| Office Mobile & Girard Railroad |
| Columbus, Ga., July 8, 1864 |
| |
| Hon. James A. Seddon, Secretary of War |
| |
| Dear Sir, |
| I have learned that an agent of
the C. S. Army has been instructed to select a place for the
confinement of prisoners taken from the U.S. Army and that he has
chosen a spot on this road. Now, while it may and probably would
prove to be for the pecuniary advantage of this road to have the
encampment on it, will it not be an injury to the army stores of
provisions? Every pound of meat or bushel of grain that passes over
this road can be sent via Macon to Atlanta, or via Augusta to
Virginia, and thus reach either of our armies, while there are
countless thousands of bushels of grain west of the Alabama River
that can not be made available for the want of transportation over
the Montgomery & West Point Railroad. Would it not be sound
policy to have the encampment somewhere west of Selma, on the
Alabama River? It is a better provision country and equally as safe
and healthy. I suggest this for your consideration. |
|
Respectfully, yours, |
| W. H. Mitchell |
| President |
|