A Manuscript CSA Special Order about Train Movements

[covers]

Lubliner - as promised in the newbie playpen yesterday, below is an image of a manuscript Special Order #6 by command of Brig. Genl. John Adams dated Jackson, Miss on January 17, 1863, signed by AAG Capt Thomas

Porter:

"No Rail Road train will be permitted to leave this place going east until further order. The Officer of the Guard will furnish Aid De Camp G.H. Gregory such Officer and guards as he may require to enforce this order"

I have not researched the backstory on this yet but seems to be an odd Special Order

 

[UCVRelics]

A major storm had washed out many bridges and miles of track, plus there had a been a mjor accident that killed a lot of CS troops.

From the Vicksburg Whig

January 3, 1863

The Accidents on the Southern {(of Mississippi)} Rail Road

We are glad to learn that steps have been taken to prevent a repetition of such accidents on the Southern Rail Road as occurred a few days ago near Edwards Depot. General Pemberton has turned his attention to the work and the company have secured the services of Captain W. J. Ross. For many years connected with the Memphis & Charleston Rail Road, and one of the best Rail Road Men in the South. A large force is to be put to work and the Trains run so as to enable the hands to repair the Rail Road. New Cross Ties are to be put down and Iron laid wherever necessary. If the Company fails to get iron, General Pemberton will find it himself, if it is in the Confederacy, and see that it is put on the road. This is a proper move. The Southern Rail Road is now the most important Rail Road in the Country, and a force should be kept at work on it night and day until it is in a condition to bear the heavy engines and trains that are brought over it from other Rail Roads. Let the soldiers march here until the Road is pronounced safe. We cannot afford, nor is it just, to have them bruised and mangled as they were the other day. From the Vicksburg Whig January 4, 1863 The Rail Road {The Southern (of Mississippi) RR} For the last Two or Three days we have been without the usual arrival and departure of Trains. Two Passenger Trains came in yesterday. The heavy rain of Saturday night over flowing the Swamp between Edwards' and Bolton's (Baker's Creek) and damaging the Rail Road near Forest, was the cause of their detention. The disposition manifested some to raise a cry against the management of this Rail Road on account of the recent accidents, is we think, inconsiderate. The Rail Road was built with Light Iron Twenty odd years ago between Vicksburg and Jackson, designed for the local business of Forty-Five miles, to be performed with light engines carrying light trains. It was built with an unusual number of heavy grades and sharp curves. The exigencies of the government has devolved upon this Rail Road the heaviest kind of work, forcing the Company to the necessity of using the heavy engines of other modern built Rail Roads carrying the utmost number of heavy trains that could run over it, putting on it Five times as much as it could safely bear. We have the assurance of the Officers of the Road, that every effort has been made to procure cross ties and hire laborers at full prices to keep the Rail Road in repair, and their instructions to those in charge of repairs, are to make the Rail Road safe, regardless of expense. From the Vicksburg Whig January 7, 1863 Worth of Notice On Sunday last several trains of cars on the Southern {(of Mississippi)} Rail Road were detained at Bolton's, on account of the storm. They were loaded with soldiers and passengers. The citizens in the Neighborhood liberally came to their relief and fed and commentated all they could for the night. Colonel S D Kelly sent a wagon load of Sweet Potatoes to the Troop. We also learn that some days previous, trains were detained in the neighborhood of Major McKinney L Cook's {plantation named Mount Beulah}, where he opened his potato house and told the Soldiers to take until they were satisfied. Such acts of magnanimity are certainly worthy of notice. C. S. A. War Department Richmond, Jany 15, 1863 Genl J. C. Pemberton Jackson, Miss. If the company is unable to rebuild the road {almost certainly the Southern (of Mississippi) RR} and you deem it a military necessity, fifty thousand dollars may be advanced as a loan. J. A. Seddon Secy of War

 

[covers]

Brilliant!

thank you very much

 

[Ole Miss]

Congratulations Richard on jumping right and post your own thread! Very good topic and hope to see more.
Still planning to visit Shiloh soon?
Regards
David

 

[covers]

David - thank you.

Shiloh is a long distance from Taos, NM and my desire to fly these days is certainly diminished to near zero.

 

[UCVRelics]

Congratulations Richard on jumping right and post your own thread! Very good topic and hope to see more.
Still planning to visit Shiloh soon?
Regards
David

I just knew where to look @DaveBrt did all the HARD work.

Confederate Railroads -- History, Maps & Equipment

Details and maps of all the Confederate railroads and their equipment.

www.csa-railroads.com

 

[Lubliner]

Good find, @covers. Could I ask where the image came from? Also it would do good to locate in the Official Records the activities that were endemic with the system. Because the government had need to use the private railroads, they had to jockey back and forth with freight, passenger, and farm products all the time. This limited the usual uses. Therefore, if the army had need to relocate, they could impose on the railroad, which was obliged to by the expenses paid them. There were circumstances of feeding the army, moving it, etc. But then the maintenance and upkeep of the rail line was vital. And as @ucvrelics so posted, accidents happen.
And thanks for a prompt and complete reply @ucvrelics.
Lubliner.

 

[covers]

lubliner - the image came from my scanner! The item is tipped onto a page along top edge. The page was part of the Frederick Peck collection housed in an extra-illustrated set of "Battles and Leaders of the Civil War" that I sold in one of my auctions in May 1982 and just re-purchased. Image of the original catalog description is below.

 

[Lubliner]

lubliner - the image came from my scanner! The item is tipped onto a page along top edge. The page was part of the Frederick Peck collection housed in an extra-illustrated set of "Battles and Leaders of the Civil War" that I sold in one of my auctions in May 1982 and just re-purchased. Image of the original catalog description is below.

View attachment 377076

Excellent information from a primary source gathering. I asked for the source due to querulous minds, and the surety no copyright infringement occurs. Thank you, that was an expensive collection!
Lubliner.

 

[covers]

Thank you for your concern. I can assure you that every image I post will be an image I either made myself. Generally, I only post images of things I own, or owned when the image was made. I will always say if I do NOT own an item.

I have recently purchased the digital rights to a book I wrote that was published by a Society. I did so because I wanted to make it available free on my website. I am very familiar with copyright law.