| War
Department, C. S. A. |
| Engineer Bureau |
| Richmond, Va. |
| January 3, 1865 |
| |
| Hon. James A. Seddon |
| Secretary of War |
| |
| Sir, |
| I have the honor to report the following
injuries to the main railroads in Georgia done by the enemy in
General Sherman's advance from Kingston to Savannah, viz: |
| First. Western & Atlantic road
(Georgia State road): Track and bridges from Atlanta to Etowah
River, inclusive, are destroyed. Beyond Etowah no injury of moment
is reported. Length of track destroyed, about 46 miles; length of
bridges at Chattahoochee and Etowah, 1,200 feet. The Governor of
Georgia has sent his agents to examine and report as to the extent
of injury to this road, the property of the State, but at the time
of Captain Grant's report, 16th of December, no portion of the
repairs had been made. All the labor and materials that can be
obtained by the Government will be first applied to the
reconstruction of the Georgia road (from Augusta to Atlanta), and to
the Atlanta & West Point road, with a view to get one connection
as soon as possible. |
| Second. Georgia road: The work to be
done on this road is comprised in three important bridges--one over
the Oconee River, the other two over smaller streams--and
thirty-eight miles of track. Of the latter, fifteen miles will
require iron rails from other sources. About twenty-three miles of
bent rails can be straightened. Cross-ties will be needed for
twenty-five to thirty miles. The most favorable estimate as to time
for finishing the repairs of this road is the middle of February.
All the labor that can be had by temporary impressments and by
impressments for twelve months has been assigned to this work, and
to, |
| Third. Atlanta & West Point road:
This road at last report was repaired to Palmetto from West Point;
it will be finished as soon or sooner than the Georgia road. |
| Fourth. The Central Railroad of Georgia:
This road, which connects Macon with Augusta via Millen, has been
repaired to Gordon, where the branch to Milledgeville has its
junction with the main road. Cars now run from Macon to
Milledgeville. The Central road from Gordon to Millen is very
seriously destroyed. Every effort is being made to induce the
company to renew the road, but there are about 100 miles seriously
injured; they cannot be repaired as soon as the roads leading
through Atlanta. The best engineers that could be furnished from the
command of General Beauregard are employed in rebuilding the roads;
and General Beauregard has assured this bureau that he will give
them every support, and that all that is possible will be done to
hasten their completion. With every exertion and with all the
assistance that can be brought to bear, we can hardly expect the
first through line can be repaired before the middle of February
next. |
| I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, |
| J. F. Gilmer |
| Major-General and Chief of Bureau |
|