| Head Quarters Department Nr 2 |
| Tupelo Miss, July 4th 1862 |
| |
| Col. S. Tate |
| President M & Charleston R. R. {President,
Memphis & Charleston RR} |
| |
| Colonel, |
| As you have kindly consented to take the
general Superintendence of the work on completing the Meridian &
Selma R. Road {the Alabama & Mississippi
Rivers RR}, the Commanding General instructs me to request you to
repair to Demopolis, Alabama at your earliest convenience, and relieve
Capt. T. H. Thompson, C. S. A. |
| The principal object of taking military
control of this important work is to give such aid to the Company that
it may be completed in the shortest time possible, and render it
available for military purposes. You will therefore please confer
freely with the officers of the Company in question who have at their
disposition a loan of one hundred & fifty thousand dollars. You
will doubtless be able so to arrange matters, that while the interests
of the Company shall be properly secured, all possible expedition may
be given to the completion of the work. You are fully authorized to
employ all necessary Engineers, Agents, Overseers &c &c. Labor
will be obtained by hire -- material by purchase -- where practicable,
but military necessity and the high public interests depending on the
most ????? of the work, will justify impressment whenever obstacles
are interposed. It is hoped, however, this may be avoided, but if not,
you will promptly resort to it. It is anticipated, especially, that
you may find it difficult to secure all the Iron, Spikes &c for
the road without impressment. In all such cases impress promptly and
firmly, taking the needful articles from available sources where the
least damage will be done or burden imposed. |
| Pleased to secure your services at this
time, the General entrusts the work to you, with every confidence in
your known energy and long experience, well assured of an early and
successful completion of the work. |
| Please inform the General of the condition
on which you may find the work and from time to time, of the progress
made under your direction. |
| Respectfully |
| Yr Obdt Servt |
| Thomas Jordan |
| Chief of Staff |
| |
| I hereby certify that the foregoing is a
true copy of an original order issues to me by Genl Braxton Bragg, on
the 4th day July 1862. Under the authorization of which I made a
contract with the Cahaba, Marion & Greensboro RR Co for Iron
Rails, Chairs & Spikes on account of which I have this day
certified in ??? of said Company for Ninety five thousand four hundred
and eighteen 63/100 dollars. Signed in duplicate. |
| Sam Tate Mil Supt |
| Meridian & Selma RR Co |
| |
| {Microfilmed with the above
document} |
| Part of a letter to Sec of Treas.
in relation to R. R. in Ga. & Ala. |
| Selma & Meridian |
| |
| Reports of Sec. of Treas. |
| 1861 to |
| Feb. 17, 1862 |
|