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Weldon, N. C.
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| May 15th, 1863 |
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| Capt. Philip A. Sandy {AQM
forage services} |
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| Captain, |
| The trains of the Raleigh & Gaston
Rail Road Co. transport corn & subsistence stores from Raleigh to
Petersburg, where they are unloaded & their cargos shipped to
Richmond. The trains of the Western N. C. & Wilmington, Charlotte
& Rutherford Rl Rds come to Petersburg, their cars are detached
& carried to Richmond by the engines of the R. & P. {Richmond
& Petersburg} RR Co. The
trains of the Atlantic & N. C. R Rd. may also be employed in
transporting these stores from Raleigh to be unloaded in Petersburg,
or their cars to got through to Richmond as may be agreed, of which
you will be duly advised. |
| The trains of the Raleigh & Gaston
& of the Western N. C. & Wilmington, Charlotte &
Rutherford roads are those at present chiefly relied upon for this
service from the direction of Raleigh, & it is vital to the Army
that they reach Petersburg & Richmond & return at the earliest
hour for other cargoes. |
| To this end they must be allowed in their
transit from & to Gaston the same privileges as the trains of the
Petersburg, & Richmond & Petersburg RR Co's & be unloaded
both in Petersburg & Richmond without any other delay than that
which is positively unavoidable. Mr. Sanford the patriotic
Superintendent of the Petersburg road will I am sure give all the
orders & other assistance necessary to secure this at his depot
& over his road. |
| Through the courtesy of Mr. Sanford {President,
Petersburg RR}, the
cars of his road from Weldon & Gaston with corn and possibly
subsistence stores may be allowed to go to Richmond without unloading.
These cars must be returned to Mr. Sanford at the earliest hour. |
| The corn & subsistence stores
consigned to Richmond and unloaded in Petersburg from the trains of
the Raleigh & Gaston, Petersburg and other railroads reach
Richmond by way of R&P rail road & Appomattox & James
Rivers. This corn must be shipped by rail road because the
necessities of the Army require the most rapid transportation. But
neither corn or subsistence stores are to remain in Petersburg in cars
or in depots for one hour longer than is absolutely necessary. The
army cannot be sustained without implicit obedience to this order. The
trains herein referred to have been the subjects of pillage during
their detention in Petersburg. Lieut. Chappell in charge of soldiers
for this purpose is ordered to guard these trains, & all corn
& subsistence stores in Petersburg & those going to Richmond
by railway. The proper protection of this property of the Government
demands the greatest vigilance on the part of this guard, which should
be increased if necessary by application to the Commanding Officer in
Petersburg. The corn of the Government is wasted in Petersburg through
rents in the grain sacks. This corn must be exchanged in Petersburg
from these corn sacks to others sound, & the corn left in the cars
must be swept up, put into bags & shipped to Richmond as
consigned. |
| You will please establish your Head
Quarters in Petersburg & give your entire attention to the
execution of the orders here in mentioned. You will do this in
connection with & for the assistance of Capt E. B. Branch the
efficient Quartermaster of Petersburg. You are authorized to employ
such labor & build such platforms, turn outs &c as you &
Capt. Branch agree to be necessary to the rapid transshipment of
government freight. You will please ask the cooperation of Major John
C. Maynard Richmond in the execution of that portion of these orders
requiring the immediate unloading of all cars with corn &
subsistence stores in Richmond & the return of the same to
Petersburg at the earliest hour possible. You will please report to me
daily by letter to Weldon till further orders the number of bags of
corn (belonging to the Govermt) arriving in Petersburg & to whom
consigned, the trains of other roads (than the Petersburg road)
arriving in Petersburg loaded with Government freight, & the day
& hour of their departure therefrom on their return home. |
| Very Respectfully |
| Chas. S. Carrington |
| Maj. & Q. M. |
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