| LaGrange Decr 22d 1864 |
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| Maj. Gen. Howell Cobb |
| Macon Ga |
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| Dear Sir, |
| Mr. Jas R Crew the
Superintendent of the Atlanta & West Pt R. R. while accompanying me on a
tour of inspection of the condition of our Road was arrested in Atlanta
by the Provost Marshall & was ordered to report to Capt Peden in Macon
by the 1st day of January. I understand that he was arrested on the
ground that he remained in Atlanta after the occupancy by the Federals
for some 12 or 13 days. If the officials who had him arrested had taken
the pains to enquire into the circumstances which made his stay there
necessary, I think they would hardly have perpetuated so gross an
outrage on him & with an inquiry to the interests of the Company.
Besides his being one of the city council who were laboring to
ameliorate the condition of his unfortunate fellow citizens, he has been
an employee of this company and of the Georgian R R Co for many years &
in that capacity was empowered & requested by the President of the Co to
remain to look after the interests of both companies as long as there
was any purpose of serving their interests. He has the original Power of
Attorney for that purpose he has in his possession. So soon as Mr C
found that his further stay would be ineffectual he came out with his
family & was appointed Superintendent of this road & has had the sole
management of it since the 23d of September. Since the evacuation of the
City by the Yankees he has been indefatigable in his exertions to repair
the road & put it in operation to Atlanta & his progress was almost
incredible till arrested. Although some 30 miles of the track were torn
up, we expected to have the whole road in running order by the first of
February & I still think we shall succeed in doing so if Mr Crew is
permitted to remain at his post. The completion of this Road is of vital
importance to the Company & certainly of great importance to the
government, & I know not how we can supply Mr C's place on the road. |
| We are cut off from the
President of the Co & as a ??? director I am doing what I can to aid Mr
Crew in his work. But whatever injury may be sustained by the Company &
the public by the removal of Mr Crew from the work I believe you know me
well enough to believe that I would not desire his continuance in the
position if I had the slightest reason to believe him disloyal to our
cause. I have scarified too much in the cause to have any sympathy or
change ??? sympathizers. But believing as I confidently do that his
arrest notwithstanding his legal exemption from all military service as
an employee of our Company was the result, either of want of
understanding of the facts of his case or of secret malevolent charges,
I have trespassed longer on your time than I have intended activated by
an earnest desire to prevent an act of undeserved injustice & public
injury. |
| Very sincerely yours |
| O A Bull |
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| Augusta Jany 26, 1865 |
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| Maj Genl H. Cobb |
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| Dear Genl, |
| I fully confirm what is stated
by Judge Bull. Mr Crew had long been in the service of the Company, in
different capacities, and was found by experience, to be a faithful
officer, & hones man He was fully informed and specially requested
to remain in Atlanta, to protect the property of the
Company as far as possible, and at least to ??? before leaving the
dangers it might sustain. I have no reason to believe that he made any
other use of his sojourn than was necessary for his purpose. Since he
left the city, he was appointed to Superintend the Atlanta & W Pt Rail
Road and has been actively and very efficiently employed in
repairing damages on that road, an object claimed of much importance by
the government. His loss to that road at this time, would be very
seriously felt by all concerned in the management and reconstruction of
that road. |
| Very respectfully |
| Your friend & obt Sevt |
| Jno P King |
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