| Chattanooga Tenn |
| Aug 29th 1862 |
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|
| Rich M. Cuyler |
| Major Commanding Arsenal |
| Macon Geo |
| |
| Dr Major, |
| Your favor of the 26th enclosing order
from Mr Tyler for the use of his cars, to be used in shipping coal to
Columbus by way of Macon, is this moment at hand. |
| The statement, of that being the next
car on account of difference of guage is incorrect, which must be
accounted for from a ??? on this point to secure business for his road. |
| The distance from this place to Columbia
by way of Macon is 338 miles, and by the way of West Point is 274 miles
-- 338-274=64 miles difference in distance -- it is however true that
there is a break in guage at West Point, and the coal has to be
transferred on to the cars of the Montgomery Road -- this however is
done at the expense of the RR Co as I was informed by Mr Hull the Supt
of West Point RR -- without any expense to you. The only plan we can
adopt is to shipp what West Point cars we may get by that route and all
Macon & Western by the way of Macon. |
| There has been no coal cars of any kind
arrive here for the last two days. Suppose they will
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forward coal as fast as possible. ????? almost forward to do without
eating -- and as to cleanings, its impossible to think of. when every
body men women & children are so universally dirty as they are here.
Genl Mercers Agt arrived as he is with a pocket full of Military orders
& requisitions and who came here near a week before me, has only
succeeded in shipping three car loads of coal up to this time. I have
done better than any of the agents here, of whom there is a huge number. |
| Please allow me to congratulate you on
your recent promotion, and to express the hope that it may be succeeded
by many others of like character. |
| Yours Respectfully |
| W H McDowell |
| Agt. Ord Dept. |
|