| Endorsement on letter from Lt. Col.
Meriwether relative to the value of any iron. Recommends that mil
force be used to secure the remainder as also that of Spring Hill
Mobile Ala. States that he has recd. no money yet. Dated
24 May 1864 |
| Eng. Bureau 24 June 1864 Resp'y
referred to the Hon Sec'y of War requesting his instructions in regard
to the question of taking without further delay the rails of the Fla.
& Ala. R. R. (Presdt Mr. Avery) now in Fla. & also of the {Mobile
&} Spring Hill R. R. Mobile Ala. I am convinced, as Col.
Meriwether states that no iron can be obtained except by prompt
military actions, prompted by the absolute wants of the Confederacy. I
see no alternative but to pursue this course. If the main and
absolutely essential lines are to be kept up at the expense of the
secondary & comparatively useless ones. |
| A. L. Rives |
| Col. &c |
|