| Private |
| Richmond, Va., June 23 1863 |
| |
| Lieut. Col. L. P. Grant |
| Engineers |
| Atlanta Ga |
| |
| Colonel, |
| For a purpose, I have delayed answering
your letter of the 7th inst. I wanted you to have full time to consider
the question of acceptance or non-acceptance of the appointment of
Lieut. Col. of Engineers before giving my views & explanations. |
| I obtained the increased rank for you in
order to place you in the position of Senior Engineer Officer with Genl.
Jos. E. Johnson, Commanding the Western Department, in which capacity I
felt you could be of vast service to our cause. Your experience in the
profession of Engineering has been more extensive than that of any
officer now in that Department and your natural gift of judging promptly
of ground, the bearing and importance of topographical features for
civil purposes, &c. added to your experience in the profession generally
will at once qualify you for the high duties of the Military Engineer,
who is expected to keep the Commanding Genl well informed as to the
character of the sections of country in which his army is to operate,
embracing topographical features, the strong & weak points of a line of
defense, the positions most favorable for occupation, the military
resources of the same, the communications to direct work for defense,
bridges and roads for communication. As to the details relating to the
construction of a "field work," "Battery," Rifle pit," "Lines of
infantry cover" &c &c they will be acquired by you at once & without any
difficulty. The construction of bridges and roads is already your
specialty, and the direction of surveys for maps, or compiling the same,
is a service with which you are entirely familiar. |
| General Johnson stands much in need of a
Senior Engineer of the attainments you possess. On entering upon the
duties of the Station I propose for you, your rank will give you general
control of all the Engineering operations of the Western Department. The
duties will call you from ??? as your presence will be required with the
Commanding General. |
| Your fields of usefulness will be much
enlarged by accepting the higher grade offered you, if you cannot,
consistently with your private obligations, enter upon the enlarged
services I must be content, but I must ask of you at least to continue
the valuable services you have heretofore rendered the country. We want
all the intelligent help we can get. The Common Man of the South is
willing to expose his life for and independence, which we will certainly
secure, if the willing efforts of the masses can be guided and assisted
by the intellectual & professional men of the land. Intelligence and a
proud spirit will make any people free, but enough of generalities. |
| I have, as you requested, written somewhat
at length, not wishing to attempt to influence your decision beyond what
I have just written. |
| I am, Colonel, |
| With high respect |
| J. F. Gilmer |
| Col. of Engrs |
|