impressed for the road between Augusta and Atlanta. Major Meriwether, it is understood, has promised iron for this route beyond Atlanta. I have directed trestle-work to take the place of bridges destroyed, as it will not require half the time to put up the trestle that it will to rebuild bridges. I have thus, as briefly as possible, stated what measures I have adopted to meet the wishes of the Department, and regret that military operations have prevented an earlier answer to your letter and prevent me from giving more of my time to the reopening of communication, the importance of which I fully appreciate, and had already ordered when in Macon.

Respectfully, general, your obedient servant,

G. T. BEAUREGARD,

General.

[44.]

HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE WEST,
Charleston, S. C., December 21, 1864.

His Excellency JOSPEH E. BROWN,

Governor of Georgia, Macon, Ga.:

SIR: In the existing emergency I have deemed it best for the interest of the service to direct my chief quartermaster, Major E. Willis, to call upon the presidents of the Georgia and Central Railroads to urge them to use the iron from their branch roads to repair their main lines as soon as possible. In case of a failure of the presidents of these two roads to comply with the request, the emergency demands that impressment should be resorted to, and Major Willis has been instructed to act accordingly, that disaster which now threatens may be averted. I have the honor to respectfully solicit you to aid Major Willis all in your power to open communication as soon as possible, via West Point and Atlanta, to Augusta. Major Willis will be informed that the iron on the Camak branch is more substantial and suitable than that of any other branch of the Georgia road and to proceed to remove it so as to repair the road from Augusta to Atlanta. Major Meriwether, engineer, has promised iron for the road between West Point and Atlanta. It is represented that at least ten miles of iron will be required bot east and west of the latter place. My quartermaster will be further instructed to impress the necessary labor and to make ample preparations to ration and clothe the negroes and forage the also request your aid in concentrating the labor now on the two roads, the Georgia and the Central, on the route between West Point and Augusta, via Atlanta, that provisions now so necessary may be pushed through.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully and truly, yours,

G. T. BEAUREGARD,

General.

[44.]

RICHMOND, VA., December 24, 1864.

General G. T. BEAUREGARD,

Charleston, S. C.:

General Hood sent two dispatches on the 8th instant, the first identical with that communicated to you; the second withdrew the first and expressed the opinion that it would be best for General Cheatham to remain in his position for the present.

JEFFERSON DAVIS.

[44.]