| Headquarter
Department of North Carolina |
| Wilmington, February 6, 1865 |
| |
| Maj. Gen. J. F. Gilmer |
| Chief Engineer, Richmond |
| |
| General, |
| I have your confidential letter in
regard to the Wilmington and Rutherford Railroad {Wilmington,
Charlotte & Rutherford RR}. Immediately on its receipt I
took measures to inform myself in regard to its importance, public
and private, as well as its availability. I find a large proportion
of the supplies, probably one-half, used by the troops in this
region, is drawn from the country bordering this road, and a still
larger proportion of the subsistence for the citizens reaches them
by this route. But this is not the main consideration inducing me to
defer action on your suggestions. The road, though not absolutely
owned by, is mortgaged to, the State of North Carolina, and any
attempt to seize it under the impressment law will be resisted.
Indeed, this was once done, and the State defeated the attempt and
held the road. You can find the proceedings on file in the War
Department, dated about one year ago. The only hope, then, it seems
to me, is to appeal to Governor Vance on the subject, and endeavor
to obtain the consent of the State. With this view I shall defer
action for further advice. |
| I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient
servant, |
| Braxton Bragg |
|