| Executive Department |
| Tallahassee May 21st 1863 |
| |
| Brig Genl Joseph Finegan |
| Lake City |
| |
| General, |
| I have received your esteemed
favor of the 12th inst and immediately on its reception forwarded a copy
of it to the Secretary of War. While enjoying the immunities of peace
none would have been more opposed than I, to any interference with the
rights of the Florida RR Company. In my humble judgment no road in the
State would have contributed ultimately more to the prosperity of the
State as one of the United States. |
| But the separation of the
States having unexpectedly caused war, a wonderful and fearful change in
our political relations has ensued. A change which threatens Florida and
her sister states with subjugation, unless the citizens of the Southern
States, shall triumph and cordially yield to the exigencies of the
present war, whatever is or maybe necessary to our defences. The
superior naval force, and the excessive number of the enemy, demand the
use of all our means for the concentration and support of Troops. |
| I am of opinion, that the iron
from Camp Cooper to Fernandina and from Gainesville to Cedar Keys,
should be appropriated to extend the Pensacola & Georgia R Road from
Quincy to Chattahoochee & also to connect the P&G Rail Road with the
{Savannah,} Albany & Gulf R Road. If
insufficient for the extension and connection, the iron on the R. Road
leading from this place to St Marks should also be used and the surplus
of iron applied to the finishing of the Gunboat. The extension to
Chattahoochee or the connection between the two roads, would afford the
means of transportation for the iron needed to finish the boat and also
would enable the planters and Stock Owners of Florida, to contribute
materially to the support of our armies in other States. Moreover would
secure the means of transportation for troops, guns and munitions of war
for the better defence of East Florida and other parts of the State. I
know no reason why the Troops you have near Fernandina and Cedar Keys
cannot be subsisted without the iron on the parts of the roads alluded
to, a large number of troops in this military district, have been
supplied by waggons, hauling forage and subsistence a much greater
distance, than would be necessary to haul, to support the forces you
have near Fernandina and at Cedar Keys. I can not conceive, therefore,
why the use of the parts of the road alluded to, can be indispensably
necessary for the defence of your military district, nor why the removal
of the iron could be consumed only as a prelude to the abandonment of
East Florida to the enemy. But I can imagine how the enemy with their
superior force may take possession of the Florida Rail Road, and use it
in co-operation with forces from the St Johns River for the subjugation
of East Florida, and I apprehend it is their propose, and that you have
not the force to protect their taking possession of the Florida R Road,
and consequently that your means of defence would be greatly improved by
the removal of the iron from the parts of the road indicated. If our
means are not sufficient to extend the road from Quincy to
Chattahoochee, and also to connect the Pensacola & Georgia R. Road with
the Albany & Gulf rail road, I prefer the road to be extended, rather
than the connection to be made, for the reasons assigned in a message on
the subject to the General Assembly of the State, which message you have
read. The Confederate Government is willing to pay a just price for the
iron, and I believe, under the circumstances that not only the State at
large would be benefitted, but that the interests of the Stockholders
would be promoted by the appropriation of the iron to the purposes for
which it is desired by the Government. |
| Very Respectfully |
| John Milton |
|