| Montgomery January 3rd 1865 |
| |
| Colonel Geo. W. Brant |
| A. A. G. |
| |
| Sir, |
| In obedience to your instructions of
December 27th, I proceeded to the Headquarters of Brigadier General D.
W. Adams at Talladega and respectfully submit the following report: |
| I reached Selma on the morning
of the 28th ultimo and there met Brigdr General Adams, who was on his
way to General Taylor's Headquarters at Meridian. I handed him your
letter of instructions and he informed me that he had issued the
necessary orders for the establishment of a line of couriers to the
Tennessee River & in order to communicate with General Hood. I then
proceeded to Talladega {on Alabama & Tennessee
Rivers RR} but owing to an accident on the Rail Road I did not
reach there until Thursday evening the 29th ultimo. I immediately called
upon Captain Landedge, General Adam's Adjutant General who informed me
that the General's orders had been carried out, and that the line of
couriers to the Tennessee River, was being rapidly established and that
he expected to have communications through at latest by the second day
of January. |
| Your communication to General
Hood was sent by courier on Friday morning the 30th ultimo. |
| Brigadier General Adams is
decidedly of the opinion that the best route for a supply train to
Hood's army is by way of "Lime Kiln" Station on the Tennessee River R.
Road, thence to Elyton (18 miles) on the North & South Road and from
thence by wagons to the army of Tennessee. This route is represented as
being better than that by Blue Mountain, on account of its being a ridge
road all the way. He did not think that wagons could be obtained except
by impressment, nor could the neighboring country furnish a sufficient
number. It would be necessary to look to some other quarter to make up
the deficiency. |
| I inquired into the condition
of the telegraph line and found that it was operating very badly between
Selma and Talladega. So badly, indeed, that they had ceased using it.
The operator at Talladega, A. C. Fuller, can not explain, satisfactorily
to me, why the line was not working, but thought that it was on account
of the inferiority of the ??? acid which was being used. This, however,
can not be the cause, as I have since learned that the same acid was
being used in other batteries with satisfactory results. The only remedy
I can suggest to the evil, is that the matter should be laid before the
General Superintendent of the telegraph line, J. B. Tree, now in
Montgomery and that he be ordered to place the line in thorough working
order without delay. |
| When in Selma I called upon
the Superintendent of the Tennessee River R. R. Mr William Rothrock who
informed me that he was ready to place the whole of his Road at the
disposal of the Government. This Road has now, in good running order,
seven locomotives and will have two more by the middle of January. There
are one hundred and thirty five (135) freight cars, capable of making
nine (9) full trains. Each train would carry one hundred and twenty tons
of freight. With a proper and sufficient force at each end of the Road
for loading and unloading, Mr. Rothrock thinks that he could run four
trains daily to Talladega and if only to "Lime Kiln" Station six trains
daily. This however, would precipitate the stopping of the passenger
train. |
| There are two engines
belonging to the North & South R. Road {Northeast
& Southwest Alabama RR}, which might be had by making
arrangements with the company and which would be of great assistance. |
| All of which is respectfully submitted |
| Very Respectfully your Obdt Sevt |
| S. Choppin |
| Major & Medical Inspector |