| ?, Feby 8, 1864
{Only the second page of this report has survived.
The date and location of the report are estimated from the contents and
are subject to revision} |
| |
| Major S. B. French |
| CS |
| Richmond VA |
| |
| Major, |
| (Page 1 missing} |
| weakness of the little engines attached to
the passenger cars of the So. Ca. Road: At Columbia on Sunday morning I
seated myself in the rear car of the passenger train -- it comprized
only two small passenger cars besides the baggage car: Started off at
the appointed time & after moving on its way a few hundred yards
suddenly stopped The engineer found that his engine had not power to
enable him to make his schedule time & the rear car was disengaged from
the other then he proceeded -- leaving me & other passengers with me
unceremoniously behind & I had to await the evening train before I could
get off. Capt Cranston gives daily his personal attention at the Depots,
& communicates to Capt Witherspoon at Columbia the shipments of Comy
Corn to that point and Capt Sims I think is a very proper man in his
place & is faithfully carrying out his orders in giving preference & all
despatch to Commissary Corn, as far as possible. Already I hope you are
getting in supplies liberally. It wd be a great relief to you if the
Prest. of the Raleigh & Gaston Road would put his cars through to
Petersburg. But it will be several weeks before there will be adequate
transportation to Charlotte & Wilmington, at the former point we have a
hard & stubborn man to deal with in Mr Webb the Prest of the No Ca Road
& difficulties & delays may encumber at both. |
| But shipments from Major
Allens District exclusively to Virga cannot at once be made. Capt
Cranston has seen a letter from Major Cumming to the purchasing Comy
here in which he states that Genl Johnston will disband his army unless
adequate supplies for his army come forward to him
{next page missing} |
| Very Respectfully |
| W H Smith |
| Major & CS |
|