| Head Qrs. Army No. Va. |
| 29 Octo 1863 |
| |
| Lieut Col A. F. Rives |
| Engineer Bureau |
| Richmond Va |
| |
| Colonel, |
| General Lee desires me to say
that all the rail road iron which can be readily obtained for the
present on the Orange & Alexandria Rail Road north of the Rappahannock
has been hauled on wagons to a point on this side the river and now
awaits transportation on the flats. These flats are carrying it off very
slowly and it is important that great effort should be used to transport
it to a place of security. This iron was taken up as far as Bealton
about four miles from the river. A body of cavalry has been ordered
across the Rappahannock below the O. & A. R. R. in order to cover the
operations of the working parties engaged in removing the iron from the
Aquia creek road {eastern end of the Richmond,
Fredericksburg & Potomac RR}. The officer in command will place
himself in communication with the office of the Engineer Corps and
report to him any advance of the enemy in that quarter. There is a
telegraph wire from Falmouth to the Aquia Creek area ??? which General
Lee thinks might be quietly and safely removed after the operations on
the railway are finished which he recommends should be carried on very
actively. |
| I am very respectfully Your obt Servt |
| C. S. Venable Maj & A. D. C. |
|