| Confederate States, Quartermaster's
Department |
| Railroad Bureau |
| Richmond, Feby 24th 1864 |
| |
| Major J. W. Pegram |
| A. A. G. |
| |
| Major, |
| I can make no arrangements for
transporting prisoners that seem capable of fulfillment. The first plan,
contemplated the removal of 400 daily, and a schedule arranged for the
trains to make connections through to destination was completed. |
| On Saturday last you did not
send any; I called to learn the reason, but Genl Winder could not inform
me. I asked when he would commence again, he could not tell me, but he
committed to inform me by special messenger. He did not do so and I
telegraphed the trains to go to hauling corn. On Sunday prisoners
commenced going again, but I had no notice of that & trains will not be
ready for them. Yesterday you informed me that every other day was more
convenient and in reply to my question as to whether any is to go this
morning you answered affirmatively, yet none went. |
| With this kind of management
it is just as well to send them at your convenience and trust to luck
for them getting through. |
| Any time you can promise with
certainty that you can send them I will arrange to have them go if its
once a week, or every day, or every other day, until you can so promise
all arrangements are useless. |
| Very respy |
| F. W. Sims |
| Lt. Col. & Q. M. |
| |
| {on back of document} |
| Head Qurs Dept of Heno |
| Richmond Feb 25, 1864 |
| Respy forwarded to A&I Genl requesting his
attention to this letter of Lt. Col. Sims. The Prisoners were more ready
to start yesterday morning as per agreement but the Guard failed to
report. The Prisoners can be ready at any moment but as their getting
off depends on the Guard over which I have no control (being furnished
by another Dept) I am unable to make any arrangement will the RR with
guarantee of its being kept. |
| ?? Winder |
| Brig Genl |
| |
| Respy referred to Maj Genl Elzey who will
turn over the guard detailed from his command to General Windor. It is
considered in ??? manner alone can difficulties in the removal of the
????? The responsibility will then be devolved upon a single officer. |
| By Comd Secy of War |
| H. L. Clay |
| A. A. Genl. |
| A&IGO |
| Feb. 25/64 |
| |
| Hd. Qrs Dept. of Richmond |
| Feb. 26, 1864 |
| Respy returned. The guard has already been
turned over to Brig. Genl. Wider |
| Arnold Elzey |
| Maj. Genl. |