| Columbus Ky Nov 28th 1861 |
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| Col DeRupy |
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Chief Engineer C. S. A.
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| Charge Fortifications |
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Westn Dept.
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| Colonel, |
| With this I submit a letter from Mr
Meriwether of Memphis, Chief Engineer of Forces of the Mississippi
River. |
| You will perceive his desire to assist in
the work so defence, and if you allow me to express my opinion, I will
candidly state, from an intimate knowledge of his ability and
attainment, that he is one of the most able Engineers in the Southern
Confederacy. He is well known to the scientific and practical
gentlemen of the profession, and his properties have been those of the
best, his salaries very large, and commensurate with his deserts. In
any branch of Civil Engineering he is competent and skilled. His
assistance to the army here will be very valuable. |
| Should there be for the present no
position in his department in which he could be employed, I could
bring him up and turn over to him, with your concurrence, the magazine
in question. You perceive he asks no pay for his services, yet I am
satisfied that should he come the value of his work will be too highly
estimated to allow him to work for nothing. |
| I mentioned his name to Genl Polk some
time ago, but it was before he had expressed a desire to come. He is
known to Col Richmond and to many here. |
| In submitting this to you Sir |
| I have the honor to remain |
| Your very obt Servt |
| J. T. Champneys |
| Ord. Officer, C. S. A. |
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