| Headquarters Military District of Florida |
| Tallahassee |
| January 11, 1865 |
| |
| Lieut. Col. T. B. Roy |
| Assistant Adjutant-General |
| |
| Colonel, |
| During the time of
Sherman
's advance, the line of communication with department headquarters
being cut, I thought it proper to send my communications directly to
Richmond. I herewith inclose copies of such communications for the
information of the lieutenant-general commanding, with the hope that
the course taken will meet his approbation. |
| I have the honor to report that the Live
Oak connection has been delayed by the sinking of the temporary work
across the Suwanee, but that the bridge is completed, and the road
will be finished in twenty days. I have continued the construction
of this road in order to save the iron and rolling-stock of the Savannah, Albany & Gulf road to the Confederacy. You will find an
explanation of the design in the inclosed letter to General Cooper. |
| At a meeting of the directory of the
Savannah, Albany & Gulf road they directed the president to take
up this road from the Altamaha River to the Live Oak connection, at
Lawton, and the laying of this iron from Thomasville to Bainbridge
or to Albany. From Thomasville
to Bainbridge the road bed, thirty-seven miles long, is graded, and
the iron could be laid in three months. The Live Oak road is too
near the sea-board, however, to be safe; and if the
Florida
roads are to be connected with this line a new road should be built
from Monticello
to Thomasville, twenty-one miles. You will see, also, from the letter to General
Cooper, the proposed extension from
Quincy
to Appalaga, on the Chattahoochee. This last has been laid before the Secretary of War, by Mr.
Hilton, and is also approved by the governor of
Florida. |
| ***** |
| With the hope that these measures will be found
judicious by the lieutenant-general commanding, I am, colonel,
&c., |
| W. Miller |
| Brigadier-General, Commanding |
|