| Engineer Bureau |
| February 25th 1864 |
| |
| Chas. G. Talcott Esqr |
| Supdt. Richmond & Danville R. R. |
| Richmond |
| |
| Sir, |
| Your application for the release of the
hands of your company impressed under the recent call negro labor was
favorably endorsed by the Hon. Sec of War and has just been returned
to the Bureau by Col Stevens to whom I referred it, with the following
endorsements. |
| Headqr. Eng. Dept. D. N. V. Feby 20th 1864 |
| "I will exempt the hands hired by the
Railroad Companies. This will be an order to the Sheriff who will
exempt on the supts certificate that the hands were actually hired and
employed by the company at the time of the impressment to leave said
certificate at my office. |
| signed W. H. Stevens Col." |
| The exhibition of this paper will suffice,
I hope to procure the release of those of your hands who have been
impressed. |
| Yours Very Respy |
| A. L. Rives |
| Lt. Col &c &c |