| Provost Marshall General's Department |
| City Point, Va., December 11, 1864 |
| |
| Maj. Gen. G. Meade |
| Commanding, Army of the Potomac |
| |
| General, |
| Scouts returned this a. m. and bring the
following information from Richmond: ***** The following information
is received from one who has every facility for knowing the
condition of the enemy's railroad affairs: The
{Richmond &} Danville road is being used to its utmost
capacity. Forty 8-wheeled cars come in daily loaded with supplies.
They have twenty engines on the road, all in bad order. A great part
of the time only four or five of them can be used. Occasionally they
sent twenty more cars in each day. The railroad cannot bring more
than provisions enough to supply the wants of the army, and it is
therefore impossible for them to get much of a surplus on hand. The
track is in very bad condition, and they have had to take the
rolling stock from the {Richmond &}
York River Railroad and lengthen the axles to fit the Danville road.
They have also received some rolling stock from the East Tennessee
{& Georgia} road. The {Virginia}
Central and Fredericksburg {Richmond,
Fredericksburg & Potomac RR} railroads bring about a fair
supply of subsistence for the citizens in Petersburg and Richmond.
Provisions, however, are very scarce in the towns. Flour is worth
$400 per barrel. At the bridge on the Central railroad over the
South Anna there is a guard of 600 reserves, with four pieces of
artillery. On the Fredericksburg road at the bridge over the South
Anna there is one company of forty men. There are about 120 mounted
scouts north of the South Anna patrolling the country and guarding
the railroad. ***** |
| Very respectfully, your obedient servant, |
| Jno. McEntee |
| Captain and Provost Marshal |
|