| Office South Side R. Rd Co |
| Petersburg, May 3d, 1863 |
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| Hon J. M. Seddon |
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Secy of War |
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Sir, |
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I called the attention of your predecessors to a neglect
on the part of some of the agents of the Government or the telegraph
company which might have been attended with disastrous consequences,
but it never has been remedied; and I now take the liberty of
calling your attention to it. I do this more for the interests of
the country than for our own, for the injury to us is nothing to the
damage tht may be done the Government. To make this letter as brief
as possible and at the same time show the grievances I complane of,
I enclose you two despatches {not found}.
No. 1 is from the agent of the Richd & Danville
{RR} Co. in Richmond; No 2 is from our
agent at the Junction. Both were received by me accidentally,
as you will see by an endorsement on the back, though I will do the
operator in the Petersburg office the justice to say that he
informed me the message came while my son was in the office. But
here are the facts. The Danville Passenger train leaves Richmond at
4:30 P. M. After 9 oclock (for I live a mile from the office) I
received the vague despatch No. 1, which conveyed no intelligence to
me, except for the fact that the Government was sending a special
train to the Junction with ammunition for Orange Ct House, and
therefore it was urgent. Now the Government agents and the writer of
No. 1, and the telegraph operators all knew that our office and our
engines and cars are 52 miles from the Junction, that we keep no
special engines or cars there; and the Government agents know
especially, for I have often informed them of it, that it is
impossible for me to do any irregular transportation promptly from
the Junction, unless I have timely notice of it. But here was a car
of ammunition, upon which probably the fate of a battle might
depend, sent me without any information which would enable me to
hurry it through if it had not been for the accidental
telegraph of my agent, who, hearing when the "special" started, had
the forethought to telegraph me if he should stop the mail train for
it. Our mail train passes the Junction at 10 P. M., and it was only
by dint of my necessity returning all the way to the telegraph
office, that I was able to send a despatch to our agent in time to
make the mail train wait for the ammunition. As our mail train was
delayed for it, it is doubtful whether it reached Lynchburg in time
to connect with the Orange & Alexandria road; but if that road
received no notice of its coming, it is certain that they had made
no preparation to expedite it. |
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Now here was a case of important ammunition started on
the Danville road at 5:30 P. M. to do which the Government agent
must have notified them at least an hour beforehand; and I, living
as I said before 52 miles from the Junction and having no means
there of carrying it, was not notified at all, and only received the
notice by the courtesy of the Danville agent, and that would have
done no good if it had not been for our agent's telegraph. |
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Sir, this is not the first, nor the second nor the third
time this has been done. It has been done too often to enumerate.
The rail roads have often been complained of and denounced for their
short-comings, but have often been complained of, and frequently for
delays at the Junction. But I stated to your predecessors, and I say
now, that there has never been any delay on our road when timely
notice was given us: |
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October 25th, 1862, in writing to Mr. Randolph on this
very subject of trying to obviate delays at the Junction, I said
"that it has been my rule, ever since the war commenced not only to
do every thing the Government required, as promptly as it could be
done, but to do it willingly, for I take as much interest in the
vigorous prosecution of the war as you do. I am not only induced to
do so from principle but from feeling, for I have lost one son & the
health of another has been nearly ruined by it. I will add, as a
proof of my sincerity in the matter, (and as a proof of the desire
of the President of the Company to do every thing in his power to
serve the Government, for the offer is suggested by him,) that when
you desire to send any important freight through (by the mail train)
if you will order due notice to be given me of it, I will send a
special engine to the Junction to carry it without charge." |
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I have the same desire now to serve the Government, the
same zeal, though I must say it has been sorely tried by the great
or apparent want of it in many of the Government agents. |
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But I have made this letter too long. I could not well
say what I wanted to say in fewer words. I will only add that I hope
it will satisfy you of the importance of the Government agents
giving us timely notice of their wants. If they will do their part I
assure you we will do our part as far as our ability and means will
enable us. Every engine and car, the whole railroad and each man on
it is at the service of the Government by day or by night, in hail
rain or shine, whenever it is necessary to promote the great cause
in which we are embarked. |
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I have the honor to be |
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Your obt Sert |
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H. D. Bird |
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Gen Supt. |
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{on back of the document} |
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A. G. |
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Resp refd to Superintendent of Transportation. The matter of this
letter is of much concern & it is recommended as worthy of ???
attention. |
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By order of the Sec War |
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J A Campbell |
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ASW |
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6 May 1863 |
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Respy referred to Col W M Wadley AAG |
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By command of Secy of War |
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H. L. Clay |
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AAG |
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May 9/63 |
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Respectfully referred to Maj D H Wood for explanation and information |
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Wm M Wadly |
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AA Genl |
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11th May 1863 |
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The requisition for the 37 boxes ammunition to Orange C. H. was recd
at this office at 4 P. M. May 2/63 with orders to send by
special train via Lynchburg as the enemy had cut the
{Virginia} Central Road; it was shipped
in 45 minutes & left for Burkesville. Telegrams were sent to Mr Bird
at Petg & to our agents at Burkeville & Lynchburg immediately upon
the receipt of the order. |
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Respy |
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D. H. Wood |
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Major & Q. M. |
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May 11/63 |
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Respy refd to Predt Tel. Co. to know why telegrams were delayed. |
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Wm M. Wadley |
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AAG |
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11th May 1863 |
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Respectfully returned to the AIG's office with endorsement of Maj DH
Wood and letters {not found} of Geo R
Pace, Cashr and J. R. Dowell Genl. Supt. Telegraph Co.'s
explanation. |
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Wm M. Wadley |
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AAG |
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Richmond May 23d/63 |
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