| Charlotte, Feby 5, 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 missing} |
| to you in my letter from Columbia I wrote
to Major Lowe at Charlotte that heavy shipments were en route to him &
to secure prompt transportation. I fear he will be unable to do this,
unless he can get assistance from the Raleigh & Gaston Road. |
| There should be but one
Government interest on buying corn as as well as other supplies. And
when laid down at Richmond or other loading depositories, the
requisitions of the Comy or Qr Masters Departments could be met
according to the supply & exigency . But it does not become me perhaps
to make any suggestions on this point. The suggestions of Capt Sims are
highly important that supplies from Major Allen's District shd be
appropriated exclusively to the use of the armies in Virginia & that the
troops at Dalton, Charleston & Savannah shd draw their supplies the
first through the Montgomery & West Point & the Atlantic
{Atlanta} & West Point Roads, and the
supplies for Savannah & Charleston through the Savannah, Albany & Gulf
RRd. Capt Sims has submitted the importance of this division to Major
Sims at Richmond & to the Qr Masters at Charleston & on the Seaboard
lines, connected with the Rail Rd Bureaux. The relief to the Georgia
roads would be s?? enable him to add ten cars p day to his present
rolling stock, which wd be a great consideration. Capt Sims thinks that
no advantage would accrue from taking off one of the passenger trains,
especially from the So Ca roads. The engines used for moving them are
too feeble for other use, and troops & prisoners that are continually
encumbering the roads would draw off freight trains from their proper
departmental business. As an instance {next page
missing} |
| Very Respectfully |
| W H Smith |
| Major & CS |
|