| Savannah, January 29th 1864
{Only the second page of this report has survived.
The date and location of the report are estimated from the contents and
are subject to revision} |
| |
| Major S. B. French |
| CS |
| Richmond VA |
| |
| Major, |
| {Page 1
is missing} |
| more expeditious to proceed direct from
Columbus to Savannah & on my arrival there despatched to you that Major
Locke contin?? Major Allen from further demands. I regret very much that
I could not see Major Locke, he had just submitted to a surgical
operation for the relief of the piles. His p?? assistant Capt Baldwin
went with me to his residence in the hope that he could give me an
interview but he was in great pain & could not receive me. I obtained
however all the information I required from Capt Baldwin. He tells me
they have secured for slaughter some 8000 hogs & with them he has no
doubt but that he will be able to supply the troops at Savannah &
Charleston. A mill there is engaged in grinding meal for the army
turning out some 600 or 800 bushels daily & which can be considerably
increased when necessary. The mill is quite commodious & is working very
well. I went all through it and the toble(?) is a great relief to the
citizens of Savannah. Major Millin was in the city, tho' I called
repeatedly with Capt Baldwin at his office, both before & after dinner,
I had not the pleasure of seeing him. |
| Excuse me for encumbering you
with so long a letter, but moving about so rapidly travelling for the
most part in the night & engaged in the day with interviews &
investigations with those with whom I had business, I had fallen behind
hand in my correspondence. With regard to passenger trains, the
withdrawal of one of the dailies may help a little, but no permanent
substantial relief can be had but by the course indicated above by the
Navy Department. We must rely upon our army for the salvation of the
country & that Department should be subservient to it. |
| I am Major |
| Very Respectfully |
| W H Smith |
| Major & CS |
|