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Atlanta Ga. Aug. 17th 1863 |
| |
| Colonel J. F. Gilmer |
| Chief of Engineer Bureau |
| Richmond Va. |
| |
| Colonel, |
| The owner of the negro force now employed
at the Salt works in Clark Co. Ala. has notified me that he will remove
his negroes. The locality proves sickly and the negroes have been rather
unmanageable owing to the proximity of the enemy. Some have run away and
probably escaped to the Federal lines. |
| We have only succeeded in completing the
majority of grubbing over the area which we proposed to occupy.
Contracts for negroes in Miss. proved of no avail on the approach of
Grant's army. All who proposed to remove their negroes would not risk
them on the western borders of Ala. We have only worked an average of 35
hands, and this force is now reduced by sickness to about 2/3 ds of that
number. |
| Do you know of the whereabouts of Prof.
Thomassy? He explained his plan only so far as to embrace the
evaporating process to near the point of saturation. The remaining
portion of the works must be constructed "under his immediate
supervision and direction" to use his own language. If the Prof. has not
been heard from, or cannot return to the country during the fall months
I must advise you to order the works abandoned. We can move all the
tools, supplies &c. with some hope of removing the negro force also to
the defenses of Atlanta. I can see no reasonable probability of
satisfactory results from a prosecution of the works. |
| Our progress on the defenses of Atlanta is
satisfactory. The small works at the Ferries on the Chattahoochee are
nearly completed and we have them batteries in progress for the
immediate defense of the City. We need wheel barrows. If you can spare
say 200, they will be profitably employed. |
| Do you require monthly returns of
material, tools &c. on hand? |
| Your letter of the 11th has been received.
The plan decided upon by Col. Wright and myself will meet your
instructions fully. |
| Your letter to Genl. J. E. Johnston, and a
copy of your letter of instructions to me, were shown to me today by
Lieut Geo. W. Mercer. I shall endeavor to leave on the 19th. |
| I am Colonel |
| Very Respectfully |
| L. P. Grant |
| Capt. Engrs. |