| From the Chattanooga Rebel |
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| January 11, 1863 |
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To the Public |
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I regret exceedingly to state that the damage done to the
East Tennessee & Virginia Railroad by the recent incursion of the
enemy's cavalry will interrupt the shipment of salt, being made in
Virginia for the use of the people of Tennessee. Upon this subject I
have received the following from the President of the Road: |
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"Office East Tennessee & Virginia R. R. Co. |
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Knoxville, Jan'y 7th, 1863 |
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Ira P. Jones, Q. M. Gen. &c |
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Dear Sir, |
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In reply to your inquiries I will state that it will
require, at least, sixty days to reconstruct the bridges lately
destroyed on this Road, and restore it to running order. We expect
to have the bridges across the Watauga rebuilt within thirty days,
when we will have trains running from either end of the Road to the
Holston. |
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We cannot undertake to receive, transport and be
responsible for freights until both bridges are rebuilt and our Road
reinstated. |
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We are now pressed with Government freights which take
precedence of all others, and we cannot promise with certainty that
any salt can be shipped over our Road till it is restored. We
appreciate the necessities of the people in respect to salt, and
will gladly do all in our power to facilitate its transportation and
delivery. |
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Very respectfully &c |
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Jno. R. Branner, President" |
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From this it will appear that we cannot rely upon
obtaining shipments of our salt for the next sixty days. It is a
great misfortune, but one which neither we nor the Road could avert. |
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Ira P. Jones |
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Q. M. Genl and Superintendent of Salt Distribution |