| Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad Company |
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President's Office |
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Richmond, Dec 31st 1862 |
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Hon. James A. Seddon |
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Secretary of War |
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Sir, |
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The continued occupation during much of the year of the
line of this Road by the Enemy and the subsequent excessive use of it
for Army transportation have left it without the supplies of cross ties
timber and firewood for Locomotives usually kept in readiness; while
every exertion of its Officers has failed, either to make contracts for
more or to prevent the repudiation of contracts previously made by those
whom Government pries have tempted to abandon them. There is serious
reason to apprehend a total suspension of transportation over this Road
for want of these necessaries and to prevent this as far as practicable
this Company has made arrangements with Thos. T. Chandler, Jno. B.
Chandler, Thos. C Hackett & Eldred Tuner of Caroline County to cut for
the road as much of this timber wood as they could with negroes of their
own & to be hired by them. These negroes both their own and those
engaged or expected to be hired by them have been recently conscripted
or impressed by the County Courts under the act the Legislature of Va.
directing it to be done at the requisition of the Secretary of War of
the C. S. for work on fortifications &c. As the enforcement of this
order will in all probability inevitably cause a cessation of
transportation over this road for want of necessary means to carry it
on, not to be otherwise obtained. I respectfully and earnestly ask, that
the negroes owned & hired by the persons herein before named may be
released from the effect of this order, (which goes into effect tomorrow
1st Jan. 1863,) or the men specially detailed for not less than
three months for this necessary service to Army transportation. |
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The difficulty, if not impossibility of procuring negroes
or other laborers for the work of repairing the roadway & loading &
unloading cars at the Stations or any other purpose in this section of
the country -- next to the enemy & so long occupied by them is simply
that to keep that Road in operation, it may be necessary to ask a
further detail for that purpose. No effort however on the part of the
Company will be spared to procure them at any price. |
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very respectfully your obt. Servt. |
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P. V. Daniels, Jr. Presdt |
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