| Office East Tennessee & Georgia Railroad Co. |
| Knoxville |
| November 17, 1862 |
| |
| Lieut. Gen. E. Kirby Smith |
|
|
|
Dear Sir,
|
|
The condition of the engines and cars of
this company is such that it will be impossible for us to do the
work of the Confederate States more than sixty days longer. We must
have two more good engines and at least fifty box cars. We have
bought all we could find for sale, and paid exorbitant prices, and
we are willing to purchase and pay cash for more at extravagant
prices. This is an emergency with us, and, unless remedied
immediately, will be felt severely within the next sixty days by the
army. There are engines and cars enough in the South to sustain the
main lines for the next three or four years. There are many branch
roads that have cars and engines of no kind of use in these times to
either the public or the Confederate States, but we have no power to
force a sale. If the War Department will cause us to be supplied
with the stock, we will cheerfully pay not only liberal but
extravagant prices for it. I have never heard of any disposition
being made of the engines and cars captured on the
Louisville &
Nashville
road, and presume they are in possession of the
Nashville
& Chattanooga
road. One of these engines, at least, is well adapted to our grades.
I have brought this matter before the Quartermaster-General on more
occasions than one, and have had in reply that he had no power to
help us. I feel that I have done my whole duty to the Government
with the means I have had at my control. My stock is now so far gone
that it will be useless before winter is half over. If there is a
failure here, the responsibility will not be on me.
|
| Truly, yours, |
| C. Wallace |
| President |
|