Headquarters Department No. 2
| Tupelo, Miss., July 4, 1862 |
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| Col. Samuel Tate |
| President Memphis & Charleston Railroad |
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| Colonel, |
| As you have kindly consented to take
the general superintendence of the work of completing the Meridian
and Selma Railroad {the Alabama &
Mississippi Rivers Railroad} the commanding general instructs
me to request you to repair to Demopolis, Ala., at your earliest
convenience and relieve Capt. P. H. Thomson, C. S. Army.
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| The principal object of taking military
control of this important work is to give such aid to the company
that it may be completed in the shortest time possible and render it
available for military purposes. You will therefore please confer
freely with the officers of the company in question, who have at
their disposition a loan of $150,000. You will doubtless be able so
to arrange matters that while the interests of the company should be
properly secured all possible expedition may be given to the
completion of the work. You are fully authorized to employ all
necessary engineers, agents, overseers, etc. Labor will be obtained
by hire, material by purchase, when practicable; but military
necessity and the high public interest depending on the most
vigorous prosecution of the work will justify impressment whensoever
obstacles are interposed. It is hoped, however, this may be avoided;
but if not, you will promptly resort to it. It is anticipated
especially that you may find it difficult to secure all the iron,
spikes, etc., for the road without impressment. In all such cases
impress promptly and firmly, taking the needful articles from
available sources where the least damage will be done or burden
imposed.
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| Pleased to secure your services at this time,
the general intrusts the work to you with every confidence in your
known energy and long experience, well assured of an early and
successful completion of the work. Please inform the general of the
condition in which you may find the work, and from time to time of
the progress made under your direction.
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| Respectfully, your obedient servant |
| Thomas Jordan |
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| I hereby certify that the foregoing is a
true copy of an original order issued to me by Genl Braxton Bragg,
on the 4th day of July 1862. Under the authority of which I made a
contract with the Cahaba Marion & Greensboro RR Co for Iron
Rails Chairs & Spikes on account of which I have this day
certified in favor of said Compy for Ninety five thousand four
hundred and eighteen 63/100 Dollars. Signed in duplicate |
| Sam Tate Milt Supt |
| Meridian & Selma RR Co |
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