| Executive Department |
| Tallahassee July 15th 1863 |
| |
| General G T Beauregard |
| Charleston S. Carolina |
| |
| General, |
| Your esteemed favor of the 6th
inst was received by due course of mail. The correspondence between the
Hon D. L. Yulee President of the Florida Railroad Company and myself,
has been canceled by the two letters, copies of which are enclosed
herewith, and to which your attention is especially and most
respectfully invited. I regret to claim any portion of your valuable
time at this critical moment, but I believe my official position makes
it a duty to the State of Florida, and to yourself under whose military
protection the State has been placed to the entire satisfaction of its
citizen and to the civil Authorities. |
| A glance at the map and a
knowledge of the forces and their positions in East Florida, will
suggest the facilities afforded to the enemy to capture the Florida
Railroad and to use it for the subjugation of the portion of the State.
If therefore the iron in the parts of the track which have been alluded
to in the correspondence, is not necessary to connect the Pensacola &
Georgia Railroad with the Albany & Gulf road and to extend the former to
Chattahoochee, still, its removal to a place of safety where it would be
beyond the reach of the enemy, it seems to me is required by the
interests of the State as the principal Stockholder, and the proper defence of that portion of the State demand it, unless we had assurances
of large reinforcements, which we have not and cannot expect. |
| Having read & considered, be
pleased to forward the correspondence to the Secretary of War. |
| I have the honor to be |
| General, Respectfully |
| John Milton |
| Govr of Florida |
|