Letter from Lee Fleming to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; February 15, 1865

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Letter from Lee Fleming to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; February 15, 1865

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People

Clark, Charles, 1811-1877 Fleming, Lee J.Forrest, Nathan Bedford, 1821-1877 Grierson, Benjamin Henry, 1826-1911 Hill, R. A.Hood, John Bell, 1831-1879 Taylor, Richard, 1826-1879 Thomas, George H. (George Henry), 1816-1870

Events

Crime Crime--Destruction of property Criminal Procedure--Arrest Evacuations Evacuations--Corinth (Miss.), 1862 Military Events--Raid

Military Units

Under Review United States. Army

Organizations

Railroad Railroad--Memphis and Charleston Railroad Company Railroad--Mobile and Ohio Railroad Company

Occupations

Engineers Judges Superintendents

Places

Corinth (Miss.)Macon (Miss.)Mobile (Ala.)Okolona (Miss.)Prairie (Miss.)Tishomingo County (Miss.)

Social Identifiers

Impoverished people

Page 1

Office Mobile & Ohio R. R.
Mobile—Feby 15^th 1865.

Governor;

I am in receipt of your favor of the 10^th inst together with the letter of the Hon R. A. Hill to Maj Gen^l Forest, and the order of Maj Gen^l Thomas U. S. A. to allow the citizens of Tishamingo County to use the Mobile & Ohio, and Memphis & Charleston Road for their private benefit.—

Our Road above Okolona has been so frequently destroyed by the enemy that for more than a year trains were not run above that place, and was only temporarily repaired to take up supplies for Gen^l Forest & subsequently for Gen^l Hoods army.

All the Bridges & Trestle work are either of the most temporary character, or so much decayed as to require constant watching & repairs to make them safe.—The country has been so frequently in the enemy's possession that we cannot obtain the labor necessary to repair it—

I therefore telegraphed Maj Gen^l Forest on the 7^th inst that it was not safe to run trains above Okolona, and if he desired his supplies sent up the Government must furnish the hands necessary to watch and repair the Road.—He replied to this on the 8^th inst that he had refered the matter to Gen^l Taylor,—but the hands have not been furnished.—

Since the ^last^ evacuation of Corinth the rains have been unusually heavy; the streams swollen, and I have no doubt much of that temporary work ^is^ injured, and I am unwilling to assume the risk of running the trains, when I have such good reasons for believing

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it will only result in their destruction.

Gen^l Thomas's order is conditional and only allows citizens of Tishamingo County to use the Road within the limits of that County, and only orders his men to refrain from molesting the Engines & Cars, but does not forbid them from destroying the Track, or arresting our men. There are many ways in which the conditions might be violated without the knowledge or consent of this company, and our Trains would probably be seized & destroyed.—In its present shape the order of Gen^l Thomas furnishes no protection.

I fully sympathise with the unfortunate condition of the people of that county, and will do every thing consistent with my duty to alleviate the distress.—Our Rolling stock is nearly run down and the highest duty which I think I can perform to the country is to preserve the small amount we have left as long as possible.—

If the Government will furnish us with a sufficient number ^of hands^ to watch & repair the Road above Okolona, and Gen^l Thomas will give assurances that the track shall not be destroyed, or our men engaged in the legitimate discharge of their duties interfered with; and our Government will agree to compensate the company for any loss or damage to cars & Engines which may be employed for this purpose, I will set apart one Train to run from the Prairies to Corinth.—

I have entered into details because of the heavy loss the company & the country has already sustained in running above Okolona.—The whole amount received for all the Transportation above Okolona since

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1862 is not one tenth of the damage we sustained by the recent loss of stock from the Grierson Raid.—Our stock has been destroyed by friend & foe until there is very little left, and we desire to use that for the best interests of the country.

I have advised the Gentleman who brought your letter to lay the matter before Gen^l Taylor with this explanation.

I have the honor to be
Your obt sert.

L J Fleming
Chf Eng & Genl Sup

His Excellency
Gov. Charles Clark
Macon.