| Office of the Mobile & Ohio Railroad |
| Mobile Ala., August 20th 1864 |
| |
| Lt Col F W Sims |
| Chf R. R. Bureau |
| Richmond |
| |
| Colonel, |
| There is a much larger amount
of transportation required of this Road by the Government than we can
perform, and our capacity is daily decreasing for the want of
Mechanical labor to keep our stock in repair. Large quantities of corn
have been purchased on our Road for Genl. Hood's Army, and we find it
impossible to transport it with the required dispatch, because of the
want of Machinists to keep the Locomotives in order. I have endeavored
to obtain them by offering high wages, and other inducements, but I am
now satisfied that they cannot be had outside of the Army. Our
capacity is now reduced to about twenty seven (27) car loads of
Freight per day, and this cannot be maintained through the winter
without additional Mechanical labor. We have been since the Sherman
Raid, in such close proximity to the enemie's lines, that a large
number of our Mechanics have escaped to the enemy, and I have little
confidence in a portion of those now in our employment. |
| Genl McRae of Mississippi, who
is one of our Directors, is now in Richmond, and I will thank you to
confer with him in relation to this matter, and if possible devise
some plan for our relief. |
| In case of the investment of
this city, which now seems probable, I have made arrangements for
running our stock & valuable material, up the Road, and will erect
temporary Repair shops, so as to use the Road for the best interests
of the Government. |
| Very Respectfully Yours |
| L J Fleming |
| Chf Eng & Genl Supt |
|