|
Office Chief Quartermaster
|
| Gen'l Beauregard's Command |
| Augusta, Januy 1st 1865 {May
be January 15, 1865} |
| |
| Gen'l G. T. Beauregard |
| Comdg Mil Dept of the West &c |
| |
| In your dispatch to me of the 17th
December to Montgomery enclosed and marked A, which I promptly obeyed
and went at once to Macon, there consulting with Mr. W. T. Adams Sup'at
(Superintendent) (Central (of
Georgia) Road) who agreed to rapidly push to completion this
Road. I came to this ??? and consulted Mr. Geo. Yonge (General
Superintendent) and Mr. J. P. King Prst (President)
Georgia Road, made frequent vis?? to Capt. L. P. Grant,
Engineer found this officer at work with less than one hundred hands,
and needing axes, spades, shovels, picks, adzeis, augers, cut saws,
Broad axes, ?teal, Blacks, & Rope. labor and Tools, as well as
Teams. In other words, making but little progress, and made
arrangements to speedily rebuild this Road. While here, I received the
telegrams marked B. and letters C. D. E. #1 E. #2. |
| I consulted with Gen'l Fry. Judging as
ordered, called upon Maj. C. L. Sayare, to impress for immediate use
1000, one thousand, negroes. Had Cavalry detailed to collect and
distribute the negroes, as they are to be impressed in the Counties
contiguous to the Road. Purchased and shipped tools. Had 25 wagons
furnished to transport Ties and Rails. Contracted with Col. J. G.
Miniar, to straighten the bent rails, to expedite the laying of the
track. Got Mr. W. M. Hight, the most practical Rail Road man in the
South, to volunteer me his services, without remuneration, but taking
hold only with a view to serve the Confederacy and yourself,
reconstituting the Road, from Greensboro to Atlanta. |
| Mr. J. P. Whitehead agreed to do the same.
And I'm arranging to have the necessary mechanic detailed to assist
them. I've shipped ?eats, shovels, Picks, Augers, Adzies, Axes, Broad
Axes, Portable Forge to Greensboro to put Mr. High promptly to work.
Had 70 odd negroes volunteered to me in South Carolina to assist me,
and after this I visited you in Charleston to give you all the
information I had and to consult with you whether it was not best to
use some of the Iron then being taken up from the Charleston &
Savannah Road there to take up some of the branches of the Georgia
Road. I was there informed it was more than likely the whole matter of
repairing Roads was to be put in the hands of the Engineer Dept. You
requested me to continue my duties just as if there was no change
contemplated until you could hear from a dispatch sent to Richmond to
know who was to repair the damage. On the 1st Janry, I got dispatch
marked F. |
| I most respectfully protest against this
course, in as much as I feel convinced with the arguments I've made,
the valuable assistance I can bring to bear, coupled with the energy
and experience in Rail Road repairing and building that I now command,
thus I can complete the Road in 2/3rd the time it would require the
Engineer Dept. |
| As I fear all that I've done will fall to
the ground. If I am not left to carry out the orders, I received from
you, and upon the faith of which I received the results above stated,
bit if I am relieved I must respectfully ask if there any delay in the
repair of this Road, at present so much needed, and upon which so much
depends, I beg to be exonerated from all blame, and justice done me to
say that I am not answerable for any damage that the cause our Country
may sustain from the want. |
| I am unto the greatest respect |
| ? ? {Edward} Willis |
| Chief QM |
| (6 Enclosures. Yours to ???) {None
of the enclosures have been located} |
|