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{From the minutes of the
Directors' Meeting of the East Tennessee & Virginia RR, September
2, 1863} |
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| Rogersville Junction Tenn Sept'r 2nd 1863 |
| At a call meeting by the President of the
Board of Directors of the E. T. & Va. R. Rd. Co. Present J. R. Branner
President. Ro. P. Rhea, Wm Brazleton, S. B. Cunningham, Reuben Davis, Wm
H. Moffett, Wm P. Reeves, Joseph Henderson, John White, J. M. Hoss and
J. R. Anderson. The following report was read and submitted to the Board
of Directors by the President. |
| To the Board of Directors f the E. T & Va.
Rail Road Co. In view of the difficulties now surrounding this part of
the Country, and the emergency of the times in which we are placed, I
have thought it my duty as President of the Road to call together the
Board of Directors, we order that a full understanding may be had in
regard to the management of the road and what disposition shall be made
of the Machine Shops, rolling stock and such other Property as would be
liable to destruction, should the Military protection which has
heretofore been afforded by the Confederate Authorities be entirely
withdrawn by the said authorities. |
| The Stockholders of this Company have
delegated to me the power to control and manage the officers of the
road, and as President of you Board, I have thought it my duty to call
this meeting. You are aware that th Military Authorities have in a
measure withdrawn all protection from your road from Knoxville to
Bristol, leaving only a few to guard the Bridges, from incendiaries, and
these few may at any time be called away, and your whole road left to
the mercy not only of the enemy's raids, but to insurgent incendiaries.
On the night of the 26th Inst I received notice from Majr James Glover,
chief quarter master at Knoxville that the enemy was already upon
Knoxville with a heavy force and to remove the rolling stock from
Knoxville, which was immediately done and it is now scattered along the
line of the road from Knoxville to Bristol. Up to this time no enemies
have made their appearance at Knoxville, nor at any other point on the
road, and I am unwilling as it has been suggested to make any further
move in the matter or to take upon myself the responsibility of removing
the Material Machinery tools &c &c of the work shops at Knoxville or or
making any further disposition of the rolling stock until instructed by
the Board of Directors. Other roads of this and other states, have
pursued the policy of running their rolling stock Machinery, Work Shops
&c out of the state, much of which has been lost worn our, of been
recaptured and destroyed by the enemy, thereby causing heavy loss to
these roads, now. I leave it to determine whether the course shall be
pursued in regard to your road or whether you will leave it as you found
it, and subject to capture and use by the enemy, and perhaps to the same
fate should the enemy get possession and have to abandon it. I have
endeavored to give you a plain statement of facts, and the condition of
your road at this time. I therefore desire that you should this day come
to some conclusion in regard to this matter, as the crisis is upon us,
and instruct me what disposition shall b made of the rolling stock and
materials on hand with machinery, tools &c in the workshops at Knoxville
also Books, Papers and other moveable valuables of this Company and I
will faithfully carry out to the best of my abilities such instructions
and use my best endeavors for the safety and preservation of all the
property of the road all of which is respectfully submitted, Septr. 1st
1863 |
| Jno R. Branner, President |
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| Sept 2, 1863 |
| Since the foregoing was
written, the Federals have captured our machine shops at Knoxville and
therefore we can do nothing with our machinery and shall have to act as
necessity requires under the circumstances. |
| The president and directors
adopted unanimously the following Preamble and Resolutions. |
| Whereas the President and
Directors of the East Ten & Va R. Rd. Co. having met for the purpose of
taking into consideration our duty under the present situation of the
country, have come to the following conclusions. That whereas the Road
Bed Rolling Stock with all the fixtures appertaining thereto, belong to
the Stockholders, a great portion of whom reside in E. Tennessee, and on
the line of the road, and that we are nothing more than their Trustees
and unless instructed by them or compelled to do so by military
authority, we do not feel authorized to remove the rolling stock or
fixtures off of said Road, and whereas we are to day informed and
believe our machine shops tools &c in Knoxville, are in hands of the
Federals. Therefore Resolved that we deem it impassable under these
circumstances to run the trains upon said Road and now, suspend the
running of them for the present, and in the event it is passable and
prudent to run said Road or a portion of it. The President and
Superintendent are authorized to resume it, and suspend as the emergency
under the circumstances require. |
| Jno R Branner Presdt |
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