| Engineer Bureau |
| October 29th 1863 |
| |
| Maj Gen J. F. Gilmer Chief of Bureau |
| Hd Qrs &c |
| Charleston, S. C. |
| |
| General, |
| ***** |
| The falling back of our army behind the Rappahannock
has made it impossible to save the iron from the Warrenton RR {on
the Orange & Alexandria RR}. A party
composed of a few engineer troops with a working force of 50 negroes,
under Capt Dickinson, has been sent to Stafford Co. and will, it is
hoped, succeed in saving a large portion, if not all, of the railroad
iron between Fredericksburg and Acquia Creek {from
the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac RR}. |
| I have repeatedly called Col. Garnett's
attention to the importance of saving the iron from the Mississippi
Central RR and I hope he will spare no effort to accomplish what he
can. |
| In accordance with your recommendation,
Mr. Minor Meriwether has been commissioned as Major in the Provisional
Corps and assigned by the Secretary to the Commission for the removing
of railroad iron. I have informed of this both by letter and telegram,
and I requested him to meet his colleague Col Garnett, in Savannah on
the 10th Prox. |
| ***** |
| Very Respy Your Obt Servt |
| A. L. Rives |
| Lt Col & Actg Chf of Bureau |
|