Engineer Bureau, War Department, C. S. A.
| Richmond, Va., July 30, 1864 |
| |
| General D. H. Maury |
| Commanding, etc, Mobile, Ala.: |
| |
| General, |
| A large portion of the railroad iron of the
Alabama & Florida Railroad {of Florida}
has been impressed by the Government, which has succeeded in
securing all except about five miles now lying idle and rusting on
the road-bed. Lieut. Col. Minor Meriwether (headquarters Demopolis,
Ala.), charged as commissioner to secure this iron for the
Government, writes that it will be impossible to secure this iron
except by taking it as a military necessity. The matter has been
before the courts time and again, but still new injunctions and
legal obstacles have been successfully interposed, and it is
understood that Mr. Avery, president of the company, is ready and
prepared to secure an injunction in Florida. The iron was absolutely
needed by the Government before the recent raids in Georgia and
Alabama, but now the case is so perfectly clear and one of such
absolute military necessity that I cannot too strongly urge your
interference and assistance to enable Colonel Meriwether to obtain
the five miles in question without delay. Colonel M has been
instructed to place himself in communication with you. |
| Very respectfully, your
obedient servant, |
| J. F. Gilmer |
| Major-General and Chief of
Bureau |
| P. S. -- Will you issue an
order, as commander of the department, based on the military
necessity? |
| J. F. G. |
|