| President's Office |
| East Tennessee & Georgia Railroad Company |
| Knoxville, Tenn. Augt. 3d 1861 |
| |
| Hon. L. Pope Walker |
| Secty. at War Richmond Va |
| |
| Dear Sir, |
| This company has in good faith day and
night labored hard and constant to send forward troops, munitions of
war and provisions, neither of which have yet been detained by this
Co. This has been done as you are aware through and enemies country
and with armed guards on every mile of the road. A worse enemy than
the Lincolnites are now upon us, one that we can neither fight or
control. Commanders of troops, generally officers of low grades, in
command of small detachments assume to control our engine runners
with the bayonet and pistol, causing useless detentions and
dangerous collisions, two such have allready occurd. No kind of
necessity exists for such conduct and unless you can immediately
issue an order that will prevent it in the future, you will free us
to abandon the road and leave you in Military possession. We can not
keep men at work to run a road under such petty despotism, their
lives being constantly in danger while trying to discharge their
duty with fidelity. Please act promptly. |
| Fly yours |
| C. Wallace |
| Prest. |
|