|
Columbus Miss
|
| July 5th 1864 |
| |
| Col. F. W. Sims |
| Chief Rail Road Bureau |
| Richmond Va. |
| |
| Sir, |
| I am this day in receipt of Special Order
No 122 dated Adjt & Inspec Genls office Richmond May 16th 1864,
ordering me to report to you for the duty of Superintending &
controlling Govt Transportation on the Rail Roads West of the Ala
River. |
| I will be well enough by the 15th of this
month to return to Meridian & will be ready to obey any and all
orders & instructions you may wish to give. |
| While in Mobile last Spring I found it
necessary to interfere somewhat with transportation matters there in
regard to the Mobile & Gt Nortn R Road. I found that there was a
great preference to run its boats over the Rail Road, & I have ???
& I hope have rectified the matter ????? as if ????? acting under
the orders of Lieut Genl Polk but as I ????? I will ??? the order just
received. My duty will be strictly with the Rail Roads west & no'r
west of the Ala River. |
| Another matter which I wish to trouble you
with. It is this. It is necessary for me to travel a great deal at
least one half of my time, & while my pay is say $5 per day my
hotel bills will be $15 a night three or four times my pay. The
travelling costs the Govt nothing as I am passed over all the Rail
Roads free of charge either to myself or the Govt. Cannot I be paid my
actual expenses while travelling on Govt business. My expenses have
been more than double my pay many months since I have been on Rail
Road duty. If there has been no order issued on this subject there
certainly should be one. |
| If you should think it best for me to
report to you in person please notify me. I would like to know your
views fully on the subject of Rail Roads & Rail Road
transportation in Gen. While acting under the orders of Gen Johnston
& Gen Polk I not only took a General supervision of Rail Road but
of Quarter Masters & others ????? was to issue transportation
& ????? of knowing that Mobile ????? at some ??? time show you my
correspondence with Rail Road Superintendents & Qr Masters on the
subject of Govt transportation. |
| It will be necessary that I should have an
order from you ????? at Richmond or Head Qrs of this Department to
focus ??? at anytime throughout the limits of the Department. I had
such orders from Gen Johnston & Polk & I presume I will have
no difficulty obtaining them from Gen Lee. |
| Please excuse this ??? letter. When I get
regularly to work will only write to the point & in a few words. |
| Hoping to hear from you soon |
| I am |
| Very Respectfully |
| Your obdt Servt |
| Geo. Whitfield |
| Maj & QM |
| P.S. |
| The ??? order from Richmond referred to
within ????? |