Alabama and Florida {of
Alabama} Railroad Company
| Montgomery, Ala., April 30, 1861 |
| |
| President Charles T. Pollard |
| |
| Dear Sir, |
| In a day or two the road will be completed
and my conviction of the necessity of having a watch stationed at
our principal bridges, mentioned in a recent conversation, has been
strengthened by noticing the arrest of some parties in North
Carolina for attempting to destroy the bridges on the Wilmington
& Weldon Railroad. It is true our road traverses a friendly territory
throughout its entire length, but knowing the unscrupulous character
of the enemy with whom we have to deal, and satisfied of the
presence amongst us of his emissaries, who would glory in inflicting
on our road an injury, and through it a most severe blow against our
Government, I deemed it my duty to call attention to the matter and
ask your instructions. As the Government is so deeply interested in
the maintenance of uninterrupted communication with Pensacola, the
Secretary of War might feel that the most useful disposition which
could be made of a portion of the numerous volunteers offering
service would be to station a sufficient force at the important
bridges, a list of which I append on next page. |
| Very Respectfully, |
| Saml. G. Jones |
| Chief Engineer |
| First bridge across Pine Barren Creek, 25 miles above
Pensacola, 700 feet long; |
| next bridge across Canoe Creek, 38 miles above
Pensacola, 300 feet long; |
| next bridge across Escambia River, 44 miles above
Pensacola, 2,000 feet long; |
| next bridge across Little Escambia, 47 miles above
Pensacola, 500 feet long; |
| next bridge across Burnt Corn, 55 miles above
Pensacola, 1,000 feet long. |
| There are other bridges over Murder Creek and Sepulga
and about 1,100 feet in length, but they are so far in the interior
that I do not apprehend much trouble; but from Pensacola to Burnt
Corn the railroad runs parallel with the Big Escambia for a few
miles distant, and an enemy under the guise of a timber trader might
prowl around in the neighborhood of the road and do any amount of
mischief without much probability of detection, unless in the manner
suggested, by having a guard stationed at the bridges. |
| S. G. J. |
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