| {No date on the letter, but found
filed between December 1862 and April, 1863} |
| |
| Hon. James A. Seddon |
| Secretary of War |
| |
| Sir, |
| Having learned that an
application has been made to you to have detailed from the army some
half dozen expert workmen for the Kaolin "Works" in South Carolina
permit me to state my practical experience of the necessity for
military purposes of giving necessary aid to the operations of these
works. One of the principals most important products of these works are
"insulators" for telegraph wires. On the telegraph line recently erected
along the R. F. & P. Railroad other Kaolin insulators were at first used
(it being impossible to procure glass,) and were found from their
imperfect character to fail of their purpose of keeping up any reliable
telegraphic communication with Gen. Lees army. Indeed, relying on any
such may only prove a dangerous snare to our armies in their greatest
need. |
| with high respect your obt. Servt. |
| P. V. Daniel Jr Presdt |
| R. F. & P. R. Rd. Co.
{Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac RR} |
|