OR, Series 4, Vol. 2, Page 487

Richmond, Va., April 15, 1863
 
Hon. James A. Seddon
Secretary of War
 
Sir,
  In compliance with your request I beg leave to submit the following estimated capacity of the railroads making up the leading lines in the country:

Trains run daily each way

Freight Coal
Name of road Passenger Number Tons Number Tons
Richmond & Danville 1 1/2 1 100 1 100
South Side 1 1 125 -- --
Virginia & Tennessee 1 2 240 -- --
East Tennessee & Virginia 1 1 130 -- --
East Tennessee & Georgia 1 1 1/2 210 -- --
Nashville & Chattanooga 1 2 200 -- --
Western & Atlantic 2 3 350 -- --
Richmond & Petersburg 2 2 225 2 1/2 200
Petersburg 2 2 225 -- --
Wilmington & Weldon 2 1/2 50 -- --
Wilmington & Manchester 2 1 100 -- --
Raleigh & Gaston 2 1 130 -- --
North Carolina 2 1/2 50 -- --
Charlotte & South Carolina 2 1 130 -- --
South Carolina 2 3 400 -- --
Northeastern 1 1 100 -- --
Georgia 2 3 400 -- --
Central of Georgia 2 3 400 -- --
Charleston & Savannah 1 1 150 -- --
Southwestern 2 2 250 -- --
Muscogee 2 1 125 -- --
Macon & Western 1 2 250 -- --
Atlanta & La Grange {Atlanta & West Point} 2 1 150 -- --
Montgomery & West Point 2 1 1/2 175 -- --
Alabama & Florida of Alabama 1 1 125 -- --
Mobile & Great Northern 1 1 125 -- --
Mobile & Ohio 2 3 400 -- --
Southern 1 1/2 2 200 -- --
Alabama & Mississippi Rivers 1 1 100 -- --
New Orleans, Jackson & Great Northern 2 2 275 -- --
Mississippi Central 2 2 225 -- --
Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac 2 1 1/2 190 -- --
Virginia Central 1 1/2 1 1/4 140 -- --
Orange & Alexandria 1 1 1/2 160 -- --
The above roads are given in the same order as in my communication of yesterday in reference to their necessities in the way of engines and cars.
  Any change in the position of our Army would to some extent modify the ability of one or two of the roads; as, for example, the Virginia Central can deliver more tons of freight at Hanover Junction than it would be able to do at the upper end of the line. I would also remark that this estimate has been made in the absence of any data beyond my general knowledge of the ability of the roads in the country, except the roads terminating in this city, from the officers of which I have obtained the necessary information to enable me to approximate their actual capacity; therefore, you must not place implicit reliance on it.
Trusting that this estimate will be satisfactory, I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant
Wm M. Wadley
Assistant Adjutant-General

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