| Engineer Bureau |
| Richmond, Mar 10th, 1863 |
| |
| Lt. Genl. James Longstreet |
| Commd of Dept of East Va & NC |
| Petersburg Va |
| |
| General, |
| To obtain iron for the important link of
RRd between Danville Va & Greensboro N. C. {the
Piedmont RR}, it will be necessary
to take it from the roads less important to the public interests. When
Brigadier Genl Pryor was in command on the Blackwater, he reported
that several miles of iron could be taken from the Seaboard {&
Roanoke} RRd. I
would respectfully inquire of you if any portion of the road named,
can be torn up without interfering with the transportation of supplies
troops &c in the present or contemplated operations within your
Department? |
| If from any part, will it be on the right
or left bank of the Blackwater. If beyond that stream, can the iron be
brought across without the reconstruction of broken bridges? Can any
portion of the iron be taken from the Norfolk & Petersburg RRd
without detriment to your operations. If iron can be spared from
either of the roads, will you furnish a military force sufficient to
guard the working parties employed in the removal? |
| I am General &c |
| J. F. Gilmer |
| Col. of Engrs & Chf of Bureau |
|