| Engineer Bureau |
| July 22d 1864 |
| |
| Lieut. Col. Minor Meriwether |
| Demopolis, Ala. |
| |
| Colonel, |
| Your various communications in regard to
impressment of RR iron &c have been recd. I shall send you in a
day or two authority from Hon Secy of War to impress the Gainesville
Branch R. R. {Mississippi, Gainesville &
Tuscaloosa RR} iron. |
| Genl Gilmer has written to Genl Maury
requesting him to impress the {Mobile &} Spring Hill R. R. iron & also that
of the Ala. & Fla. R. R. of Fla. without further delay, as a
matter of mil. necessity & has stated to the General that you
would post him fully in relation to both cases. |
| $200,000 of money has reached you & a
requisition for $200,000 more was made out some time since. it is
hoped that it will be soon placed to your credit. In regard to the
authority taken by you to impress various other roads, at this time,
it is not deemed advisable to act just at this time except in the case
of the Gainesville Branch. |
| Your views as to the difficulties almost
insuperable of obtaining iron except by prompt mil. action are fully
concurred in & the Bureau will endeavor to have you sustained. It
is however deemed proper in each case to follow the law of impressment
& if an injunction is taken out to move for a dissolution & if
that is not granted take prompt military measures for securing iron imperatively
needed. An appeal in such cases will be made by the Bureau to Comdg
Generals to sustain you. |
| By direction of Maj Genl. Gilmer |
| Vey respy yours |
| A. L. Rives |
| Col &c |