NA, ENG 11/13/1861

Engineer Bureau
Richmond, Nov. 13, 1861
  
Lieut. Chas. T. Mason
Va. Corps of Engrs.
   
Sir,
   The following order has lately been issued:
"Col. Danville Leadbetter Provisional Army is hereby assigned to the command of the troops to be stationed for the protection of the Rail Road between Bristol, Va. and Chattanooga, Tennessee {the East Tennessee & Virginia RR and the East Tennessee & Georgia RR}. He will reconstruct bridges, repair & keep open the line of communication between those points, & will call upon Rail Road companies for such aid as he may require to carry out the order." 
   The Col. before his departure requested me to select for him, as an assistant, from the Va. Corps of Engineers, an engineer of experience & capacity. After due inquiry you have been selected to fill the above important position & you are hereby directed to report to Col. Leadbetter at Bristol, or in that neighborhood as promptly as possible.
   Lieut. Derrick will attend to the shot furnace now under construction.
Very respectfully yours
Alfred L. Rives
Acting Chief Bureau

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