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Office Chief Inspector of Field Transportation
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| Second Dt |
| Augusta, Ga. January 30th 1865 |
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| A. H. Cole |
| Inspr Genl Fld Tr |
| Richmond Va |
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| Col, |
| I enclose copy of order from
Adjt & Inspr Genl Office with endorsement, please forward. Troops
are arriving here without transpt, Johnsons Division of Lees Corps or
a part of them are here & the others of the Corps on the way.
Stewart also is said to be on the way. I expect I will have to
withdraw wagons from the Wagon Line from Mayfield to Milledgeville {this
is the route that the Milledgeville RR would have taken, if it had
been allowed to finish its construction earlier in the war}.
The reports today are that Sherman is moving on this place on both
sides of the river, how true it is I cannot say, though we know he is
coming up the Georgia side in some force. The rumors of peace movements
are doing much harm, every one of the luke warm are becoming bold
& a great many of the staunch ones are becoming indifferent, as
they think that an effort at re-construction is being made. Things in
our Dept are gloomy, but I will do the best I can, hoping soon to be
relieved from the duty & some new hand more fertile in resources
& with more physique to carry them out may be appointed. |
| I remain very respfly yr obt Svt |
| Norman W. Smith |
| Maj & Chf Insp |
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