| Executive Department |
| Tallahassee March 30th 1863 |
| |
| Hon. R. B. Hilton |
| |
| Dear Sir, |
| Were it possible, consistently
with the duty of defending more important positions for Genl Beauregard
to devote any portion of his personal services to the defence of
Florida, there is no officer would command more of the confidence of the
citizens. But his attention is necessarily and very properly engaged in
the defences of S. Carolina and Georgia. Since assigned to the command
he has never had the opportunity to visit and inspect any portion of
this State. The main points of defence in Florida, are very distant from
Charleston and Savannah, without rail road connections, or reliable
facilities for correspondence by mail or telegraph. |
| I urged upon the President and
Secretary of War by letter and special agents two years ago, the
importance of extending the Georgia & Pensacola Railroad
{Pensacola & Georgia RR} to Chattahoochee
or connecting the road with the Savannah{, Albany}
& Gulf R Road. |
| Nothing has been done on the
subject. There are no facilities for transporting troops and munitions
of war from other States to Florida, our strong men are serving in the
armies of Virginia & Tennessee, and the women children and property of
the State dependent for defence against threats of dishonor and
destruction upon the commands of Gens Cobb and Flanigan (about 2500 men)
scattered a distance of nearly three hundred miles, the two military
districts having no official intercourse except through Genl Beauregard,
their joint head, at Charleston. |
| The two generals unofficially
call directly upon each other and will no doubt render material
assistance, when able, but neither is informed of the necessities of the
other, and there is none here to judge and determine how to make the
limited number of troops in the State, most available for its defence.
There could be none better than Genl Beauregard, if his personal
attention could be given to our defence. |
| As it is, it would be much
better, for the two districts to be under the independent command of
Genl Cobb, thee senior Brigr General, and his Head Quarters to be at
Tallahassee, where the Executive of the State could render what little
assistance might be in his power, as circumstances should demand. |
| The Georgia & Pensacola rail
road of this state should be connected with the Savannah & Gulf road of
Georgia, to be finished to Chattahoochee. The connection of the two
roads can be more speedily made. The road to make the connection has
been graded from Live Oak in Florida to Lawton in Georgia, and the iron
can without injury to anyone be taken from the Fernandina and Cedar Keys
road {Florida RR} to complete the
connection, and if not taken for the purpose will be captured and used
where it is, to be taken off by the enemy. Urge these matters upon the
consideration of the President and Secretary of War. |
| Very Respectfully |
| John Milton |
|