| Virginia Central Railroad |
| General Superintendent's Office |
| Richmond, Va. |
| May 8, 1864 |
| |
| Hon. James A. Seddon |
| Secretary of War |
| |
| Sir, |
| I think it perhaps important
for you to know our available means of transportation. We have at
Gordonsville five locomotives and, say, fifty cars -- 2,500 men.
Above Gordonsville and ordered to that point, three locomotives and,
say, thirty-seven cars -- 1,850 men. We have in Richmond two
locomotives and twenty-one cars -- 1,050 men; total, 5,400 men,
infantry, of course, and without heavy baggage or horses. There may
not be cars enough to make trains for all these engines and I cannot
ascertain for want of the telegraph, which is in incessant use for
other purposes. The engines are capable of drawing twenty-five per
cent. more than I have indicated. Would it not be well to send the
trains from here at once either to Gordonsville or Hanover Junction?
It would save three or four hours' time at least and some
embarrassment in moving the trains east from Gordonsville. |
| Very respectfully, your' obedient
servant, |
| H. D. Whitcomb |
| General Superintendent |
|