President's Office
| Alabama and Florida R. R. Co. of Alabama |
| Montgomery, Ala., April 4, 1862 |
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| His Excellency President Davis, |
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| Sir, |
| Under date of the 19th of March the
Quartermaster-General requested me to suggest what should be done to
perfect, with as little delay as possible, the line of communication
between Selma and Meridian, now demanded as a military necessity,
and whether the connection could not be made by plank road. I felt
satisfied the railroad connection now in progress could be completed
in less time than a plank road could be built, and, understanding
that you desire its very speedy completion, I beg leave to present
to you Mr. William M. Wadley, president of the Vicksburg and
Shreveport Railroad, as one of the most energetic and reliable men
connected with railroad service in the Confederate States. I have
known him for many years, connected first with the best-managed
railroads of Georgia and lately with roads in Mississippi, and I
feel assured, if you deem it necessary to take possession of the
line to be built for Government purposes, he will accomplish it in
less time than any other person I know connected with railroad
service in the South. He has mislaid letters from Mr. W. C.
Smedes, of Vicksburg, to you upon this subject, and it may not be
amiss to inform you that I have placed the whole line of road
between this place and Selma under contract, and if I can procure
the iron I can complete it within this year; and if the line west of
Selma can be opened, the connection between Vicksburg and Montgomery
can be made within eighteen hours. |
| I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant |
| Charles T. Pollard |
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| [Indorsement] |
| Secretary of War for special notice. |
| J. D. |
| ***** |
| Confederate States of America, War Department |
| Richmond, Va., April 4, 1862 |
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| A. S. Gaines, Esq. |
| Demopolis, Ala., Present |
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| Sir: Congress regarding and early railroad
connection between Selma, in Alabama, and Meridian, in Mississippi, as
important to the Government in a military point of view, lately passed
an act authorizing the President to advance to the Alabama and
Mississippi Rivers Railroad Company the sum of $150,000 for the
purpose of completing this connection. The completion of this road,
connecting, as it does, with the Alabama River at Selma, and with the
Southern Railroad from Meridian to Vicksburg, at the earliest day
practicable, is a matter of importance. The road from Selma to
Demopolis is understood to be already completed, or nearly so. From
Demopolis to Reagan, a distance of some twenty-four miles, is
understood to have been in part graded, and from Reagan to Meridian, a
distance of twenty-seven miles, the grading and bridging is completed
and the iron in part laid down. The road from Selma to Reagan is
understood to belong to the Alabama & Mississippi Rivers Railroad
Company, and from Reagan to Meridian to the Northeast &
Southwest {Alabama} Railroad Company. |
| In order to hasten the important work you will
proceed to the line of the road and confer with the president and
directors of the Alabama & Mississippi Rivers Railroad Company,
and ascertain their views, plans, and prospects in regard to an
early completion of their road. You will examine and supervise the
work, and urge an early completion of the road; afford any aid you
can in enabling the company to procure the necessary labor and
materials, and in directing the proper application thereof; advise
with the officers of the company on all matters connected with the
early completion of the road; see that the proper arrangements are
made by which to unite, upon terms not embarrassing or expensive to
the Government, the two interests in the road, so as to secure
through transportation without a change of cars. You will also see
that proper arrangements are made and suitable rolling-stock
provided for the transportation over the road of troops, munitions
of war, provisions, and passengers, and that suitable arrangements
are made for crossing the Tombigbee River until the company shall
construct a bridge across the river. You will report the progress of
the work from time to time, with your opinion as to when the route
will be completed. It has been suggested that a part of the iron
necessary to complete the road from Reagan to Meridian is in New
Orleans, and that some difficulty has existed in regard to its
transportation to Meridian, growing out of the fact that the New
Orleans and Jackson Railroad is in the employment of the Government.
Instructions will be given authorizing its transportation over the
road at the expense of the company. You will receive the
compensation of a captain of engineers while in the employment of
the Government. |
| Geo. W. Randolph |
| Secretary of War |
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