| Engineer Bureau |
| Aug 8th 1863 |
| |
| Dr. Wm. A. Smith |
| Prest. R. V. R. R. Co. {President,
Roanoke Valley RR} |
| C. W. Pencill Esq on Committee |
| |
| General, |
| The communication of the 9th inst.
recommending that immediate steps be taken to complete the extension
of the Roanoke Valley R. R. from Clarksville to Reynolds, distance 31
miles, instead of removing the rails from the portion of the road
south of Clarksville has been referred to this Bureau by Col. Chas. F.
M. Garnett commissioner & in reply I have to state that it will
not be practicable for the Government to procure iron for the proposed
extension & supply the want of the main lines of railway
throughout the Confederacy. Every effort is now being made to press
the construction of the Piedmont Road which will be safer &
shorter connection with the South & southwest than the one
suggested by you. |
| More than one half of the grading on the
Piedmont line has been completed & with the negroes of force now
promised by parties from the State of Georgia the remainder can be
finished sooner than the 31 miles from Clarksville to Reynolds
could be, were it possible to promise iron for the latter. The orders
for removing the iron from the Roanoke Valley R. R. cannot be revoked. |
| I am Gentlemen |
| Very Resplly your obt servt |
| J. F. Gilmer |
| Col Engrs & Chf Bu. |