| Engineer Bureau |
| July 30th 1863 |
| |
| H. D. Whitcomb Esq |
| G Supt Va C RR {General
Superintendent, Virginia Central RR} |
| |
| Dear Sir, |
| There are about forty (40) miles of
telegraph wire at Staunton belonging to the Southern Telegraph
Company, which can be spared for use of the Government. I will be much
obliged if you will forward transportation for it to Richmond at an
early day as it proposed to use it for important military purposes. |
| Very Respy |
| Yr Obt Servt |
| J. L. Gilmer |
| Col Engrs & Chf of Bureau |
|