War Department, C. S. A.
| Richmond, Va., February 10, 1863 |
| |
| General R. E. Lee |
| Commanding, etc. |
| |
| General, |
| The applications for details sent you
through the Department have been rarely allowed, but, on the
contrary, have been generally returned disapproved. The reason is
that this is, probably, that the applications being sent down
through the regular military channels to the captains of the
particular companies for their report, they, naturally confining
their attention mainly to the interests of their special commands,
are reluctant to part with their men, and disapprove the
applications. Thus disapproved in their upward course, the natural
sympathy of the officers to retain their men is strengthened by the
disapproval of their subordinates, and induces their ready
concurrence. When, finally, it comes to yourself as commander, your
judgment can scarcely fail to be affected by this general
concurrence of adverse opinions. This repugnance to allow details
has been probably enhanced by the practice, which I understand was
in the past frequent with the Department, of making such without
consultation with the officers. There may be also the impression
that these applications, when presented, are forwarded by the
Department as a matter of course, without discrimination as to their
character or propriety. Now, this would be a serious mistake. Such
applications are not transmitted incautiously, but are sent by me
reluctantly and stintingly, and only when, on large considerations
of public interest, the requirements of the general service, in my
judgment, demand them. I have preferred, instead of exercising the
privilege of the Department to order such details, to submit them in
the first instance to the consideration of the military authorities
in the field. This course I wish to continue, and feel satisfied
that, on this frank exposition of the course and views of the
Department, its judgment will hereafter have more consideration and
deference on the part of the officers. I therefore invite the
attention of yourself, and, through you, as far as you may deem
necessary, of your subordinate officers, to this explanation, and
request that only strong controlling considerations of a military
character shall induce a disapproval of these applications. |
| I inclose an application of Colonel Wadley,
the agent for railroad transportation, for the detail of a few men
of special skill and experience in their vocations, whose places
cannot otherwise be filled, and at the same time, in illustration of
the importance of such detail, a copy of a letter just received from
him in relation to his difficulties from the denial of details in
effecting the transportation essential to the support of your own
army. |
| With high esteem, most respectfully, yours |
| J. A. Seddon |
| Secretary of War |
| |
| [Inclosure] |
| Raleigh, N. C. |
| February 6, 1863 |
| General S. Cooper |
| Adjutant and Inspector General, Richmond, Va. |
| |
| General: Every day's experience confirms me
stronger in the belief that, under existing circumstances, I can do
but little toward expediting Government transportation, and I see no
way that I can better the condition of things. |
| Last week I made arrangements for a certain
number of cars to remain at Goldsborough, all ready for engines to
be attached to them, and subject to the call of General Smith at any
moment. Within the last two days I have understood that not the
first thing has been done toward carrying out this arrangement.
Yesterday I received dispatches from Richmond, asking for cars to
transport guns and ammunition. I at once gave the necessary
instructions to have them sent, but it appears they have not gone,
as I now have a dispatch asking again for them, and saying in the
cars are not sent the Secretary of War will press wood flats, which,
if done, will leave the road without wood for trains, and that
consequently they must stop. |
| On the North Carolina road there is a very
large amount of Government freight awaiting transportation, much of
it bacon and rice. |
| Want of ability is the invariable excuse for
not complying with the wants of Government, which, to a very great
degree, is true. In every direction there is an accumulation of
freight that is being wasted or damaged for want of protection, and
the number of Government agents and messengers accompanying it in
the character of protectors and forwarders would, I have not the
least doubt, form a full regiment. At the present time there are at
this place not less than ten or twelve and there has been as many as
twenty or twenty-five here at one time. Of those now here, two have
been since the 5th of January coming from Atlanta, Ga., and the
goods in charge of one of them only arrived to-day. To enumerate
one-twentieth of the cases of delay would be tedious and useless, as
I have already said enough to convince any one that some change is
necessary if anything is to be accomplished in the way of
transportation. |
| The question will naturally be asked, what
shall or can be done? I answer without hesitation, allow the roads
to have mechanics from the army and supplies from iron furnaces,
foundries, and rolling-mills, and at the same time let Congress pass
an act making it obligatory upon the railroads of the country to
perform promptly Government transportation. The law, without
allowing men and supplies, will be of no use, for without these the
roads cannot exist. |
| I am prompted to make these remarks by a
desire to make some improvement in this branch of the public
service, which I consider of vital importance, and not in any
captious spirit. I trust, therefore, that they may meet at your
hands the consideration which the importance of the matter deserves. |
| I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient
servant |
| Wm. M. Wadley |
| Assistant Adjutant-General |
|