| Headquarters McGowan's Brigade |
| January 9, 1865 |
| |
| Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor |
| Assistant Adjutant-General |
| |
| Colonel, |
| ***** |
| General McGowan is just from
South Carolina, and he desires that General Lee should know that the
Piedmont Railroad running from Greensborough to Danville is, in his
opinion, in bad condition as to road bed, rolling-stock, and
management. He was informed that the most certain way to improve the
condition of the road was to report the matter direct to General
Lee; and in consequence of its great importance to the army he has
felt it his duty to do so. |
| Respectfully, &c. |
| J. W. Riddick |
| Assistant Adjutant-General |
| |
| Inclosure |
| Office North Carolina Railroad Company |
| Greensborough, N. C. |
| December 25, 1864 |
| |
| General R. E. Lee |
| Petersburg, Va. |
| |
| General, |
| The delays on the Piedmont
Railroad from this place to Danville
are such as will cause much suffering in the Army of Northern
Virginia for supplies this winter, and unless a change is at once
made cars cannot pass at all. Hagood's brigade arrived at Danville
Thursday morning at 7 o'clock, since which time I have made every
effort to get them on, but all have not yet reached this point,
making three days in transporting one brigade a distance of
forty-eight miles. I have ordered Colquitt and Clingman to march
here, where ample provisions are made for their immediate
transportation. It is urged and recommended that possession be taken
of this road and place it in charge of the North Carolina Central
Railroad Company {North Carolina RR}, who has sufficient and suitable machinery for
operations. Should this be done, cars loaded at
Charlotte
with freight would not be unloaded until they reach Danville
and hence avoid the delay at Greensborough, where the accumulation
of supplies is immense. The president and directors who now control
the road have power over no rolling-stock save that which belongs to
the road itself, and in cases of emergency the Central Company are
called upon to do the work. I have seen T. J. Sumner, superintendent
and engineer of the Central Company, who says, that with proper
management and much work the road can be put in good condition. The
character of Mr. Sumner as an engineer is fully established and well
known to the Quartermaster-General. If necessary, military
possession should be taken of the road, otherwise the accumulation
of supplies in Richmond
will be impossible, and in future might force us to do that which we
would not desire. From what I could see I think efforts will be made
on the part of the president and directors who now manage it to hold
the road, which should not be for a moment considered, as its
present condition is sufficient to prove their incapacity or want of
attention. My troops are now wanted in Wilmington, where they should have been two days ago. No one but yourself can
make the above and much wanted change. |
| Very respectfully, |
| R. F. Hoke |
| Major-General |
| P. S. Mr. Sumner will at any time you
wish go into Petersburg
to communicate with you fully on the matter, as he feels the
importance of the change, which I hope will be done. He can give you
any and all the information you want about the delays. |
| Respectfully, |
| R. F. Hoke |
| Major-General |
| |
| First indorsement |
| Headquarters |
| January 9, 1865 |
| Respectfully submitted for the
consideration of the Secretary of War. |
| R. E. Lee |
| General |
| |
| Second indorsement |
| January 12, 1865 |
| This has received attention already. |
| J. A. Seddon |
| Secretary of War |
|