| Engineer Bureau |
| July 1, 1864 |
| |
| Hon. Jas. A. Seddon |
| Sec'y of War |
| |
| Sir, |
| Scarcely a day passes that there are not
urgent calls for funds for Engineer service from every quarter of the
Confederacy. The question is becoming one of such importance &
urgency that I feel it my duty to lay the matter before you, resp'y
requesting to learn whether there is some probability at an early day
of being in funds. Just at this time four requisitions are of
particular importance to my certain knowledge & all that have been
made are greatly needed. These four are for: |
| Lt. Col. Minor Meriwether |
issued |
29th April |
for |
$200,000 |
| Col. A. L. Rives |
" |
25 May |
" |
100,000 |
| Lt. J. W. Glenn |
" |
24 " |
" |
50,000 |
| Capt. L. P. Grant |
" |
7 June |
" |
100,000 |
|
| Col. Meriwether reports that very
important operations connected with reconstruction of RR bridges &
removal of R. R. iron & Fla. R. R. connection are almost stopped
for want of funds. |
| *** Capt L. P. Grant engaged on
fortifications & especially duplicating R. R. bridges for the Army
of Tenn. feared that his force collected with great difficulty would
be disbanded for the want of funds. As for myself I am unable to meet
the pressing demands of employees for their salaries, even mechanics
who are doubtless suffering in consequence. |
| At Mobile, Charleston, Savannah,
Wilmington, in Western Virginia & especially the Trans Miss. Dept.
the calls for funds are urgent & I can not well see how laborers,
mechanics & laborers especially can be retained in our service, to
which they are indispensable unless we can pay them their monthly
salaries with something like regularity. |
| Very Resp'y &c |
| A. L. Rives |
| Col. &c |
|