| Headquarters Army of the Mississippi |
| Jackson, Tenn., March 8, 1862 |
|
|
| General G. T. Beauregard |
| Commanding Army of the Mississippi |
| |
| General, |
| In obedience to your instructions,
directing a written report of my observations of the condition and
efficiency of the military police along the line of the several
railroads, I have the honor to submit the following:
|
| 1st. On the Mississippi Central Railroad
there is no police organization whatever, and I respectfully suggest
that a rigid military surveillance is greatly needed upon this
route; otherwise stragglers from the service can readily pass south
via Grand Junction. |
| 2d. On the Memphis & Charleston
Railroad a police has been established. It is by no means, however,
an efficient one, as the officers thereof, in all cases coming under
my observation, confined themselves to the simple inquiries,
"Who are you?" "Where from?" and "Where
going?" without demanding in a single instance written papers.
My attention was especially directed to this palpable dereliction of
duty on the part of police officials, between
Huntsville
and
Decatur
, on the night of the 7th instant, on which occasion seven coaches
filled with stragglers and sick soldiers passed between these two
points, subject to no other inspection than that above indicated. |
| 3d. On the Mobile & Ohio Railroad
the papers of privates are examined, and if not signed by the proper
authorities the holder is put off the train instead of being
arrested. All officers are passed over this road upon their simple
word. |
| 4th. The military posts along the roads
over which I traveled are without guards at the depots, hence no
examination of persons getting on or off the trains is made. The
interest of the service, as well as the comfort of those traveling,
would be greatly promoted by placing a sentinel at the door of each
car, subjecting all persons to a proper surveillance before
entering; besides, these sentinels should accompany each train to
its place of destination, for the purpose of preserving due decorum
among the soldiers en route, who frequently, I regret to say,
are guilty of the grossest misconduct. |
| In conclusion I respectfully submit that
these delinquencies on the part of the police officers, above
referred to, seem to be owing rather to a want of proper
instructions as to what constitutes their duties than to a
disposition to shirk them, they being in most cases men of inferior
intelligence. |
| Respectfully, general, your obedient servant, |
| John M. Otey, jr. |
| Lieutenant, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General |
|