| Confederate States of America |
| War Department |
| Engineer Bureau |
| Richmond, Va., 13 Nov. 1861 |
| |
| Lieut Chas T. Mason |
| Va. Corps of Engineers |
| |
|
Sir, |
|
The following order has lately been issued -- "Col.
Danville Leadbetter, Provisional Army is hereby assigned to the command
of the troops to be stationed for the protection of the Rail Road
between Bristol, Va & Chattanooga, Tennessee {East
Tennessee & Virginia RR and East Tennessee & Georgia RR}. He will
reconstruct bridges repair & keep open the line of communication between
those points, & will call upon Rail Road companies for such aid a she
may require to carry out this order." |
|
The Col. before his departure requested me to select for
him as an assistant from the Va Corps of Engineers an engineer of
experience & capacity. After one enquiry you have been selected to fill
the above important position & you are hereby directed to report to Col
Leadbetter at Bristol or in that neighborhood as promptly as possible. |
|
Liuet. Derrick will attend to the shot furnaces now under
construction. |
|
Very respectfully yours, |
|
Alfred L. Rives |
|
Acting Chf. Bureau |
|