| Engineer Bureau |
| February 13th, 1863 |
| |
| To the Clerks of the County Courts of Essex, King
William & King & Queen Counties, Va. |
| |
| Gentlemen, |
| The call made upon your Counties in
November last by his Excellency the Governor of Virginia for negroes to
work on fortifications, not having been responded to, I now ask
that the labor then called for or as large a part thereof as the
respective counties can supply, be furnished to Alexander Dudley Esq.
Prest: of the {Richmond &} York River R.
Rd. to clear the track of that road and collect materials important to
the public defence. |
| If the requisite labor for this purpose
shall be supplied by the counties of Essex, King William & King & Queen,
then this Bureau will receive it in substitution for labor on
fortifications and not urge the enforcement of the original call. |
| I am gentlemen Very Respectfully |
| Your obt. Servt. |
| J. F. Gilmer |
| Colonel & Chf Engr. Bureau |
|