| Quartermaster General's Department |
| Richmond, Oct. 22d 1863 |
| |
| Gen. W. H. C. Whiting |
| Commanding |
| Wilmington, N. C. |
| |
| General, |
| A lathe belonging to the Manassas Gap Rail
Road Company removed by your order from Greensboro, North Carolina, is
reported by Major Sims, Superintendent of the Rail Road Bureau, to be
very much required for the repairs of engines. |
| It is stated in the communication on the
subject referred to this office, that when the lathe was removed, it
was understood that it would be returned in six weeks from that time
-- which was in June last. |
| Its important to the Navy Department, the
Quarter Master's Department, and the equipment of the Piedmont Road,
is represented to be very great. |
| I therefore respectfully call your
attention to the subject, and urge that you will give orders for the
return of this lathe, so soon as it can be possibly done. |
| A. R. Lawton, Q. M. Genl. |
|