| General Superintendents Office |
| Seaboard & Roanoke Railroad Company |
| Portsmouth, Va., July 13, 1861 |
|
|
| Brig. General Henry A. Wise |
| |
| Your favor of today was placed in my hands
by your son the Revd Henry A. Wise. |
| Finding that my duties as rail-way
superintendent & engineer did not necessarily occupy most of my
time, I have for some months passed been volunteer member of an
infantry company stationed at Craney Island in which some young
cousins under my care are situated. |
| From my education at the Military
Institute, and as an engineer, I am led to believe that I can do more
efficient service than as mere private in a company, if so situated as
to be able to absent myself from military duty when necessity requires
my presence on the Seaboard road. |
| Under these circumstances I gladly
accepted the proposition of your son to obtain for me the position you
have so kindly offered. I shall have the pleasure of reporting myself
to you & of making in person my acknowledgements for your
kindness. |
| I am Sir, |
| Yours Respectfully |
| Jno M. Robinson |