Letter

Henry W. Halleck to Superintendents Office, July 7, 1862

Corinth, July 7, 1862.

Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War:

Sm: I inclose herewith a copy of a report of Brigadier-General McPherson, superintendent of railroads, from which it will be seen that we opened 367 miles of road in less than one month, besides repairing a number of locomotives and cars which were captured from the enemy greatly injured. Indeed the wood work of most of the cars has been entirely rebuilt, and all this work has been done by details from the army. The men have worked with most commendable industry and energy, and have shown the greatest willingness and alacrity in thus securing the territory we have gained from the enemy. Without these roads our position here would have been untenable for the want of supplies.

We are still greatly in want of rolling stock, but Assistant Secretary Tucker has assured me that he will immediately give his attention to supplying this deficiency. I have made requisition on the Quartermaster-General for the purchase of the Rogers locomotives.

Brigadier-General McPherson deserves great credit for the energy and untiring industry which he has devoted to the repair and organization of these roads.

Very respectfally,

your obedient servant,

Major-General.
[Inclosure.]}

Corinth, Miss., June 29, 1862.
Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLEOK,
Oomdg. Department of the Mississippi :
Sir: We have the following lines of railroad now open, and in running order, viz:

Editor's Notes
From: Operations in West Tennessee and Mississippi, Pt. 1. Location: Corinth. Summary: H. W. Halleck reports to Secretary of War Stanton the rapid repair and reopening of 367 miles of railroad in Confederate territory, emphasizing its critical role in maintaining Union supply lines during 1862.
Sources
The War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 17, Part 1 View original source ↗