| Houston Apl 16th 1864 |
| |
| Brig Genl J. E. Slaughter |
| Chf of Staff &c |
| |
| Genl, |
| I would most respectfully lay before you,
a plan for the organization of the Employees of the different Rail Road
Companies, which in my humble opinion, would protect in case of
necessity the bridges, tanks &c on those roads, also the entire line of
the Road from evil disposed persons, and for the guarding of Govt.
Supplies and arrest of deserters. Some portion of this plan, I humbly
hope, will meet with your approbation. |
| The Employees of R Road Companies, are
necessarily so much scattered (after leaving the machine and car repair
shops) and being in the positions of Station Agents, Tank Tenders,
Bridge Watchmen and Foreman over Negroes repairing Roadway, as to be
almost impossible to concentrate more than three or four in every ten
miles, except near Stations, therefore, the only feasible plan that I
can propose, by which they can be brought under military authority, and
be kept at their work, where they can be called upon at any time, either
in Squad to protect portions of the road, arrest conscripts and
deserters, or in a body to prevent raids of the Enemy is, |
| 1st To order Cap ES Heriot Insp Engr
of RRd to send a man over each road to take a list of Every white
man directly or indirectly Employed, detailed civilian Exempts & all
their occupation &c &c a copy of said list to be sent to you those on
the list actually needed to be certified to by the Prest or Supt
of said road, and those not, to be turned over to the conscript officer |
| 2d To place all the Exempts, or
those not detailed, on each Road, in one Company under a Captain and
officers from men over 45 years |
| 3d All detailed men now in the
Employ, or hereafter to be employed on said road, to be transferred
temporarily to the muster roll of his Company for Special Service. |
| 4th That he will make monthly return
to Hd Quarters of all men in his Co, occupation &c, all those
re-transferred to their commands or to the Exempt companies of other
roads |
| 5th That the Captain shall drill, or
cause to be drilled twice a week at least, those men Employed in the
Machine and car repair Shop on such days as to include all the train
hands, and shall cause his officers to do the same at any Station on the
line of the road, wherever a Squad can be conveniently mustered. |
| 6th That he shall enlist into Said
Company, enough men between 45 and 50 years not employed on Said road,
and convenient to Stations, to make up a full Company (not including
detailed men in the number) and to drill them, and the detailed men,
regularly with the others in Squads. |
| 7th That he shall personally inspect
his Company twice a month to see they are attending to their duties, and
cause his officers to make to him weekly reports, shewing any change of
position or occupation by the men on said road, to report any that have
absconded, or of any conscript or deserter on the line of the road which
he will cause to be arrested and turned over to the proper authorities. |
| 8th No man to leave the Employment
of one RRd company for another, without a regular transfer (made on
application of the officers of said Road) from the Company of that Road
to the muster rolls of the other. |
| 9th No furloughs to be granted,
except by the officers of said Exempt Company -- under orders from Hd
Quarters. |
| The benefit to be derived from the above
plan, is, |
| 1st To prevent mechanics from
leaving one road for another without just cause -- for Blockade runners,
for escape to Mexico or to the enemy, all of which has been done:
caused partially by fear of conscript and militia enrolling officers. |
| 2d Being Exempted, and considering
themselves Exempt from all Military duty, they work as best suits
themselves, well knowing their places cannot be filled. |
| 3d To prevent constant applications
for leave of absence and necessarily neglect of duty, at the time when
their services are most needed. |
| 4th To place them in an
organization, the fear of which is worse than the fact, and to prevent
their constantly hunting opportunities of avoiding it. |
| 5th To place at your disposal, in
case of necessity, a Squad of men to guard a Bridge, or depot of Govt
Stores without interfering with the Employees of the road, or other
military organizations, except in extreme necessity. |
| 6th The Clerks and Govt Employees on
the line of the Road may be placed in the Same Co, and drilled in their
Squad. |
| It is my firm opinion, that under this
plan the different Roads can do more work, with less men and at same
time it would prevent the running away of negroes on whom they mainly
depend for labor, and offers great protection to the several telegraph
lines, and would be a point, round which the people would rally, and I
feel confident, that Exempts (not Employed on the Rds) would freely
enlist to fill up the Company, owning to the protection it will give to
their own immediate neighborhood. |
| Very Respy Yours |
| Grafflin |
| Chf clk T. & N. O. R. Rd. Co.
{Texas & New Orleans RR} |
|