| Transportation |
| Quartermaster's Department |
| Nashville, Tenn., Nov 4, 1861 |
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Maj. Genl. Polk
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Columbus Ky
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| Sir, |
| In reply to your Enquirie, embroad in
Letter #199 dated Octo. 29th, I beg leave to State: That when the
Government goods (in question) were shipped, I ordered them via
Stevenson, Ala. to Corinth Mississippi -- to go then by Mobile &
Ohio R. R. |
| This I knew was the direct route -- and,
of course, was the only one that I thought of shipping by. I
received, however, a dispatch from Capt. Ross, Superintendent of the
Memphis & Charleston RR Co, saying the M&O Road was blocked
up by Government & other Freight & asking permission to ship
the same via Grand Junction. |
| I gave him the permission -- which was
carrying out the instructions of Maj. V. K. Stevenson Quartermaster
for the States of Missouri, Kentucky, Arkansas & Tennessee -- to
the effect that Government goods must go by the route deemed the
quickest, without regard to directness. So soon, however, as I
learned that the M&O Road was clear, I directed Mr Dehart, the
Receiver, to order the goods by any route deemed the best -- all
things considered. So far from being angry because the Nashville
cars had not been returned, I beg here to assure you that I did not
know which Road had them. I did not know that you had issued orders
that all Government Freight should be shipped on the M&O Road. I
supposed, of course, that was the Route, and as I have said, ordered
the entire shipment over that Road -- never once thinking of sending
the stores any other routing until advised, as stated, from Memphis,
that the goods could not be got through from Corinth over the
M&O Road. |
| When first advised that the Road was
open, I ordered the goods sent by the direct route -- and that order
was by Telegraph to Mr Dehart, at Jackson Ten. |
| If any man is to blame, that man is
certainly not myself. First having ordered the Shipment directly as
you would have had it. Secondly, on having them sent on in order to
??? the goods ??? a Government shipment. Thirdly having ordered the
goods, by the route, as first directed so soon as advised then that
was practicable. |
| Your obt Svt. |
| Jno. S. Bransford |
| Transportation Quartermaster CSA |
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