| From the Richmond Dispatch |
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| March 27, 1862 |
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| A Sensible order |
| The order we publish below will commend
itself to every reflecting person. It is well known that it is
necessary to have the utmost system in the management of railroads, to
promote the safety of persons and the maximum efficiency of the
machinery. To the Superintendent, who is best acquainted with the
movement of the trains, the condition of the rolling
stock and road, the grades, length of turnouts, and capacity of
the several water stations, and to him alone, the subordinate officers
look for orders; and when such orders are interfered with or
countermanded by military officers, we are sure the interests of the
Confederacy must suffer. Where the transportation is so great as it
has been during the war, it is impossible to effect it without the
best system, and any interference, however good the intentions, may,
and probably will, prevent such system from being carried out.
Whenever, as in this order, the whole responsibility rests on the
Superintendent, we may confidently say, all that can be done towards
expediting Government demands, with the facilities at hand, will be.
This order leaves the military men to do the fighting, and the
Superintendents alone to do the running, in which capacity we are sure
they will each do their part well. Like all other orders emanating
from its source, it is excellent, and will no doubt give universal
satisfaction to the railroad officers throughout the Confederacy. |
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| Headquarters, Richmond, Va. |
| March 20, 1862 |
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| General Orders, No. 1 |
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| To avoid the danger, if not the certainty,
of frequent collisions, and the consequent destruction of life and
property, as well as obstruction to all transportation, it is
absolutely necessary that the movements of railroad trains should be
under one undecided control. These considerations make it imperative
that all trains should be regulated in their movements and speed only
by their conductors and engineers, in accordance with the regulations
and time-tables of the company. All the operations of a road should be
controlled by its Superintendent, or other authorized officer, and all
orders for transportation of every kind, and the movement of every
train, will be directed through him, when the exigencies of the
service demand a variation from the regular schedule. Disregard of
this rule will inevitably be attended with disastrous consequences. |
| By order of |
| Gen. R. E. Lee |
| W. H. Taylor, Asst. Adj. Gen |
|