| Richmond |
| January 23, 1862
|
| |
| Hon. J. P. Benjamin
|
| Secretary of War |
| |
| Sir, |
| Some short time since, you may remember,
I brought personally to your attention the matter of the police
which had been established to guard the bridges of the line of the
Orange & Alexandria Railroad, extending from Lynchburg to
Manassas, for security of the military transportation between those
points, inclusive -- necessarily, that between Richmond and Manassas
via Gordonsville. In reply to my explanation, then orally presented,
you requested that I should present in writing the points involved,
which I now proceed to do. In April last, immediately upon the State
act of secession, the Governor and council of Virginia, viewing it
as a matter of military necessity, agreed with me as the
representative of the railroad company to maintain a sufficient
night police to guard the bridges of the line above mentioned, the
railroad company undertaking to guard them in the daytime. This plan
was put in operation and has been maintained upon the basis stated
up to the present time. On the 6th of November last I received a
communication from Governor Letcher to the effect that the State
would no longer incur the expense involved in this matter of
guarding bridges upon the Orange & Alexandria Railroad. About
the time of receiving this notice the burning of bridges by traitors
in East Tennessee occurred, and I forbore to dismiss the police
until I could present my views in objection to the policy indicated
to the Governor. In our interview I presented the importance of
securing these bridges to the Army of the Potomac, as their supplies
were mainly drawn over the railroad, and the danger of leaving them
unguarded; that the railroad was substantially used for military
transportation and Government purposes, to exclusion of private
tonnage, the charges for which were only half the usual rates of
transportation; that the railroad company could not alone afford to
bear the heavy cost of this police, and that if the Government did
not lend assistance I should be compelled to discharge the guards.
Governor Letcher recognized the force of the views urged, but was of
opinion that the Confederate Government properly should relieve
Virginia of this war charge, and requested me to bring the matter to
your attention as Secretary of War. All that is asked is that you
should recognize the cost of keeping up this guard as a proper
military expense, and authorize the sum required to be paid. There
are some twenty bridges to be guarded, and forty-one or forty-two
men now employed. At the bridge nearest Manassas (Broad Run) and the
one at Culpeper Court-House, where there is a military post, General
Johnston has ordered soldiers to do the necessary police, but
regards the ordinary paid civil police at other points as
preferable. If more desirable, the object can be accomplished by an
order on your part to the proper officer to allow this as an
extraordinary charge upon the supplies (military) transported over
the Orange & Alexandria Railroad for the Confederate Government.
In whatever light, however, you may be pleased to treat the matter,
the favor of an early decision is desirable. |
| I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your
obedient servant, |
| J. S. Barbour, Jr. |
| President Orange & Alexandria Railroad Company |
|