Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-08


communication, dated December I'D, 1865
addressed TO the headquarters Of the army
by Major General Sherman, commanding tn,
Military Division of the Mississippi
ANDREW JOHNSON.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 1866.
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION
OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
ST.. LOUIS Mo-, Dec. p, 1866.
General J. A. Raiclfas, Clief Of lStaG, WASH
ingtOa, ID. c.:
GENERAL: have just returned from q
partial inspection of the Department of Ar
kansas. II was my purpose to have extend.
ed my visit up to Fort Smith, but the Ar
kansas river was too low, and limited it tc
Little Rock. The route usually travelled
remains substantially rs il was during the
war, by way Of White river TO Duval's Bluff
and thence forty-eight miles of Railroad 10
Little Rock.
The Arkansas river is ut all seasons toe
precarious TO be relied on, but on the White
river, lying in the allincon of the Missis-
sippi, retains at all seasons Of the year.. a
depth Of water OF three and a half feet 1ls
far up as Duvaps Bluff The railroad hence
10 Little Rock is in good enough condition
for all present purposes, and has been re-
stored to the possession Of the company who
built il, and is operated TO the satisfaction OF
General REYNOLDS and his chief quarter
master, Colonel Noble.
1twould contribute much TO our military
convenience, rs well rs 10 the general in
terests Of the State Of Arkansas, il the rail-
road could be finished 10 Memphis. 1 saw
N. G. Brinkley, of Memphis president of
the railroad company, who seemed very
anxious 10 finish il, but said the company
had lost so much by the war that unless he
could receive help from the Government, he
feared he could not undertake it.
The road was once in operation from
Memphis to Madison, on the st. Francis
river, with a fine bridge completed over
that stream, and at the time the Federal
army occupied Memphis, in 1862, he had
thousand tons Of railroad iron on hand,
ready to be applied on the unfinished section
between Madison and Duvalps Bluff, but
this iron was taken by us and carried away
TO Columbus KY, and used in repairs ON
the Mobile and Ohio railroad, then in our
military possession from Columbus TO
Corinth. The costly bridge over the st.
Francis was burned by the rebel General
Hindnan. aats}
Mr.. Brinkley agreed, If we could help him,
20 grade the road from Madison TO DuvalPs
Bluff, and TO cut in the woods along the line
the necessary number Of ties he would UNI
dertalce TO purchase on credit the necessary
quantity OF iron. and 10 construct the bridges
necessary TO make a continuous railroad frem
Memphis to Little Rock.
General REYNOLDS has now at Helena
three colored regiments, at Pine Bluff one,
and at Little Rock another, He could
easily apply the labor of two or more of
these regiments 10 the grading of the road
and getting out the ties. and Mr. Brinkley
agrees To paw for this labor in land, belong
ing TO the company. living adjacent TO the
road. General REYNOLDS commanding the
department, and Sprague, commissioner of
freedmen in Arkansas approve heartily of
this plan, and think we are sufficiently in
terested in this road 10 encourage il by all
means.
Accordingly ask that unlessit be proposed
TO muster out the colored regiments, that the
War Department win sanction the plan SO far
as to authorize General Reynolds TO order
the execution of the work during the
present winter and spring months. / found
all the troops in Arkansas in good condition
and well commanded, General. Reynolds
being admirably qualified and adapted to his
command. ftA't
General Sprague has also the respect of
the civil authorities.
The negroes in Arkansas can all find pro-
ftable and lucrative employment and are
protected in all their rights and property by
the civil authorities. | met no one citizen
or soldier who questioned or doubted that
their freedom was as well assured in Arkan-
sas as in Ohio.
Gov. Murphy told me that negroes could
acquire title 10 real estate or any kind Of
property, and that the courts both Federal
and State. could and would protect Them
There was an universal expression of conf
dence in the present condition Of affairs ex-
ccpt on the part Of some former rebels, who
thought the present test oath prescribed for
them too stringent and severe.
A convention of them convened. / know |
not how, was in session at Little Rock when |
| was there A committee from Il waited /
on General REYNOLDS and myself inviting us |
TO attend. We agreed 10 90. provided no |
debate or proceedings were in progress dur
ing our visit. On cur entrance TO the hall. |
the President addressed us in language as |
ioyal and earnest M possible, and asked our |
advice. / responded, and gave them the |
best advice / knew how, amounting sab |
stantialiy as follows:
That political matters. since the conclusion |
of hostiiities. had progressed and were still |
as fast as thew could EXPECT.
Thai doubted IL any action ON their part.
MS convention of the State, would be regard |
ed as the act of Arkansas. but that any |
representation Of facts from them, |
In their individual capacities. in the nature |
Of q petition 10 General REYNOLDS. to Presi |
dent johnson. or the national Congress,
would doubtless receive every possible con-
sideration.
At the same time called their attention
10 the poverty of their country. and how |
much better Il would be for them to give
Affairs, rather Than o1tner themselves win