| Richmond Feby 12th 1863 |
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Hon. A. S. Seddon
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| Secy War |
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| Sir, |
| In the month of March or April 1862, the
undersigned had the honor to present to the President the name of Mr.
Abner S. Gaines of Miss. for appointment in the Engr Corps. Mr Gaines
was appointed by the President Engr with the pay and ??lated rank of
Captn of Engrs to superintend the building of the R. Rd. to complete
the link from Meridian Miss to Selma Ala, for which the Govt. had made
an appropriation. That work being completed Mr Gaines reported to the
Secy of War and was advised to report to Genl Ledbetter at Mobile and
was assigned to duty by him connected with the defense of that city,
where he now is, but without rank or p??. |
| During Mr Gaines' superintendence of the
work on the Rl Rd. and looking to its completion, the undersigned
filed with Sec Randolph an application for his appointment in the Engr
Corps, for which his name had been originally presented to the
President and the President having suggested that appointments were
then occasionally being made in that Corpse. Mr Gaines is a gentleman
of the highest worth & of skill and efficiency as an Engr. and
would make a most valuable officer of Engrs. We respectfully renew the
application for his appointment, and trust it will meet with the
favorable consideration of the Secy after so long delay. |
| Very Respectfully |
| Yr Obt Svt |
| John J. McRae |
| F S Lyon |
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