| Headquarters Department of East Tennessee |
| Russellville, Tenn.
|
| January 13, 1864
|
| |
| Capt. J. M. Robinson |
| Engineer in Charge |
| |
| I am in receipt to-day of your note of
the 9th instant, and am gratified to hear of the completion of the
bridge at Zollicoffer {on the East Tennessee
& Virginia RR}. Colonel Carter has been ordered to leave
a small force at the bridge, as you suggest, to guard it and protect
it from the heavy drift. I send the order to him in company with
this. |
| General Longstreet desires you to send a
part of your engineer troops, say one or two companies, to
reconstruct the bridge at Ripley at the same time that you are going
on with the work at Watauga {East Tennessee
& Virginia RR}, which he hopes you will complete soon.
These two works ought to be finished about the same time, and the
cars can then run as far as Greeneville. Lieutenant Moncure, of the
Engineers, has a party at work on Lick Creek bridge. The commanding
general desires you to report frequently the progress of your work. |
| I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient
servant, |
| G. M. Sorrel |
| Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General |
|