NA, ENG 1/5/1862

Engineer Bureau
Richmond, January 5th 1862
  
Capt. L. P. Grant
Provisional Engineers
Atlanta, Geo.
 
Captain,
   The exigencies of Service forces me to call on you for additional duty. The destruction of the Watauga and Holstrom bridges East Tennessee {& Georgia and & Virginia} R. Road{s} breaks a line of military communication vital to the army in the west. It is essential that these bridges should be rebuilt, in some form, at the earliest possible moment. I rely upon you to accomplish this.
   You will please proceed to the ground without delay and make all needful arrangements for the reconstructions, and employ bridge builders and other men of skill to do the work. You will procure materials from every possible source and appeal to the rail road companies of Georgia and Tennessee the aid you in every possible way within their power.
   The expenses of construction will be paid by the Government and to this end funds will be placed to your credit at an early day at Chattanooga, Tennessee.
   You are authorized by the Secretary of War to do every thing that will hasten the completion of the bridges -- appeal to other roads for assistance, urge full concert of action with you upon the East Tennessee Rail Road Co., to impress materials and labor, and call on the commanders of troops for details of men, if necessary.
   An assistance Engineer will be sent to you at once.
   As soon as you can get the bridges under full construction, you will visit Professor Thomassy at Atlanta, to review his views in detail with drawings of the works necessary to the production of salt by solar evaporation. The Professor then will go to Europe by authority of the War Department to employ persons skilled in the manufacture of salt.
   You are authorized to employ an assistant Engineer to perform the local duties in preparation for the salt works.
I am Sir
Very Respectfully Your Obt. Servt.
J. F. Gilmer
Colonel of Engrs. & Chf Engr. Bureau
 
Copy of the above sent to
Lieut. Genl. E. K. Smith -- Commanding Dept. of Tenn.

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