| At Office of Inspr of Railroads |
| Houston Novbr 23/ 1863 |
|
|
| Capt E. P. Turner |
| A. A. Genl |
| |
|
Capt,
|
| Your communication of the 19th inst
reached me upon my return from Alleyton and I have in reply to state
that the only Railroad Connections which I have been directed to make,
and over which any authority has been delegated to me for directing
and controlling the work are as follows. 1st Directed by special order
No. __ from Major General Magruder on the 8th September to connect the
{Houston &} Texas Central and the
Texas & New Orleans Railroads in this City on which all work has
been completed and in use more than a month. |
| 2d. Ordered on the 11th September by Col.
Sulakouski Chief Engineer to connect the Eastern Texas and Texas &
New Orleans Railroad at Beaumont. This order was countermanded on the
12th September by the Maj Genl. Comd'g and I was on the same day
ordered by the Maj. Genl. Comd'g to Taylors Bayou to build a bridge
and construct a waggon road from thence to Sabine Pass, which was
completed on the 25 September, while at Sabine Pass, I was instructed
by Col. Sulakouski to proceed to Alleyton and extend the Railroad {Buffalo
Bayou, Brazos & Colorado RR} from thence to the Colorado
River, a distance of three and a half miles. Before Representations
had been made to the Maj Gen. Comd'g that there was but little work
required to complete this road while on the contrary there had been
but little done and nearly the whole remaining to be done. The
Construction of this piece of road has i??ed work of the very heaviest
character I have had to build one bridge alone, 1320 ft in length, and
have thus far not been able to obtain from Government a single tool or
piece of Machinery necessary for its construction but have been
obliged to obtain them from private individuals as best I could upon
my own responsibility. |
| I have not been able even to obtain the
necessary transportation over the Railroad for the materials required
for its construction and the work has been most seriously embarrassed
for want of Carpenters. |
| Notwithstanding however all the
difficulties stated if I can obtain six or eight more Carpenters and
have the iron transported by Railroad from Harrisburg to Alleyton as
fast as required the work will be finished in one month from this date
should I not obtain more Carpenters and ??? speedy transportation of
iron I cannot be responsible for the time of completion. These are the
only works in which I can in any way be held responsible for the
progress made in their construction. There is evidently some
misunderstanding in regard to the connection now being made between
the Texas Central and the Galveston, Houston & Henderson Railroads
through this City. I have never understood or does the Chief Engr Col
Sulakouski understand that this work is in the hands of Government.
The work is being done jointly by the two Companies under the
directions and control of their own Engineers Mess Converse and Wood.
I have never received any orders in regard to this work until the 10th
of the present month when by special order No. 75 from Artillery Head
Quarters, I was designated to examine this work and report to the Maj
Genl Cond'g the progress made and to urge Messrs Brown and Hutchins to
make the completion with the utmost possible despatch. On the 12th of
same month I recd the same instructions by (Special Order 308) from
VII through Theodore Heermann Agt Engr Dept. This examination was
made and the result reported to the Maj Genl Comd'g through T.
Heermann, Agt Engr Dept. on the 13th inst to which report I beg
leave to call your attention. |
| In conclusion beg leave to state
that I have ??? ??? all the works under my control as rapidly as the
resources at my command would admit of and trust that the work which I
have accomplished and reported as above, will meet the ??? of the
Major Genl. Cond'g. |
| I am Very Respectfully |
| Your Obdt Servant |
| E. L. Heriot |
| Capt & Insp of R. Rds |