| Columbia, May 13th 1864 |
| |
| Major S. B. French |
| CS |
| Richmond VA |
| |
| Major, |
| I wrote you a few lines from
Chesterville on yesterday and after seeing that all the subsistence
stores at Depots on the Charlotte & SC RRoad had been sent on to
Charlotte, I forwarded every thing in the way of subsistence. embracing
some 200 bags flour, 100 bags peas & 6 bbls molasses
{1 car load for all 3 items}, I returned to
this place where I arrived at a late hour last night. Capt Wood, an
assistant of Major Guerin has just returned from a tour on the
Greenville {& Columbia} Road. He informs me
that all the bacon on that road & branches will be coming forward now
without further delay, seven boxes have arrived & four car loads will be
in tonight. Purchasing Commissaries having charge of the business
arrangements are giving personal attention to shipments so there will be
no occasion for my visiting that section again. I have instructed them
to ??? actively, not only in getting in all the tithes, but go into the
market & buy, & to impress whomever they are obstructed by the
speculators or extortioners. They tell me they will do so and are fully
alert to the vital importance of feeding our troops in Virginia. Unlike
the Old North State, the loyalty of the South Carolinians is altogether
above suspicion, yet like the Japanese they would prefer to live within
themselves & be self-sustaining. |
| I take the early morning train
for Lewisville on the So Car Road. Thence I proceed to Florence & on to
Wilmington where I hope to receive your further orders. |
| The block at the Junction here
is or will soon be removed with the aid of a Georgia train that has come
to its relief. I have arranged with Capt Sharp
{Superintendent, Charlotte & South Carolina RR} to give
precedence to subsistence stores. |
| You will notice that Major
Guerin has some 3000 bags peas {22 1/2 car loads}
on hand. Unless speedily consumed in this climate they will soon
become unfit for use. It is to be hoped that the communication with
Weldon & Petersburg & thence to Richmond will soon be restored so that
goods can pass through safely to Richmond and on to the army. |
| I am Major |
| Very Respectfully |
| W H Smith |
| Major & CS |
|