| Jackson, Tenn., March 2, 1862 |
| |
| General G. T. Beauregard |
| |
| General, |
| In obedience to your order
of the 2lst ultimo to proceed at once to Montgomery, Ala., and
deliver to Gov. J. G. Shorter a letter, with instructions, which you
handed me, I started early the following morning, but owing to the
disorganized condition of the different railroads I missed every
connection, and did not arrive in Montgomery until the afternoon of
the 25th ultimo. I immediately called upon the Governor and
delivered your letter to him. |
| ***** |
| He also informed me that
there were four regiments and one battalion in North Alabama, guarding bridges, &c. These troops he thought would be of more
service with you, and he would intercede with General Bragg to have
them ordered to report to you immediately. |
| ***** |
| At 3 p.m. I left
Montgomery
by steamer and arrived at Mobile
on the 28th ultimo. The railroad {Alabama
& Florida (of Alabama) and Mobile & Great Northern RRs} being washed away in many places, I
could not come by the most expeditious route. |
| ***** |
| In making this report I
would respectfully state that, unless some military control is
exercised in the management of the different railroads over which I
traveled to Montgomery, when required for military purposes, some serious accident will
surely take place. |
| I am, general, very respectfully, your
obedient servant, |
| A. R. Chisolm |
| First Lieutenant and Aide-de-Camp |
|