, |
| Mr. Maxwell contractor for
Tombigbee bridge showed me today a telegram from Major Bryan of you
staff authorizing him upon his (Maxwell's) representation that but
little could be done this winter at Tombigbee bridge
{Selma & Meridian RR}, to remove his men
and tools to the West Point Road, I presume for rebuilding bridges on
that Road. The bridges are done, and the trains are running from
Montgomery to West Point, consequently his men are not required there.
Further, it is not true that but little can be done at Tombigbee. A
portion of the piers, and the entire superstructure have yet to be
framed, and the patterns for all the castings of the draw have
yet to be made, and should now be in the hands of the fourndryman. The
whole of this can go on now, and ought to be pushed vigorously in order
to take advantage of the first low water to raise the bridge. The truth
is that Mr. Maxwell in a freak of ill humor wrote Col. Brent that he
would not prosecute the work under the management, and under pretext of
doing work in Georgia and elsewhere is seeking to withdraw his force
entirely, and abandon the work, well knowing the embarrassment & delay
it will cause for a new set of men to come in and complete work
partially framed by others. These men were detailed by the Secretary of
War for this work, and I protest against his being permitted to remove
then. If done, the work will be retarded for months. And in any event I
think that I should have been notified of the order to remove
them. |
| For further information, I
respectfully refer you to certain papers at the Headquarters of Lt.
Genl. Tyler in relation to this subject, and ask that some competent
officer be sent to enquire fully into the conduct of the work. |
| Very respectfully |
| Minor Meriwether |
| Lt. Col. Engineers |
|