NP, LV 9/8/1864

From the Lynchburg Virginian
September 8, 1864
 
New River and Otter Bridges   {on the Virginia & Tennessee RR}
   Editors Virginian:  Articles have appeared in several of the papers in this State on the rapidity with which the Va. & Tenn. Railroad was again put in order after the extensive damages done to it by the enemy on the advances of Crook and Hunter in May and June last, which do not justice to all the parties concerned.
   New River bridge, 800 feet long, was rebuilt in 19 days, from timber standing in the forest, by the engineer forces of the department of West Va., and the railroad forces jointly, all under the direction of Capt. R. C. McCalla, C. S. engineer, by virtue of an order from the brave Gen. W. E. Jones, then commanding department as a military necessity. Maj. Goodwyn, Superintendent of the railroad, neither planned or directed that work.
   In the first place, extensive facilities had to be established, for the transshipment of freight, passengers, &c. across the broad and rapid river. This engaged the engineer forces nearly a week's time. They then built two-thirds of the bridge in the balance of the nineteen days, while the railroad forces built the other third in the entire time.
   Nor is the entire credit for rebuilding the Otter bridges due the railroad company and their superintendent. It is true that they exercised, with great energy, the lesson they had learned at New River on bridge building. Besides, Capt. McCalla, with his veteran engineer troops, was there also, "boiling in the hot sun," to the extent of any one, none the less useful again with his skillful appliances than with the heavy blows of his large mechanical and laboring force, and teams, &c.
West

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