Confederate States of America, War Department
| Richmond, September 24, 1861 |
| |
| Col. A. C. Myers |
| Acting Quartermaster-General |
| |
| Sir, |
| The number of engines and
cars on the East Tennessee & Virginia Railroad is totally inadequate to the
transportation service of the Government. Both engines and cars are
required. The number of engines required is six, at least,
twenty-six tons. The number of cars required is seventy box-cars.
The two companies supposed to have the largest available means now
disposable for this purpose are the Western & Atlantic Railroad
Company, of Georgia, and the Mobile & Ohio Railroad. You are
instructed to make immediate effort by one of your efficient
officers to obtain from those companies by contract, the engines and
cars thus imperatively required for the public service. If unable to
obtain them by contract you are authorized to impress them and have
a just estimate of their value made, to serve as a basis of
settlement with the owners.
|
| Your obedient servant |
| J. P. Benjamin, |
| Acting Secretary of War |
| |
| |
| Richmond, September 25, 1861 |
| |
| Col. W. S. Ashe |
| Richmond, Va. |
| |
| Sir: Under the authority of the
War Department to provide the means of increasing the motive power and
rolling-stock on the East Tennessee & Virginia Railroad you will
please proceed to the Western & Atlantic Railroad and the Mobile
& Ohio Railroad and procure from one or the other, or both, six
locomotives and seventy box-cars, if that number be required, and
have them placed under the orders of Campbell Wallace, who has taken
charge of the East Tennessee & Virginia Railroad. You will please
contract for the purchase of the engines and cars, if it can be done
on such terms as you consider fair. If you cannot purchase you are
authorized to impress the engines and cars and have them appraised
so that they may be paid for by the Government of the Confederate
States.
|
| A. C. Myers |
| Acting Quartermaster-General |
|