| Head Quarters Prov Forces |
| Dept Middle and East Florida |
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Tallahassee Fla Dec 26, 1861 |
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The Hon J. W. Baker |
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Tallahassee Fla |
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Sir, |
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I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your
letter of this date, asking an expression of opinion from me in
reference to the necessity, as a military measure, of a connection
by telegraph between this city & Baldwin and the same also with
reference to supplying the only link now wanting in our chain of
Rail Roads to put Florida in communication, by rail, with the other
States of our Confederacy; viz. the branch road, already graded and
to a great extent with the cross ties laid or on the spot ready for
laying, to connect the Georgia Road with the Road which unites this
city with the two most important points on the Florida Atlantic
coast, Fernandina and Jacksonville, as well as Cedar Keys on the
Gulf coast. |
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In all military operations to gain time is a matter of
prime importance. It is difficult therefore in my judgment, to
exaggerate the value, especially to a people engaged in a defensive
warfare, a people threatened with invasion by a formidable maritime
power, and that power a near neighbor, of the magnetic telegraph:
and where the population of the country menaced is sparse, occupying
a wide area, as is the case with ourselves, and especially in this
state, its necessity becomes almost indispensable. |
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But as important as I regard the means for the rapid
transmission of intelligence they are secondary in my opinion
to those for quick, easy & certain transportation furnished
by Rail Roads. The importance of these, in a country like ours,
cannot be over estimated. |
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Our seaboard will, in all probability of course, always
be our principle line of defence, the interior, or course, our base
of operations. The indispensable necessity of such means as rail
roads only can furnish for transporting troops, munitions of war,
Quarter Master's and Commissary's supplies from the "base" to the
"line of defence" is so obvious as to render it superfluous for me
to dell upon the subject. Rail roads are at one and the same time
the legs and stomach of an army. |
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You will perceive therefore that I entirely concur in
opinion with His Excellency Governor Milton, which I learn from your
letter he has expressed to you, that both the line of telegraph from
Tallahassee to Baldwin and the Branch Railroad to connect the
Pensacola & Georgia Rail Road in this State with the Georgia Rail
Road in the State of Georgia are works of "military necessity" --
especially commending themselves to the favorable consideration of
our Government in the present junction of affairs. Were we to lose
our communication by steamers with Brunswick Georgia, now in great
jeopardy, by reason of the defencelss condition of St Andrews Sound
in that State, the State of Florida would be completely severed, so
far as steam communication is concerned, from the rest of the
Confederacy and should she be invaded, unless the contemplated Rail
Road is completed, the hazards of the campaign would necessarily be
greatly enhanced, its results rendered very doubtful, and its
expenses enormously increased. |
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Charged specially with the defence of this Military
Department, and feeling of course a deep interest in all that
relates to it, I cannot refrain from expressing to you my thanks for
the opportunity thus afforded me of expressing my views upon these
vitally important points. |
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Trusting your mission may meet with the success it
deserves. |
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I am, Sir, |
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Very respectfully |
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Your obt. Servt. |
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J. H. Trapier |
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Brig Genl Comdg |
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