OR, Series 1, Vol. 5, Page 875

Quartermaster-General's Department
Richmond, Va., September 23, 1861
 
Hon. J.P. Benjamin,  Acting Secretary of War
 
Sir,
  I have received your letter of the 22d instant in reply to a report I made you in reference to the detention of railroad cars at Manassas, which I supposed was the main object of your first inquiry on this subject. Your letter to which I now have the honor of replying remarks, "We have now a definite issue before us, to find out the delinquent, and to pursue the investigation until the question is satisfactorily answered." I inclose herewith a letter from the superintendent of the Central Railroad and one from Maj. W. S. Ashe, assistant quartermaster, specially charged with the superintendence of railroad transportation, from which I gather the fact that the road was idle for some time, and sought to transport public stores Without receiving them, and that on a sudden a requisition was made for the transportation of 1,000 barrels of flour, which the road had not the capacity to accomplish.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. C. Myers
Acting Quartermaster-General
 
[Inclosure No. 1]
 
Richmond, September 23, 1861
Col. A. C. Myers,  Quartermaster-General
 
   Dear Sir: Your letter, inclosing one from the Secretary of War, asking information relative to the detention in the transportation of flour, was duly received. Not having heard of this detention, I sent the letter to the superintendent of the {Virginia} Central Railroad for the information desired. His reply to the inquiry I inclose you. I am confident that he is right in stating that a few weeks back he sought transportation of provisions, observing that his cars were going out empty of Government freight, and he would like to have it sent so as to reach him gradually. This fact, if I mistake not, I brought to your attention.
   I will, in addition to what he states, remark that it is almost impossible, without previous notice, to transport, on the moment, such a large amount as 1,000 barrels of provisions. It appears from the response of the superintendent that a portion of them went off on the same day the order was given, the balance on the next and the ensuing day. Although this dispatch was not such as was desired, yet I think it was so prompt, that it relieves the company from any charge of dereliction of duty.
   I avail myself of this opportunity to call your attention to the absolute necessity of having cars loaded with freight discharged as soon as practicable. Every moment's delay is felt more than any person who is not acquainted with railroad schedules can conceive of. This should not only be done at the various destinations of freight, but also here in Richmond. I am satisfied that a depot situated near the line of the railroad should be established, so that cars so loaded could be discharged without the aid of wagons, &c.
With respect,
W. S. Ashe
 
[Inclosure No. ]
 
Virginia Central Railroad, General Superintendent's Office
Richmond, Va., September 23, 1861
 
Maj. W. S. ASHE,  Quartermaster, &c
 
   Sir: In answer to the letter from Acting Secretary of War to Col. A. C. Myers, Quartermaster-General, I respectfully submit the following information:
   There are three causes why the Government freight has been detained to some extent, as follows:
   1st. The want of rolling stock. This road was provided with barely stock enough for the transportation of produce, &c., in ordinary times, and even then we had delays from want of cars at certain seasons. Now we have the armies of the West, the Northwest, and of the Potomac, the population of a considerable city, to supply. I think I am reasonable in saying that 75 per cent. of the supplies for this army is taken over some portion of our road.
   2d. The Government freight is irregular. Two weeks since (I write from memory) I applied to you, as you may recollect, for freight to transport, for I feared the very state of affairs which has since occurred, and for want of Government freight we were transporting goods and merchandise for private parties. Then came this rush upon us, to be followed by another leisure spell.
   3d. Want of storage room at several of the points where goods are sent from by wagons to the army at Manassas, Fairfax, and Millborough. At these points goods have remained in the cars, because they could not be unloaded for want of storage. It is not long since one of my employees, one who is considered a reliable man, saw thirteen trains at Manassas; eleven of these were loaded. Some of the trains probably came from Lynchburg. But as we have never sent more than two freight trains from Richmond to Manassas, you must see that there has been detention at one tiptoe, to say the least. I have no doubt there was good cause for it. I know that the cars have been detained at Millborough. There were probably fifty loaded cars there on Friday last. You have been obliged to issue orders to have them unloaded without a shelter for the goods. In future I suppose this cause of delay will not trouble us.
   But with all the delays I can assure you that the detention in Richmond has not been serious. My impression is that it has not exceeded forty-eight hours, except in the case of the flour mentioned. The order for that came the 18th. We sent seventy barrels that day, and the last of the  lot was loaded the 31st and went off this morning.
   We are taking no private freights without permission from the quartermaster's office.
Very respectfully,
H. D. Whitcomb
General Superintendent

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