| Richmond, October 2, 1862 |
| |
| His Excellency Governor Shorter |
| Montgomery, Ala. |
| |
| Major Gaines telegraphs that many
parties have withdrawn their negroes from the Alabama & Mississippi
{Rivers} Railroad and refuse to return
them, that every effort to hire has proved unsuccessful, and that
the work will be retarded for months, when with an efficient force
it could be finished by the 1st of November. |
| This work is of great importance and I
must beg that you will use your influence with the planters to
procure labor. Delay may bring disaster to themselves. Can you not
appeal to them by proclamation? |
| G. W. Randolph |
| Secretary of War |
|