| Office of Chief Q. M., Div. of West Miss. |
| Vicksburg, Miss., June 11, 1864 |
| |
| Maj. C. T. Christensen |
| Asst. Adjt. Gen., Div. of West Mississippi |
| Natchez, Miss. |
| |
| Major, |
| ***** |
| I have obtained the following
information concerning the railroad from this place to Shreveport
{Vicksburg, Shreveport & Texas RR}, and
I believe it to be tolerably reliable, though some of the distances
given are probably only approximate. For about 8 miles from the
Mississippi River the rails and many of the ties have been taken up.
For the first 3 miles from the river all, or nearly all, the ties
are gone. Much of the iron has been brought to Vicksburg and used,
either on the railroad on this side, or as shields for earth-works
around Vicksburg. Most of the iron so used has been heated and bent,
and a considerable quantity covered by dirt and mud. Probably not
more than 3 miles of iron out of the first 9 miles of road can now
be made available for railroad purposes. Between Vicksburg and
Monroe, a distance of nearly 70 miles, all the trestle-work and
bridges have been destroyed, and in many places the iron has been
torn up. It is said, however, to be uninjured, although much of it
is lying in the bayous and creeks. |
| The principal bridges are at Tensas,
about 28 miles from river (by rail); at Delhi, about 38 miles from
river (by rail); and at Beouf, about 48 miles from river (by rail).
The bridge across the Washita River was never completed. There are
said to be three good engines in the railroad shed at Monroe. |
| ***** |
| I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant |
| C. G. Sawtelle |
| Capt. and Asst. Q. M. |
| Chief Q. M., Div of W. Miss. |
| {Since the date is a year after
the end of the Vicksburg siege, it is hard to determine how much of
the use of rail on the east bank was by the Confederates and how
much by the Union post-siege.} |
|