General Johnston's charge of
want of efficiency in the management of the State road {the
Western & Atlantic RR} is without foundation. The
officers of the road are doing everything in their power with the
means at their command. Confederate officers have taken from the
State road and had lost or destroyed upon other roads over 200 cars
and eight engines belonging to the road. This leaves the road short
of rolling-stock. I demand that two good engines and fifty cars be
returned to the road immediately by the Government, whose officers
have deprived it of over four times that number. If this is done
promptly, General Johnston's freight can be carried. If it is
refused, the responsibility must rest where it belongs.