NA, RR 4/16/1864

Houston Apl 16th 1864
 
Brig Genl J. E. Slaughter
Chf of Staff &c
 
Genl,
   I would most respectfully lay before you, a plan for the organization of the Employees of the different Rail Road Companies, which in my humble opinion, would protect in case of necessity the bridges, tanks &c on those roads, also the entire line of the Road from evil disposed persons, and for the guarding of Govt. Supplies and arrest of deserters. Some portion of this plan, I humbly hope, will meet with your approbation.
   The Employees of R Road Companies, are necessarily so much scattered (after leaving the machine and car repair shops) and being in the positions of Station Agents, Tank Tenders, Bridge Watchmen and Foreman over Negroes repairing Roadway, as to be almost impossible to concentrate more than three or four in every ten miles, except near Stations, therefore, the only feasible plan that I can propose, by which they can be brought under military authority, and be kept at their work, where they can be called upon at any time, either in Squad to protect portions of the road, arrest conscripts and deserters, or in a body to prevent raids of the Enemy is,
   1st  To order Cap ES Heriot Insp Engr of RRd to send a man over each road to take a list of Every white man directly or indirectly Employed, detailed civilian Exempts & all their occupation &c &c a copy of said list to be sent to you those on the list actually needed to be certified to by the Prest or Supt of said road, and those not, to be turned over to the conscript officer
   2d  To place all the Exempts, or those not detailed, on each Road, in one Company under a Captain and officers from men over 45 years
   3d  All detailed men now in the Employ, or hereafter to be employed on said road, to be transferred temporarily to the muster roll of his Company for Special Service.
   4th  That he will make monthly return to Hd Quarters of all men in his Co, occupation &c, all those re-transferred to their commands or to the Exempt companies of other roads
   5th  That the Captain shall drill, or cause to be drilled twice a week at least, those men Employed in the Machine and car repair Shop on such days as to include all the train hands, and shall cause his officers to do the same at any Station on the line of the road, wherever a Squad can be conveniently mustered.
   6th  That he shall enlist into Said Company, enough men between 45 and 50 years not employed on Said road, and convenient to Stations, to make up a full Company (not including detailed men in the number) and to drill them, and the detailed men, regularly with the others in Squads.
   7th  That he shall personally inspect his Company twice a month to see they are attending to their duties, and cause his officers to make to him weekly reports, shewing any change of position or occupation by the men on said road, to report any that have absconded, or of any conscript or deserter on the line of the road which he will cause to be arrested and turned over to the proper authorities.
   8th  No man to leave the Employment of one RRd company for another, without a regular transfer (made on application of the officers of said Road) from the Company of that Road to the muster rolls of the other.
   9th  No furloughs to be granted, except by the officers of said Exempt Company -- under orders from Hd Quarters.
   The benefit to be derived from the above plan, is,
   1st  To prevent mechanics from leaving one road for another without just cause -- for Blockade runners, for escape to Mexico or to the enemy, all of which has been done:  caused partially by fear of conscript and militia enrolling officers.
   2d  Being Exempted, and considering themselves Exempt from all Military duty, they work as best suits themselves, well knowing their places cannot be filled.
   3d  To prevent constant applications for leave of absence and necessarily neglect of duty, at the time when their services are most needed.
   4th  To place them in an organization, the fear of which is worse than the fact, and to prevent their constantly hunting opportunities of avoiding it.
   5th  To place at your disposal, in case of necessity, a Squad of men to guard a Bridge, or depot of Govt Stores without interfering with the Employees of the road, or other military organizations, except in extreme necessity.
   6th  The Clerks and Govt Employees on the line of the Road may be placed in the Same Co, and drilled in their Squad.
   It is my firm opinion, that under this plan the different Roads can do more work, with less men and at same time it would prevent the running away of negroes on whom they mainly depend for labor, and offers great protection to the several telegraph lines, and would be a point, round which the people would rally, and I feel confident, that Exempts (not Employed on the Rds) would freely enlist to fill up the Company, owning to the protection it will give to their own immediate neighborhood.
Very Respy Yours
Grafflin
Chf clk T. & N. O. R. Rd. Co.  {Texas & New Orleans RR}

Home