|
Confederate States, Quartermaster's Department
|
| Railroad Bureau |
| Richmond, Jany 26th 1864 |
| |
| Brig Genl. A. R. Lawton |
| Q. M. G. |
| |
| General, |
| On an application for the detail of men
who had contracted to furnish wood & ties to the Georgia Railroad
the Secy of War endorsed, that these men would have to come into
service but then should be allowed to service their labor. |
| This application is only a sample of many
others daily made to me and to which I am reluctantly compelled to
return the Hon. Secy unsatisfactory reply. |
| The importance of three men is beyond
question and from the endorsement referred to I apprehend their duties
are not fully understood. They are not laborers, but men who own the
land contiguous to railroads, as well as the negroes which cut it, and
the teams that haul the wood & ties. If they are forced into
service, who will do this business? Already many of them are selling
out and giving up contracts & if some relief is not held out to
those who are willing to give their ????? of transportation will
receive the severest loss it has yet suffered. |
| I trust there will be some satisfaction
made in these cases, and some rule laid down to guide me in my
intercourse with the Railroad Companies. |
| I am General |
| Very respectfully |
| Your obdt svt |
| F. W. Sims |
| {on the reverse of the page} |
| Respectfully referred to the Secy
of War |
| A. R. Lawton |
| Qr. Mr. Genl |
| 28th Jany '64 |