| Richmond & Danville Rail Road |
| Superintendent's Office |
| Richmond, Dec 16 1864 |
| |
| Col. F. W. Sims |
| Q. M. |
| |
| Colonel, |
| I inclose a copy of a dispatch just
received from my Assistant on the Piedmont R. Road Mr J L Morrow. |
| I reported to you some time since that
with the limited number of engines under the control of the Company
it was impossible to prevent an accumulation of freight at
Greensboro, and I regret to see that my expectations in this respect
have been fulfilled. |
| The Company owns but four (4) engines
the Lee, Hercules, Atlas and Roanoke. The first is disabled by one
of her chilled tires being worn out and she will be in the Shops for
several days yet, the Hercules was damaged by running off the track,
and is still in Shop, the Atlas has worn our her entire set of tires
and cannot be used until a new set are fitted up and put on her. The
last named engine is very small only fit for a gravel or shifting
Engine and has been much out of repair ever since she was first
turned over to the Company by the Government. There are Seven hired
engines on the Roads. The Chickahominy, James, Collins, Gordon,
Staunton, Carolina and Virginia. The Chickahominy is in good order
and running the mail. the James is a small engine used to shift at
Danville. The Collins is on gravel train. The Gordon on material
train. The Staunton was sent to us in bad order and has now given
out on account of her tires and is in Shop for repairs. The Carolina
has just been delivered to us and is at work. The Virginia has not
yet been on the Road but will commence work at once -- she will not
however haul more than five (5) or six (6) cars. your will see
therefore that with eleven (11) Engines on the Road there are only
seven (7) in use -- two (2) of them gravel and material trains and
two shifting -- leaving only three (3) for the business of the
Road. |
| The engine sent by N. & C. R. Road {Nashville
& Chattanooga RR} to aid us has been withdrawn. Two of the R. & G.
{Raleigh & Gaston RR} Engines have
given out and gone home for repairs and the Manassas Gap R. R.
engines are a great part of the time in the Shop out of order, and
the services of no other foreign train seems at present obtainable
by the Company. |
| As an explanation of four engines being
in the Shops, I would state that the tires of the Atlas and Lee were
much worn when these engines were first turned over to us by the
Government and that the engines were kept in such constant use that
there was no opportunity to put on new tires. |
| The Gordon and Staunton were both much
out of order when rented to us by the Va Central R. Road and the
tires of the latter are entirely worn out. The Hercules is but
slightly damaged and will be out in a few days. |
| Under these circumstances if the freight
at Greensboro is to be brought forward without delay, the Government
must either enable us to get engines and cars, or require the trains
that bring corn to Greensboro to come through to Danville. |
| I shall go to Greensboro next week and
if I can induce the foreign trains to run through to Danville I will
do so but I am not sanguine of success. |
| If the Piedmont Road is placed in a
condition to bring to Danville all the freight arriving at
Greensboro the R & D R Road will not be able to prevent an
accumulation at Danville, but in view of the interruption of the
salt business by the enemy it is probable that the Va & Ten R.
Road can be induced to send some of their trains to aid in hauling
freight over this road and this arrangement which I think it is
quite in the power of the Government to make would ensure the
delivery to the Army of all supplies as rapidly as they can be
brought to Greensboro. |
| The R & D. & Piedmont R R
Companies are using every effort to get their own Machinery in order
and are ready to offer favorable terms to other roads to send trains
to aid in the transportation, but past experience would seem to show
that through Government influence is the only way to obtain
assistance from other Roads in hauling supplies for the Govt. |
| Very Respectfully |
| Chas. G. Talcott |
| Genl Supt. |
| |
| {on reverse of letter} |
| C. G. Talcott Supt. |
| Richmond Dec 16/64 |
| Reporting condition of machinery on Piedmont
railroad. |
| |
| Richmond Dec 17/64 |
| Respy referred to Q. M. Genl. |
| This report exhibits a bad state of affairs, and
intimates that it cannot hope for any improvement only through the
action of Govt. Under the circumstances the govt is practically
working the road, would it not be better for the govt. to control it
altogether? |
| F. W. Sims |
| LtColAC |
| |
| Respectfully submitted to the Secretary of War. |
| I am satisfied we can hope for no material
improvement under present management of this Rail Rd. The
organization of the Danville Road is pressed to its utmost capacity
to meet the demand upon it between Danville & Richmd. |
| A. R. Lawton |
| Q. M. Genl |
| 17 Dec '64 |
| |
| Noted. For conference with the President of the Road |
| 17 Dec '64 |
| JAS |