NA, ET&G 1/23/1864

Refugee Office E. Ten. & Ga. R Rd Co.

Athens Ga. 23d Jany 64
  
Maj. F. W. Sims
Richmond, Va.
 
Dear Sir,
   I have just returned from Augusta and have placed four trains at the disposal of Capt. Sims and will try and get up another, but in view of some probability of our getting back to E. Ten it is all important that we get and keep our Engines and cars in good order or else we will be of no use to the government either in E. Ten or elsewhere. This thing we can accomplish at Augusta but no where else can we get shop room and other facilities, consequently we can not run our trains except to and from Augusta and under no circumstances will I agree to run beyond Atlanta; this is not from any indisposition to go anywhere to aid you but because of the impossibility of our accomplishing any good with our trains away from the shop facilities we have at Augusta.
   My son Charles who is my Supt has his head quarters at Augusta and I will be there more than half my time and will endeavor to meet your wishes as near as practicable in all things.
   The schedules are so very badly arranged that it requires twice as much time to make a round trip between Augusta and Wilmington or Charlotte than is necessary and leaves only one half the transportation is ??? that might have with the same stock, but I have a promise of a better arrangement. 
   Yours 18th int. I answer in confidence but will state only that which is patent to every Rail Road man. The W&A RRd has only the remains of Braggs army to Supply. Has only 100 miles to haul the freights, Atlanta to Dalton and I learn that 50 to 60 car loads per day is all that is required of them, only 3 trains. That Road went into the war as you are aware with upwards 60 engines and 7 to 800 cars. Some cars have been lost but not an Engine and with greater facilities than any other three Roads in the C. States to keep up the stock and obtain supplies. They cry out for help and have been sending officers after me for Engines ever since I got ???. Of course I have sent none nor will I send any and if Genl Johnston yields to their trickery and impresses ours it will be a hard day for his army before he ???. If I have work at home and the E. Ten & Ga. R. Road in full operation I would prefer to pay $200 per day for Engines and let mine stand idle in the shop -- could make money by that game but whether the facilities to carry the Government freight is other ??? to a desire to save the state Road Stock or to further some p?? enterprise I do not pretend to say. I hear that Gov Brown has notified Mr Walker that Genl Johnstons army has to be supplied and that the W&A RRd has the work to do at all hazards. This I imagine will cure the evil. 
   Maj. Cummings came to Augusta last week and demanded services of my Engines to run for Govt West of Atlanta. Why is this when I see Macon & Western trains running East of Augusta and when the Central {of Georgia} Road (owner of the So Western) has stock in abundance standing idle.
   There is something wrong in Rail Road matters and while I do not pretend to point it out, my duty is not to prevent the E. Tenn & Ga. to be made he?? of and ???.
   Let me call your attention to your copy of your communication to the Q. M. Genl of the 4 inst on the subject of an allowance of two cents per mile on the hauling of troops on our return trip to Eat Ten; per that letter you mention our loss of three Engines. Now if it is intended that this allowances is to be construed as could be construed into compensation in part or in whole for the stock destroyed by the Confederates during that trip why of course I can not receive the allowance. ??? I do not so understand you but the wording of your letter can be construed into such a meaning and I want your disclaimer or confirmation before collecting.
Tly yours
C. Wallace Prest  {Campbell Wallace, President, East Tennessee & Georgia RR}

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