| Engineer Department |
| Houston Feby 7th 1865 |
| |
| Capt A H May |
| A. A. Genl. |
| |
| Capt., |
| In accordance with orders from the Chf
Engr dated 30 Nov. to purchase or impress if necessary sufficient
cedar timber to repair G. H. & H. R. R. {Galveston,
Houston & Henderson RR} Bridge I proceeded to Chan Creek
Hains Co where I succeeded in procuring but four of the five thousand
sticks wanted. I proceeded to Cedar Bayou where I bought seven hundred
and fifty sticks. Not finding in either of the above places the
quantity required I took horse and proceeded to Cedar Bluff Polk Co on
the Trinity River {about 60 miles northeast of
Houston} where I had been told there was a quantity of cedar
timber. Upon examination I found that the information was correct and
immediately moved my force of about one hundred vol details from the
several commands in Galveston to cut cedar piling. They arrived at
Cedar Bluff and commenced work about the 15th Jany. I having made
contracts with Drury Kirksy and Gamer (both of Polk Co) for a quantity
of cedar timber am counting in the aggregate to above four thousand
sticks at the rate of twenty ($20.00) dollars per tree, some of the
trees making two sticks. |
| When I left Polk Co on the 3d Feby, I had delivered
upon the bank upon the Trinity River one thousand ready to raft and
two thousand more cut ready to haul the teams being on the ground. The
roads however are at present in such a condition that it is utterly
impossible to move a team in the Trinity bottom. |
| In the mean time while the roads continue
impossible, the men will be employed in building and forwarding the
rafts of the timber already on the River, to Wallaceville near the
mouth of the Trinity River from which they will be taken by steam boat
to Galveston. |
| A steamboat is now required to take the
piles from Ceday Bayou. The necessity for the commencement of the
repairs being urgent I would respectfully request that a steamboat be
ordered to proceed to Cedar Bayou and deliver the piles at Galveston
immediately and that preparations be made to send a steamer to
Wallaceville within the next twenty days further I propose. Those on
Cedar Creek to the amount of six hundred are being rafted to the mouth
of that Creek. I being ??? with the country do not know the point as
yet from which they will be taken up by boat for Galveston. I am
however on my way there and during the week will know, and when the
boat will be required. |
| Respectfully submitting the above |
| I have the honor Capt to be |
| Your obt sevt |
| H. A. Edwards |
| Lt & Engr |