174.] WHEELING, January 23, 1865.

Colonel LEWIS B. PARSONS,

Chief of Rail and River Transportation, Cincinnati, Ohio:

We have dispatched seven trains to destination, all that had arrived at Bellaire to 9 p. m. Power and cars in waiting to take troops, &c., as fast as they arrive. Twenty-six hundred men have gone forward.

J. B. FORD.

175.] LITTLE MIAMI AND COLUMBUS AND XENIA R. R. CO.,

SUPERINTENDENT'S DEPARTMENT,

Cincinnati, January 24, 1865.

Colonel PARSONS:

DEAR SIR: The Central Ohio road is probably short of power. Had you not best telegraph to Lough, or quartermaster at Columbus, authority to take if necessary two engines of the Piqua railroad and two of the Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati Railroad. Trains are going very slowly east for safety. We cleared out the yesterday's lot at 2 a. m. this morning. My impression is that we can take the troops to Columbus as fast as they can be taken away from there.

E. W. WOODWARD.

176.] CINCINNATI, January 24, 1865-10 a. m.

THOMAS LOUGH,

Superintendent, Columbus, Ohio:

Please advise me why it is trains are moving so slowly over the Central Ohio. Report from Wheeling shows the arrival of a much less number of troops than I had expected, and that the Baltimore and Ohio was waiting. Are you short of engines? If so, the quartermaster at Columbus will give you authority to make requisition or take possession of as many as are necessary. We send 4,000 more to-day, and the same to-morrow, making about 20,000 in all. Pray act promptly, and advise me fully. Cannot the Piqua furnish you engines if required?

LEWIS B. PARSONS,

Colonel and Chief of Rail and River Transportation.

176 1/2.] OFFICE DEPOT COMMISSARY OF SUBSISTENCE,

[January 23, 1865.]

Colonel LEWIS B. PARSONS,

Chief of Rail and River Transportation,

Burnet House, Cincinnati, Ohio:

COLONEL: I am in receipt of your communication of this date* informing me that there are about 1,000 men again delayed for lack of rations at the Little Miami Railroad depot. In reply I have to inform you that I found but one regiment, about 400 men, at the Little Miami depot; that rations had been drawn for this regiment by the division commissary of subsistence this forenoon. I have kept an agent at the

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*See No. 162, p. 257.

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