To WJ Stephens From RH Mileoy Sept 21 1864

              Draft of letter to 
Mr. Stephens  R.R. 
Suptnt 
 

  
                   Head Qtrs. 1st Dst. 
 
 
 
              W. J. Stephens 
 
                    Act. Genl. Supt 
 
                           N. S. M. R. R.ds 
 
                                         Davis, Miss.  
 
                                               Sir, 
 
 
 
                                                            Under  
existing orders, no officer, soldier or other person 
except a R. R. employee can pass along the 
lines of this R. R. by my authority except on 
a passenger train.  This often proves very 
inconvenient & injurious to the service.  The 
troops along the Road line & defenses from 
Nashville to Stephenson are under my Comd 
& I often have need to send my inspector 
General or other staff officers or some other 
officer, soldier, scout, detective or witness to 
some point along the line to  
promptly & it is often important 
that some officer, soldier, scout, detective or 
witness com should come promptly from 
some other point along the line to see me at this 
place