| Columbia, Jany 21, 1863
{Year has to be 1864, since Sharp was not related
to the Charlotte & South Carolina RR in January, 1863} |
| |
| Major S. B. French |
| CS |
| Richmond VA |
| |
| Major, |
| I arrived at a late hour last
night having been delayed 6 hours at Chester, where the engine was
backed off from the track. |
| This morning I went to the
Junction, some 3 miles distant, with Capt Sharp AQM & Superintendent of
the Charlotte & SCa Road. I found the Depot crowded with all sorts of
goods -- among them, after tracing the books of the Road, 6920 bags of
corn belonging to the Qr Masters Dept. & 3241 belonging to the Comy
Dept. {67 car loads for the two quantities}
Since the 1st Nov ulto there have been recd at this Junction 39177 bags
corn, including a few hundred bags oats consigned to the Qr Mrs at
Richmond and 12,541 bags, including some 200 - 300 bags Peas, consigned
to Major Claiborne, 32257 bags of Qr Masters Corn & 9300 bags Comy Corn
having gone forward to Charlotte from the period above named to the
present moment {275 car loads}, leaving the
figures as put above stated that should now be at the Junction Depot.
There are not cars here today, but two trains will be due from Charlotte
tomorrow. I deem it proper to remain here until all this Comy Corn is
moved off, but it is so mixed in with that belonging to the Qr Masters
Dept. that it may be impossible, without a great deal of extra handling
& delay to ??? it altogether: and in view of this difficulty, after
getting together & shipping off all the Comy Corn I can with any
convenience get at, I shall then load up the cars with all the remaining
corn, seeing that corn takes precedence over all other freight. |
| Capt Sharp telegraphed
yesterday to Capt Sims at Augusta for authority to send his cars,
as they may arrive through to Charlotte. Capt Wellford is mistaken in
saying there is necessarily a trans-shipment here owning to a change of
guage in the Road. The guage of the Roads is the same, the width 5 ft
guage. From Wilmington to Richmond is the narrow 4 1/2 ft guage. |
| I gather from Capt Sharp the
causes of the detention of Govt freight here. Up to the 1st Nov. he was
able to send forward all without delay. Since that period receipts were
much heavier, the xmas holidays intervened & many changes with the
difficulty in procuring other hands. Besides there had been an unusually
cold spell of weather in this region, severer than had been known for 20
years. Several of the Engines pumps had been burst by water freezing in
them, and the engines had become otherwise, from hard work, dilapidated.
These hindrances are being overcome. In a few weeks a new engine will be
on the road, several others thoroughly repaired, and by repairing old
cars & getting on others which Capt S. has hired from some of the
Alabama roads, there will soon be no further detention at this point.
But in the mean while it is essential, to insure the prompt
transportation of supplies to Richmond, that there be but one
passenger train a day, all that is needed for the transportation of
the mails. |
| I find all the little depots
along the line between Charlotte and this crowded, principally with
tithe corn. The Qr Mr at Chester informed me he had a great deal more
yet to come in, but could not receive it from the want of ???
accommodations. |
| I take for granted that Capt
Sims will acquiesce in the request of Capt Sharp & suffer his cars to
run through to Charlotte, but I feel the importance of him at Augusta as
soon as possible, and there are I apprehend obstructions at Knoxville
which I must see removed before I can proceed. |
| The wires are down both North
& South. Capt Sharp has received reply to his telegram to Capt Sims & I
have been unable to dispatch to you my proceedings of today. |
| After straightening up matters
as I hope to do on this upper route, it may be wise for me to proceed to
Wilmington, where I fear there is some neglect. I shall be pleased to
receive your further instructions thro' the wires at Columbus. |
| In view of the great scarcity
of meat in the Country I take leave to suggest that orders be issued to
your pork men in rendering their lard, to save the cracklins. Packed
closely in casks, they will keep throughout the winter & spring. They
will be very acceptable to our southern soldiers & materially help them
in the absence of meat. |
| I am very Respectfully |
| W H Smith |
| Major & CS |
|