OR, Series 1, Vol. 40, Part 2, Page 702

War Department, C. S. A.
Richmond, Va., June 29, 1864
 
General R. E. Lee
Commanding, &c.
 
General,
   Your letter of the 28th instant with regard to the repair of the Danville railroad {Richmond & Danville RR} has been received. I am happy to have anticipated your wishes in every particular expressed. Not a day was lost after the injury was inflicted before the officers of the Department, with all the laborers that could be commanded, were engaged in the work of reparation. I have not yet received such reports as enable me to judge of the extent of the injury or the time required for repairs, but measures have been taken to ascertain them; and all the resources of the Department will be employed in restoring the road to moving condition at the earliest possible period. Proper representations have been made, and will continue to be made, to the newspapers to prevent any reference to the restoration of the road. Indeed, it has been my policy, so far as with reference to the truth and propriety I could, to induce the public impression that the injury is more serious and will require more time for reparation than, I trust, will prove the case. The enemy will be more surely deluded by a mistaken impression of the public on the subject. Besides, I lost no time in taking active measures to procure such supplies as could be drawn from all farmers along the lines of communication open on the north side, and in urging the early threshing of the incoming crop. They will be made more willing to afford such supplies and more active in getting out and forwarding their wheat by the belief that there must be serious delay in repairing the road. I shall be greatly disappointed if the measures taken do not enable me to afford supplies for the economical use of the army should the time required for reparation greatly exceed expectation.
Very respectfully,
James A. Seddon
Secretary of War

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