| Columbia, April 25th 1864 |
| |
| Major S. B. French |
| CS |
| Richmond VA |
| |
| Major, |
| Referring to my reports of the
23d I have now today my return to this place. There was forwarded from
Augusta last week 14335 sks Comy Corn {95 car
loads}, here, there are today, 500 bags of corn
{3 1/3 car loads} & 100 of peas
{3/4 car load} which will be loaded today.
So every thing this way is working well, private freight does not move
when Govt freight offers, but such is the enormous difference in the
rates between the two, that the temptation to ship through private when
Govt freight offers, is too great. At a recent convention of RRd prests
at this place it was decided to demand from the Govt. $1 p hundred lbs
for every hundred miles, the rate hitherto has been 50 cts. and for
private freight they now charge from $3 to $5 p hundred pds for every
hundred miles! |
| Capt Witherspoon informs me
that he has some 1200 bags peas here {9 car loads}.
I urge him to send them on to you immediately, but he fears he will be
transcending his authority & refers to Major Guerion. Major Sloan the
Chf Qr Master for the collection of tithes in this state informs me that
there are heavy accumulations of bacon at Depots on the Greenville
{& Columbia RR} Laurens & Charlotte {&
South Carolina RR} roads, 600,000 lbs {37
1/2 car loads} had accumulated last month & there will be over
1,000,00 lbs this {62 1/2 car loads}.
Commissaries cannot procure packages for shipping this bacon and unless
speedy steps are taken for its removal it is likely to be lost to the
Government. In view of all this, it occurs to me that the best thing I
can do will be to run down to Charleston & confer with Major Guerion.
Much of this bacon he can with his reduced forces spare to Richmond. At
all events the bacon must be properly cared for & removed. |
| Major Echols at Charlotte
telegraphs here that he had but 863 bags Govt corn at the Depot there
{6 car loads}, so I think it my best course
to run down to Charleston by the early morning train. |
| I am Major Very Respectfully |
| W H Smith |
| Major & CS |
|