| Office Richmond & York River Rail Road
Company |
| Richmond Decr. 31st1861 |
| |
| Captain J. B. White |
| Quarter Master |
| Yorktown |
| |
| Dear Sir, |
|
Yours of the 26th inst, asking the use of a Pile Driver
belonging to this Company for your Department was duly received and I
have since seen Captn Carrington and authorize him to say to you, that
you could have it, upon the following terms, to wit, Your Department to
pay all expenses incurred by this Company in putting the Lighter in
proper condition to meet the exposed situation in which it will be
placed, at Yorktown & employ and pay two men, now in the service of this
Company, the same per month that they are now receiving, with one ration
per day, to take charge of and work the engine and other machinery while
in your service, that You will return the Lighter Engine &c to this
Company, in good working order and on return, when no longer required by
you, at the White Hose or West Point, and if necessary and required by
me, have them towed up y the Steamer Syan, and that your Department will
pay all costs and charges, which may be incurred in transporting the
Said Lighter and Engine to and from Yorktown, and for all damages which
it may sustain while in the service of your Department, or for its loss. |
|
These conditions may be regarded by you as wholly
unnecessary, but I am compelled to ask that they be accorded to by you,
and approved by Major Thornfield and Genl Magruder before I can allow
the Pile Driver to leave my custody. It is now on the way to West Point,
where it will be immediately taken to a Marine Railway and put in
condition for the service contemplated. I suppose this will require but
a few days, and it will be then ready to proceed to York Town and will
do so, provided you shall then have in lonting, agreed to my terms. |
|
Properly worked, this Driver ill drive in good locations
from fifteen to twenty piles per day, and while at this rate, drive all
you will require within the next forty days. I must ask that you will
have it worked up to its full capacity and return it as early as
possible. I shall have the piles and lumber for an extension of the
wharf at West Point in place and ready to commence work before the end
of forty days and will then expect you to return it at once, if
requested. I hope you will not think me too exacting in the terms which
I have asked you to comply with before allowing the Pile Driver to leave
my control, acting as an agent for a Corporation, I could not in justice
to myself require less. Expecting to hear from you very soon |
|
I am Very Respectfully Yoursvt |
|
Alex Dudley President |
|