| C. S. Central Laboratory, (Ordn.) |
| Thomasville, Ga., Dec 25th 1864 |
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| Lt Col J. W. Mallet |
| Supt. C. S. Central Laby. |
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| Colonel, |
| I have the honor to inform you that all
your stores, and all of Col Cuylers, have arrived here that left
Savannah, and are all in store, except one car load of machinery of Col
Cuylers which is still on the car {Savannah,
Albany & Gulf RR}. This is heavy machinery and I shall not move
it until it is loaded on the wagons I have also left the three
large boxes of machinery, of yours on the platform. One of those boxes
being too heavy for any wagon to carry, I opened it and took out a
portion of it and put it in another box. There is two pieces of Col
Cuylers machinery, viz. one Lathe bed and one drill press, that no team
can haul, or wagon carry over the road to Albany in their present
condition It is possible however that I may procure a wagon sufficiently
strong to carry the drill press. I shall make every effort to do so. I
have carefully looked over all the stores and find every thing all right
except one bale of Osnaburgs short, of Col Cuylers. The list sent me
from Savannah must have been one bale over, or I sent one bale by
Edgerly more than was on his list. Every thing else being all right I
think some mistake of that sort has occurred. When I am to get off with
these stores I cannot tell the prospect rather grows dire. I supposed
that Capt Johnson would return from Albany at once and clean me out. But
his teams were ordered on another service, and he is now in the country
pressing other teams, with little prospect of success until after the
Christmas holydays. Negroes will not go with him now. |
| Major Butler came through with 10 wagons
which he had hired for his own private use, to move his furniture. He
had enough to load his wagons his furniture being light, he allowed me
to load four of his wagons with heavy stuff that was not bulky. I loaded
two of them for you with Quicksilver and paints principally and two for
Col Cuyler. I did not send a messenger with this small lot as I
considered Maj Butler better than any messenger I could send, fearing I
might get them both on the road and could get other wagons off when they
arrived. |
| I sent by Maj Butler 8
Negroes from here, three slaves and five free negroes to accompany the
wagons and report to Mr Ells at Albany. One free negro has come and
reported to me, who ran away from the Laboratory some time ago. His name
is Aaron Miller. Another free negro Tazewill Bloodworth left Mr Ash at
Valdosta and has not come on yet. I have written to the En. Off. of
Lownds County to send him to me but has not done so. I have now six free
negroes beside Tazewill. |
| My only chance of getting these stores
through lies through Capt Johnson. He has charge of all transportation
between this point and Albany. He told me his instructions from Gen Cobb
was to give these stores the preference over any thing else. The roads
are said to be very bad on the way. I am very anxious to get home, and
shall do my best to get the stores shipped as soon as possible. |
| I have the honor to be |
| Very Respectfully |
| Your Obt. Servt. |
| Calvin Fay |
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