Southern Railroad Company Letter

The Southern Railroad Company's lines were largely composed of routes chartered and established during the period between 1830 and 1860, namely the Vicksburg & Jackson line and the Mississippi & Alabama (i.e., Brandon to Meridian) line. Its 141-mile route was completed as a through line as of June 3, 1861. During the Civil War, the Southern was one of the most militarily strategic lines. Its western segment was destroyed during Sherman's raid from Vicksburg to Meridian in February 1864. Repair of the Southern from Jackson to Meridian severely depleted Confederate military reserves of rails and fasteners. Consequently, service on the Southern line was inadequate for routine military purposes during the remainder of the conflict.

Following the war, the Southern route was subsequently known as the Vicksburg & Meridian and later as the Alabama and Vicksburg. It became a part of the Anglo-American-capitalized-Queen-Cresent Railroad System during the 1880's, and is presently a part of the Illinois Central Gulf system.

N. G. Bryson was a resident of Vicksburg, Mississippi, and a secretary of the Southern Railroad Company. A. J. McConnico of Holly Springs was a secretary of the Mississippi & Alabama Railroad as of 1860. Holly Springs was served by the Mississippi Central Railroad, which connected with the Southern at Jackson.