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Corinth, April 18th/62
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| Major R. B. Hurt |
| Military Supt R Rd |
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| Major, |
| I am in receipt of your note
advising me "that it is of the utmost importance that the Army
stores destined for Columbus Miss be forwarded at once." |
| I beg to say that the
conveniences and arrangements for transporting Freight on the Columbus
Branch are entirely inadequate to the demands made by the several
departments, all of whom insist upon the Freight being sent
immediately forward. |
| The Columbus Branch was
constructed for a very small local business, and in a Prairie
??? of black mud, with a light Rail, and has been only passable
during the winter at a speed of five or six miles an hour. With the imperfect
machinery conveying from other Roads it is difficult to run a train
over it without some of the cars leaving the Track. The mud in which
the track is laid is of such a character that it is impossible to work
in it during the winter or at any time, except when it is perfectly
dry. The siding and turnout accommodations are sufficient for its
local business but entirely inadequate to discharging the amount of
Freight ??? ??? forward. |
| If the Freight coming forward
now is to be sent down the Road as fast as delivered by the Memphis
& Charleston Rail Road it will inevitably result in a blockade,
which will lock up & render useless a large part of the Machinery
of the Mobile & Ohio Rail Road. Nothing shall be left undone by
working night & day to perform the service required by the
Government, but the Freight now coming forward cannot with the siding
accommodations be discharged at any one or two points without
interrupting the running of Trains. |
| Very Respectfully |
| Your obt St |
| L. J. Fleming |
| Sup Mobile & Ohio RR |
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