10 March 1865: “if this want of trains can be ascertained to last two or three days longer there troops would save time by marching to the same parts.”

Item Description: John Marshall Otey was assistant adjutant general under General P. G. T. Beauregard during the Civil War. The collection consists of one letter, 10 March 1865, from E. Willis to Colonel John Marshall Otey (J. M. Otey), discussing the difficulties facing railroad transportation and the movement of troops, artillery, and provisions at the time. The letter specifically discusses orders from General Braxton Bragg to detain trains at Goldsboro, N.C.

18650310_01

Item Citation: Folder 1, in the John Marshall Otey letter, #5305-z, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Item Transcription:

Salisbury NC 10th March 1865

Col J. M. Otey

Charlotte, NC.

I am here comparatively idle while there is an accumulation of nearly 120 car Loads of troops, stores & artillery; pair the want of trains which are detained at Goldsboro by Gen’l Braggs order I received the following dispatch this morning from

Capt J. A. Oates, mic capt nno

“Inform Maj. Willis that Gen’l Bragg has issued orders forbidding any of my trains to leave Goldsboro, there are (13) thirteen trains thus detained, and doing work for the A&NC and W&W R. R., I cannot send more trains to Salisbury untill these are returned, have none to send, send not I. hands here.  J. I. Sumner

I’ve applied to Majr. S. N. Chismar

Greensboro for train

also to Majr. W. W. Peirce

Raleigh N.C.

and to Majr W. S. Harvey

Goldsboro N.C. without success

If it all important that the trains should be kept at Goldsboro would it not be well to render the artillery & wagons from here by land to Greensboro, and if this want of trains can be ascertained to last two or three days longer there troops would save time by marching to the same parts.

Very respectfully

E Willis

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