| Engineer Bureau |
| June 25th 1864 |
| |
| Chas. G. Talcott Esq |
| Supt. R & D R. R. |
| Richmond |
| |
| Sir, |
| Col. Rives has
directed me to reply to your letter of June 13th making requisition
for a supply of shovels for the Piedmont & Danville R. R. {the
Piedmont RR and Richmond & Danville RR} |
| On account of the
recent heavy demand and the failure of the usual supply from the
contractors (their workmen having been ordered to the field) there are
but few on hand, not more than four hundred shovels in all and about
one thousand spades. You will therefore see it will be impossible to
supply more than a very small number. If you will send in the
requisition reducing it to the smallest possible number with which you
can manage for the present they will be furnished if possible. Can you
not make use of spades? |
| By order Col. A. L. Rives |
| Isaac W. Smith |
| Capt. Eng. |
|