| Engineer Bureau |
| January 22nd 1864 |
| |
| Col. C. F. M. Garnett |
| Commissioner &c |
| |
| Colonel, |
| I am instructed by
the Hon Secretary of War to inform you that he deems the present time
favorable to a renewed attempt for saving the iron from the railroad
between Fredericksburg & Acquia Creek {the
Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac RR}
and to call upon you to take the steps necessary to effect this
object. |
| The condition of
things in E. Tennessee is such as to invite a prompt and vigorous
effort to save the iron from the Rogersville Branch RR {Rogersville
& Jefferson RR}. This section
of country is now within our lines, and sufficiently protected to
admit of the operations of working party employed on the removal of
the iron, whilst the reconstruction of the bridges on the ETenn. &
Va. R. R. {East Tennessee & Virginia
RR} which according to information
received at the Bureau will be completed within a week will afford
means of transporting the iron removed from the road in question. |
| Very Respy Your Obt Servt |
| A. L. Rives |
| Lt Col &c |
| {Also found in Official Records
in Series 1, Vol. 33, Page 1116} |
|