NA, ENG 7/1B/1864

Engineer Bureau
July 1, 1864
 
Hon. Jas. A. Seddon
Sec'y of War
 
Sir,
   Scarcely a day passes that there are not urgent calls for funds for Engineer service from every quarter of the Confederacy. The question is becoming one of such importance & urgency that I feel it my duty to lay the matter before you, resp'y requesting to learn whether there is some probability at an early day of being in funds. Just at this time four requisitions are of particular importance to my certain knowledge & all that have been made are greatly needed. These four are for:
Lt. Col. Minor Meriwether issued 29th April for

$200,000

Col. A. L. Rives " 25 May " 100,000
Lt. J. W. Glenn " 24  " " 50,000
Capt. L. P. Grant " 7 June " 100,000
   Col. Meriwether reports that very important operations connected with reconstruction of RR bridges & removal of R. R. iron & Fla. R. R. connection are almost stopped for want of funds.
   *** Capt L. P. Grant engaged on fortifications & especially duplicating R. R. bridges for the Army of Tenn. feared that his force collected with great difficulty would be disbanded for the want of funds. As for myself I am unable to meet the pressing demands of employees for their salaries, even mechanics who are doubtless suffering in consequence.
   At Mobile, Charleston, Savannah, Wilmington, in Western Virginia & especially the Trans Miss. Dept. the calls for funds are urgent & I can not well see how laborers, mechanics & laborers especially can be retained in our service, to which they are indispensable unless we can pay them their monthly salaries with something like regularity.
Very Resp'y &c
A. L. Rives
Col. &c

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