| C. S. Armory, Macon Ga |
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Jan 12th 1864 |
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| Col J. Gorgas |
| Chief of Ordnance |
| Richmond |
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| Colonel, |
| On the 27th March 1863, I made a contract
with Delettre & Dykes lumber sawyers on the line of the Macon &
Brunswick R. Road for the supply of about 250,000 feet of lumber for the
service of his Armory. Their mills are located about one mile beyond the
point to which the iron rails have been laid, but the road is graded to
the mills. I made the contract on the promise of Mr. A. E. Cochrane,
Presdt of the road, that he would lay a temporary track of wood
stringers to the mill, by the time I desired to take away the lumber.
About one half of the lumber has been sawed for several months ready for
delivery, and I have been unable to take it away, in consequence of the
temporary track not being completed. In the mean time I have called the
attention of Mr Cochrane several times to the subject, but as yet the
track is not completed, and the public interests are suffering for the
want of the lumber referred to{,} it being
required for framing the roof or the main building in process of
erection at this Armory. The iron rails upon this R. Road were relieved
from impending impressment for the purposes of the Govt a month or two
since, upon representation of the usefulness of the road to the Govt, as
well as to the citizens of Macon. Upon this ground therefore, I
respectfully request that Mr Cochrane be requested by the War Dept to
put the R. Road he controls in such condition as will enable me to get
away the lumber I am so much in need of for the purposes of this Armory.
I regard this as obligatory on the part of Mr Cochrane, as I made the
contract on the faith of his promise to supply the means of
transportation from the mills. Requesting your immediate attention to
this subject |
| I have the honor to be Colonel |
| Respectfully Your Obedt Servt |
| Jas. H. Burton |
| Supt. |
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