| Goldsboro, April 20th 1864 |
| |
| Liut Col F. W. Sims |
|
Rail Road Bureau |
|
Richmond |
| |
| Dear Col, |
| I have this morning endorsed a letter of
Mr Harvey {Superintendent, Atlantic & North
Carolina RR} to Col. Fremont
{Superintendent, Wilmington & Weldon RR} as to his course
respecting transportation for Govt. I must say there has been much
misrepresentation about it. There is more in Col. Fremonts abrupt
manner than his acts to condemn. Bound as soldier he imagines he is
yet commanding troops or rather his abrupt & rough treatment of
prisoners generally bad as to believe to. When Gen W. A. Wise
complained of Col Fremonts conduct & management of his trains which
was referred to me by you to investigate & respond it was my
intention to go thoroughly into the matter & investigate his conduct
to the very bottom that he might be removed or the reports &
suspicions about him silenced. I met, however, Gov Vance at this
place the day after, I think it was, I recd the papers from you when
he informed me that Col Fremont had been appointed by the Board of
Internal Improvements of No Ca to represent the State stock in the
annual meeting of the Stockholders of the W&W R Road hence I never
investigated or reported. I believed that the large interest of the
State in his Road & his endorsement particularly our Governors would
clear up all suspicion as to his loyalty or improper management of
his Road. It was rather an extraordinary appointment & no doubt was
made to endorse him. Another reason why I did not look into the
matter I did not deem it politic at that time to come in conflict
with our Governor who was aiding the Govt in every way in his power
-- to his own injury with some of our people. Mr Harvey was the
Agent of our Road & at my suggestion he was also appointed by Col
Fremont to act at Goldsboro as Agent of the W&W Road for Govt
transportation. Thus it gave me in some control, through Mr Havey
over his Road, or trains. Col Fremont never did refuse to fill
promptly any requisition I made upon him for trains or cars when he
had them. You could have but little conception, unless you remained
at this place for a month of the interruption of the transportation
of Govt freight by the movement of troops. I feel better today than
I have in three months but am yet quite feeble. |
| Yours truly |
| John D. Whitford
{President, Atlantic & North Carolina RR and CS Transportation
Coordinator} |
| Is it too late to congratulate you on your promotion
if not I now do so. |
| Yours J. D. W. |
|