| Columbus, October 29th 1864 |
| |
| Major S. B. French |
| CS |
| Richmond VA |
| |
| Major, |
| I am thus far on my homeward
journey, which I resume this evening. It was well I think that I went to
Mobile. I had full interviews with Major Walker then and gave him such
instructions as would in my opinion promote the great object of my
mission. I urged him to set his agents to work in hunting up all the
bacon in his state and to resort to impressment when necessary to secure
it. The crop of peas in Alabama is large. They have been neglected from
the fact that the Army of Tennessee would not use them. He will proceed
at once to gather in all he can & ship to Richmond where both your
troops & hospitals will be glad to get them. |
| Transportation from Montgomery
continues as embarrassed as I found it last May. The narrow gauge road,
the West Point & Montgomery, is the only channel, and there has been no
material increase in rolling stock or motive power, tho' Col Sims is
now making arrangements to add two engines to the latter. He tells
me that existing evil cannot be continued without having absolute
control of the roads of the country, and this is I apprehend altogether
beyond the power of the Government. The fact is our want of a man of
more force to take charge of the transportation barecaux. And if
he could only be allowed the use of the Naval Work Shops here, he could
soon supply the country with cars & engines enough to meet to a great
extent its requirements for transportation. And another channel could be
opened by extending a road from Montgomery to Union Springs, which is
already graded for the most part & as Major Walker informs me supplied
with iron, the distance is only 40 miles. |
| The universal opinion wherever
I have been, is that the laws appointing corn ess?? of staks to
establish prices & authorizing impressments should be repealed. Major
Mons has just issued a circular to his District commissioners to abide
by the award of appraisers or arbitrators when that award conformed to a
fair market value as the Act of Congress and the decision of the Supreme
Court of this state look to "just compensation" as the equivalent the
owner should receive in meeting the requirements of the government. To
refer the award to the commissioners would be the equivalent about to no
appeal. There are leading men in this state, the Honble Genl Toombs
among them, who have been making speeches to the people endeavoring to
sway them against the government & advising them to shoot the impressing
officer whenever he should appear among them. |
| Major Allen has advised you
through Major Claiborne of his recent shipments of bacon, he will
forward next week one hundred thousand pds {6 1/2
car loads} more, & Major Mons awaits your orders with regard to
shipping to Richmond some 69000 lbs {4 1/2 car
loads} that Major Cummings has here. I take for granted your
orders will be forthcoming. |
| Genl Hood is believed to be in
Tuscumbia today and will be independent of this region of country for
his supplies. |
| Very Respectfully |
| W H Smith |
| Major & CS |
|