NA, R&YR 8/7/1862

Between the 5th & 9th Day of May 1862 a Pile Driver reported to me as belonging to the R. & Y. R. R. R. Co., was burned by my directions at Cumberland on the Pamunkey river under the orders to me of General Jos. E. Johnston Commanding C. S. A. to destroy all vessels on this river if necessary to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy. On the evening of 7th or 8th of May a gunboat of the enemy advanced to Cooks Island within a few miles of Cumberland & the agent of the R. & Y. R. R. R. the next morning scuttled this pile driver & abandoned it. On my reaching Cumberland a few hours after this was done, I found the pile driver uninjured except having one or more holes bored in its bottom very near the New Kent shore & in water so shallow that I think the water had not reached its floor. With slight repairs & a little exertion in getting this pile driver afloat I regarded it as in condition to be as serviceable to the enemy as before it was scuttled. In this condition & position I directed it to be burned. Several sloops & schooners in the service of the Confederate States were on fire when I reached Cumberland. These were burnt by Lieut Tapscott under my orders to do so if necessary to prevent them falling into the hands of the enemy. The pile driver was, not, valued. 
Given under my hand this 7th day of August 1862
Chas. S. Carrington
Major & Q. M.
 
We the undersigned, J. R. Childs Master Carpenter of the Virginia Central Rail Road Shops, N. S. Walker Machinist of the Lester Machine Works, and J. C. Rome Capt. of the Steamer West Point at the request of Capt. J. B. White Asst Qr Master Confederate States Army & Alexd Dudley Prst R. & York River Rail Road, have ascertained the value of the Pile driver above mentioned to be, Thirty eight hundred and Eighty Dollars.
Engine $1700 J. R. Chiles
Lighter 1500 Nathl. S. Walker
Fixtures 680 J. C. Rome
$3880
Approved
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QrMrGnl

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