Confederate States Of America
| Quartermaster General's Office |
| Richmond, March 18, 1864 |
| |
| S. L. Fremont |
| Chf. Eng. & Supt. W{ilmington}
& W{eldon}
R. R. |
| Wilmington, N. C. |
| |
| Sir, |
| Several telegrams
from you touching the recent action of the Sec. of War (through this
Department) stopping passenger trains for a time have been received,
also copies of your letters to Genl Bragg and Maj. Cameron, and
contents carefully noted. Please consider this as a reply to them
all, as it was not practicable to reply to each at the time. |
| You will excuse me from
entering upon any discussion of the right of the Sec. of War
to give the order, which I was charged to execute. It was not only a
military necessity at the time, of which none but the War Dept.
could form a correct judgment; but the order was clearly authorized
by Act of Congress. At least, I can have no doubt as to my
duty in the premises, and shall not hesitate in the discharge of it,
whenever the necessities of the Army require. |
| I regret that you do not
see the gain to Government transportation by the stoppage of
passenger cars and all other freight, while it is awaiting
shipment; but the results have fully vindicated the act of
the War Dept. More Govt. stores have been transported from
Wilmington & Charlotte to Richmond in the last five days than
ever before during this war, in the same space of time. And I am
surprised, that one of your judgment & experience should fail to
see the benefits that must result to the transportation of freight
by withdrawing passenger trains altogether; even though no other use
is made of the rolling stock so withdrawn from active labor. The
mere delays to freight trains on a road by having their
movements controlled by the schedule times of passenger trains are
very serious. Moreover, the withdrawal of the latter permits the R.
R. Company to bestow all its skills & energy on the prompt
movement of freight. This much I have thought proper to say, in
deference to your views, but you are in error when you take it for
granted that this necessary action of the Department implies a
censure upon any particular company, is intended for punishment, or
has any other object than the discharge of the manifest and all
important duty of supplying our armies in the field. To this end let
us all work; taking it for granted that when those in authority
resort to stringent measures, they have abundant evidence that they
are necessary. Rest assured, there shall be no interference by this
Dept with any R. Road, unless demanded by a stern sense of duty. |
| Very respectfully |
| A. R. Lawton |
| Q. M. Genl. |
|