| Richmond Decr 22d 1864 |
| |
| General A. R. Lawton |
|
Q. M. General
|
| |
| General, |
| The Seaboard & Roanoke RRd Company has
received an offer from a person engaged in the trade of Commissary
Supplies for cotton & tobacco on the Blackwater to deliver at
Franklin Station any rail road supplies or pieces of machinery of not
greater weight than one thousand pounds for any single article, the
values of which are to be estimated at current specie rates prior to
the war, and to be paid for in cotton similarly estimated. |
| In evacuating Portsmouth the Seaboard
Company lost their entire shop machinery: Both they and the Richmond
Fred & Potomac RRd Company would be glad to purchase machinery and
supplies on the terms offered. I respectfully ask for permission to
trade for these two Companies for such supplies as they may need. |
| Your obt Servant |
| Jno. M. Robinson |
| Director & Gen. Supt. |
| Seabd & Roanoke RRd Co |
| |
| {on back of the letter} |
| This application is respectfully
submitted to the Secretary of War approved. I suggest further that
Captain Robinson be instructed to under take service in his official
capacity to other Rail Roads to be predicated by them |
| Qr Master Genl |
| AR Lawton |
| Qr Mr Genl |
| 25 Dec 64 |
| |
| To Com Genl |
| Can this be managed without interfering with your operations and on a common understanding
as to rates etc |
| Jr Seddon |
| Secy of War |
| 25th Dec 64 |
| |
| Resp Refd this Chief Cos of Va.
to Maj R Tannahill CS for remarks |
| By order |
| J. N. Ddley Jr |
| Major & CS |
| Dec. 28, 1864 |
| |
| Off Chf CSSch Dist Va |
| Petersburg Va |
| Janry 5th 1865 |
| Respectfully returned through
ChfCS of Va. |
| The precedent established by
granting the within application will in my opinion cause other RRd Cos
Agts of Cotton Mills, Flour & Corn Mills, Foundries, &c to
claim the same privilege. |
| If it is possible to secure the
supplies required through any other channel than that proposed, I
recommend that every exertion be made to do so. Applications of a
similar kind have been made direct to me, and in every instance I have
disapproved on the ground that the wants of this Dept were imperative.
Through Gen Lee arrangements have been made to supply all the RRd Cos
in Va & N. C. with meat for their employees, by allowing cotton
& tobacco to pass into enemy's lines in exchange therefor. Every
facility will be given in good faith in accordance with this
understanding, which added to the demands on this Dept must
necessarily take a larger quantity of cotton to comply with contracts.
If this traffic should be permanently established & the
anticipated benefits desired then such necessary articles as cannot be
otherwise obtained can be had through this source for Rail Roads. If
the application is granted I recommend that the supplies recd pass
through this office including the return comy |
| Robt Tannahill |
| Maj & ChfCS |
| 1st Dist Va |
| |
| Offie ChfCS for Va |
| Richmond Jany 26, 1865 |
| Ref returned to CfS calling
attention to the endorsement of Major Tannahill & with suggestion
that if it be deemed absolutely necessary to procure rail road
machinery & supplies in the mods proposed, that the trade be
conducted under the direction of Maj Tannahill, in order that no
derangement of his operations (which are now working smoothly &
successfully) be made by the interference of other and inexperienced
parties |
| BP Noland Major |
| Chf CS for Va |
| |
| Resp returned to the Sec of War
inviting his attention to the endorsements of Major Tannahill &
Noland which are approved |
| LB Northrup |
| CS |
| Feby 7/65 |
| |
| Q M Genl |
| Note the endorsements from the
Com Department & arrange the matter with them. There is no
objection to the proposition made, & recommended by you |
| By order |
| J A Campbell |
| 8 Feby 65 |
| |
| QM Gen Feb 10 1865 |
| Respectfully returned to Capt Robinson and his
attention directed to Qr Mr Genl indorsements |
| By order of QMGenl |
| W Y Alexander |
| Maj & Asst to QMG |
| |
| Petersburg Va |
| March 8, 1865 |
| Respectfully referred to Genl R E Lee Commd in Chf for
instructions, |
| The military changes recently made in the Norfolk Dept
have for the present closed operations on the waters. |
| It is proposed by the Agt of application to transport
the supplies required by the land route, the only channel now left by
which this Dept can secure subsistence from the U. S. in Eastern Va
& N. C. |
| While I am anxious and can appreciate the importance of
giving every facility to Rail Roads I doubt the policy at the moment
of addressing the contraband articles to come forward by land as the
capture of such supplies might have a tendency to break up the whole
traffic on the Blackwater, particularly as the enemy are represented
in force at Suffolk. |
| Robt Tannahill |
| Maj & CS |
| |
| Head Quarters ANV |
| March 14/65 |
| Returned to Major Tannahill whose views are approved.
It is deemed inexpedient to attempt what is proposed at this time. |
| By order of Gen Lee |
| W H Fayhm |
| AAG |
| |
| OffChfCS 1st Dist Va |
| Petersburg Va |
| March 15, 1865 |
| Respectfully returned through Maj B P Noland ChfCS for
Va. |
| Robt Tannahill |
| Maj & ChfCS |
| 1st Dist Va |