| Near State Line Miss August 29th 1863 |
| |
| Hon J. A. Campbell |
| Asst Secty of War |
| |
| Dear Sir, |
| My son Abner Gaines was engaged as an
Engineer on the Selma & Gulf RR at the commencement of the war
which it was hoped could be so far completed as to be useful in our
struggle but the company was compelled to abandon the work for want of
iron; and he immediately came home and engaged in raising a volunteer
company in January 1862; and just as his efforts gave proof of success
I received a dispatch from Hon F. S. Lyon, then at Richmond requesting
me to send my son without delay to that place. I accordingly advised
him to go; on arrival at Richmond he was appointed by the Sec'ty of
War Hon Randolph. Engineer and Agent Miss & Ala River RR; and
after that portion of the work assigned to him was completed he was
ordered to report to Gen Ledbetter at Mobile, under whose direction
he has superintended the construction of the entrenchments around that
city since December 1862. He would not have given up the prospect of
leading his volunteer company into active service for the employment
offered him by the War Dept had not that offer been complete with a
promise of an appointment in the Engineer Corps. I refer you for his
fitness for such an office to the letters of Gen Leadbetter, Maj L. J.
Fleming Chf Eng & Supt M&O RR {Mobile
& Ohio RR}, Col W. D. Dunn and others, on file in the
office of the Engineer Bureau. |
| Gov McRae on returning home from the late
session of Congress informed me that the appointment of my son to a
Captaincy in the Engineer Corps had been settled upon and approved by
the President; and that Col Gilmer, Ch'f Eng. informed him that his
commission would soon be made out and forwarded. I learn he has not
rec'ed it yet. |
| My son ???, I think has a good deal of his
????? indomitable fitness and industry; and I also believed he is
qualified for great usefulness in the Engineer Corps of the Army
therefore I advised him to give up his volunteer company and obey the
summons to Richmond. The delay in receiving his commission causes him
some uneasiness since he will be liable to conscription the moment his
present employment ceases, and as I feel somewhat blamable for turning
him from his course of entering the army as a Captain of a volunteer
company I trust you will excuse me for troubling you with this
communication, and requesting you to look at the letters of Gen
Ledbetter and others before alluded to, knowing all the parties as
you do, to make any investigation as you may deem proper to the Sect'y
of War and the President as to relieve his uneasiness. |
| Under the circumstances of my sons case it
seems to me that he ought to be commissioned at once and assigned to
duty under Gen Ledbetter until the Corps of Engineers are organized. |
| I am with great respect and esteem |
| Your obdt Serv't |
| Geo. S. Gaines |