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Head Qrs Department of SC, Ga & Fla |
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Charleston S. C. Sept 17th 1863 |
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D. B. Harris |
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Lt Col & Chf Engr |
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Colonel, |
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The great accession to the negro force within a few days
past, and leads the Commanding General to hope that the works under
construction will now be pushed forward rapidly to completion. To this
end some more perfect organization of this labor appear to be essential,
and desires your special, immediate attention. The services of some
person of known business ability and standing, such as Mr Singletary,
President of the Charleston & Savannah R. Road should be secured if
possible, to whom, under your own orders, the receiving, distribution,
general supervision when at work, subsistence and discharge of the
negroes should be directly entrusted, relieving Major Echols of all
connection therewith, save and except the payment on properly certified
rolls, for labor done. No time should be lost. If Mr Singletary cannot
be induced to undertake this service, some one else must be. |
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The force of negroes must for the present be kept up to
3,500 effectives, if possible, if they can be efficiently worked and
whenever falling below that the fact must be immediately reported to
this Head Quarters. |
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Respectfully |
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Your Obdt Servt |
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Chief of Staff |
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