| Engineer Bureau |
| May 9th, 1863 |
| |
| Capt. J. A. Haydon |
| Jonesboro, Washington Co. |
| Tennessee |
| |
| Captain, |
| The Hon. Sec. of War directs
that four miles of rail road iron shall be delivered by the Govt. to
the Va. & Tenn. R. Rd. Co. of which Mr. Owens is Prest. to enable
him by laying additional sidings along the branch leading to the Salt
works in Smythe and Washington Counties Virginia, and extending the
track beyond the salines to secure a full supply of fuel and increase
the capacity of the branch to transport salt from the works, without a
heavy call for rolling stock so much needed for other purposes. The
Hon. Sec. of War further directs that the above amount of rail road
iron shall be taken from the Rogersville Branch {the
Rogersville & Jefferson RR}, and leaves the selection of a
suitable agent for its collection to this Bureau. Put yourself in
communication with Major Genl. S. B. Buckner Commanding at Knoxville,
Tenn. to whom I have written a letter, a copy of which is enclosed,
and also with Mr. R. L. Owen Prest. of the Va. & Tenn. R. Rd. Co.
in Lynchburg, Va. Purchase all the iron of the Rogersville Branch and
also their rolling stock, if you can do so on fair terms, subject
however to the approval of this Bureau. If the property cannot be
purchased, it will become necessary to impress, in which event,
enclosed is sent for your instruction a printed copy of the law of
Congress regulating impressment to which you should strictly conform. |
| It is desired that you enter
upon your labors at once by organizing as promptly as possible a force
for the removal of the iron. |
| The whole of the iron must be
obtained from the Rogersville Branch, and all over the four miles to
be delivered by your to Mr. Owen, will be sent to Danville, Va.
consigned to Capt. E. T. D. Myers Corps of Engrs. The Govt. would
prefer to get the iron on the condition that the same amount be
returned to the Rogersville Branch at the close of the war. |
| Very Respectfully Yours |
| J. F. Gilmer |
| Col. of Engrs. & Chf of Bureau |
|