Columbus, July 23, 1864
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| Col. John B. Sale |
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| In view of present condition I suggest the
immediate completion of the railroad from this point direct to
Montgomery, via Union Springs {connecting the
Montgomery & Eufaula and the Mobile & Girard Railroads,
going around the smaller gauge Montgomery & West Point Railroad}.
About forty miles remain to be completed. Nearly all of this is
graded ready for track. Iron can be had from unimportant roads in
Florida, Alabama, and Georgia, and the work completed in three or
four months. Its great advantage would be in affording means of
running rolling-stock east and west of Montgomery by giving us a
uniform gauge all the way from Richmond. I leave this evening for
Atlanta, having sent forward a large brigade of good troops from
this place.
|
| Braxton Bragg |
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| [First indorsement] |
| To Secretary of War, for his information. |
| |
| [Second indorsement] |
| To Engineer Bureau, for consideration and report. |
| J. A. S. |
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| [Third indorsement] |
| Engineer Bureau |
| July 26, 1864 |
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| Respectfully returned to the honorable
Secretary of War. |
| The greatest difficulty in making this
connection will be the want of iron. I have just ordered
Lieutenant-Colonel Meriwether to proceed to Montgomery, Ala., to
assist in repairing the Montgomery & West Point Road, and to
report upon practicability of making the connection between Columbus
and Montgomery, via Union Springs. I have also ordered Capt. L. P.
Grant from Atlanta to Montgomery, to assist in pressing forward the
work on the West Point road.
|
| J. F. Gilmer |
| Major-General and Chief of Engineer Bureau |
|