| Engineer Bureau |
| January 5th, 1863 |
| |
| Capt. L. P. Grant |
| Atlanta, Geo. |
| |
| You are assigned to the duty of building the Watauga
and Holstron bridges, East Tennessee {&
Virginia} Rail Road -- the cost to be paid
by the Government. Proceed to the bridge at once -- call on the rail
roads of Georgia & Tennessee to furnish you skilled labor --
bridge builders & others. Will send you an assistant engineer,
time is all important. Please spare no effort. The Secretary of War
gives you full power to do every thing that can expedite the work --
press labor, & materials and appeal to other roads for assistance
to the extent of their abilities. As soon as the bridges are in
progress, visit Professor Thomassy at Atlanta on the question of salt. |
| J. F. Gilmer |
| Colonel of Engr. & Chief of Bureau |
| {also at OR, Series 1, Vol. 20,
Part 2, Page 486} |
|