| Governor of Georgia |
| |
| Governor, |
| Colonel ?ant arrived here last
night and handed me your letter of the 27 inst: directing me to give
him every facility for the running of the rolling stock and motive
power (placed by your Excellency on this road) to Savannah |
| The condition of the stock I
have reported to your Excellency from time to time, and in my report
of Aug 6th stated as follows |
| "There is now stationed
here, and on picket duty from Saint Mays River to the Altamaha River, on
the main land, six full Companies of horse under the Command of Lt Col
Clinch. These will be kept here, as I am informed by Gen Miner. It
requires all the cars we have and two Locomotives to do all the
business of the Road, and we have to run extra trains with forage and
provisions, quarter master stores &c to the canal Bridge, five
miles this side of Brunswick. We also require one spare Engine, in
case of Repair or accident" from my report, an additional Company
of horse has been ordered to be raised for the Coast Service as Cartin??
& messengers, under the Command of Cap L. J. Hopkin |
| The Road is being run Daily,
and regularly from this place to Tebeauville, connecting with the up
and down trains of the Savannah Albany & Gulf Rail Road, and
carrying Quarter Master & Commissary Stores from Thomasville &
Savannah to subsist the troops Stationed in this Military District |
| With regard to the dismantling
of the Road, I Reported to your Excellency Aug 6 that my explanations
and remonstrances stopped the taking of the track at the Canal Bridge.
From the date of my report I met the agt of the Navy Department, Col.
J. G. Miner at Macon, and went with him to Savannah, where we had two
interviews with Gen Mercer. The result was, that the Agent was content
to take the iron piled here, which was torn up from Brunswick to the
Canal Bridge, and to give us six months time to arrange with the
Confederate Government for the preservation of the Road. I was about
to start for Richmond last week for this purpose, when I was struck
down with fever, and am now confined to my Bed |
| There are many reasons which I
would wish most respectfully, to lay before your Excellency, why the
Road should not be broken up, at least not without due and timely
notice being given to the People who are dependent upon it. |
| first Troops could not be subsisted
in this section, for the protection of the People, negroes, property
and Salt Works without the Road. Therefore the Government would be
compelled to withdraw them. |
| second Should the troops be
withdrawn from the Sea Board and Rivers, Barges would visit the Rice
plantations on the Satilla River and destroy the present large crop of
rice and corn on that River. Government expects to obtain from these
Planters 250,000 bushels of rice. Many of the Planters have
apportioned out half their Rice Plantations in corn and half in rice. |
| third The negroes on these
plantations and on the plantations which are worked on the Sartilla
River and Buffalo &c can easily be taken by Barges. |
| From the large Plantations on
the Altamaha River, the Planters have moved their negroes to
plantations on the line of the Road where they plant corn &
Potatoes. The Troups, Dents, Kings, Cowpers and others have large
bodies of negroes on our line of Road. These Negroes are now prevented
running to the Enemy by these troops. Should the troops be removed,
the Planters would be compelled to leave their crops now planted, or
run the risk of losing these negroes. This would ruin them. |
| fourth Salt is being made at points
stretching from the Altamaha along the sea board of Glym & Camden
Counties principally upon small arms of the sea around Brunswick.
These Salt Works are increasing steadily, and the salt made is of the
best quality. These would have to be destroyed should the troops be
removed from here. |
| fifth Before the Rolling Stock and
Motive Power is taken from the Road, humanity would require that time
be given to remove the old men women & children from this section
of the County, which would be left open to the forays of the Enemy.
Thousands of negroes are yet working on the Plantations in this sec of
the County, all of whom should be sent away before the Rail Road is
stopped |
| sixth From opinion gathered at
Richmond it is now evident that our Government believe that the war
will be carried on next winter on our Sea Board. Dr J. G. Hopkins of
this place has just Returned from Richmond, and to day informed me
that is the general impression. Taking this in view, it is evident
that the Brunswick & Albany Rail Road will be a most important
Military Road, and should it be dismantled now, it would in all probability
have to be rebuilt, and restocked. |
| seventh We cannot get motive power
or rolling stock from the Savannah Albany & Gulf Rail Road for
this road. Mr Fulton the Supr informed me that the S. A. & G. R.
R. had not Rolling stock enough to do the business of the Road
promptly |
| For the above reasons which
might be carried on at greater length, I most respectfully ask your
Excellency to enquire if necessary into the condition of this section
of the State, and the condition of the population, prior to ordering
any the stock from the Road, and I most respectfully ask that my
letters and reports of April and Aug may be examined by your
Excellency to show that I have kept your Excellency informed of the
condition of the Road. I ask this because of expressions in your
Excellency letter of the 27 inst. which lead me to believe that you
had formed an opinion that the stock was ???, and that every thing
here was in a state of confusion. |
| I wish here to state that the
Locomotives and cars are in good condition, and laying aside the wear
of parts of machinery, wheels &c, in better condition than when
your Excellency placed them on the Road. |
| I hold the stock sent to the
Road, subject to your Excellencys order, and will see that it is sent,
when I receive the order to send it. |
| I have the honor to be |
| Your Excellency's |
| Obedient servant |
| Charles L. Schlatter |
| Superintendent |
| |
| P. S. I have as yet received no bills from
the State against the B. & A. R. R. I would most respectfully ask
the favor of your Excellency to direct that the charges made for the
use of the stock to this road, be sent to me at as early a date as
possible. |