| Spotswood Hotel |
| Septr 1st 1864 |
| |
| Hon. J. A. Seddon |
| Secy of War |
| |
| Sir, |
| As a director of the Mobile & Ohio R.
R. Co. I am charged with its interests here, and am requested by L. C.
Fleming Esqr. Chf. Engr & Genl. Super. of the Road, to apply to
you for the detail of machinists to work in the shops in the repair of
the machinery of that road. They are not to be found in that
department, and the details are necessarily asked from the dept. of
Ga. or Tenn. or wherever men may be found. |
| Mr. Fleming assures me that these
machinists are indispensible to the running of the road, and
that without them transportation over it must stop. It is with
reluctance that application is made for the withdrawal of a single man
from active service, but the necessity of case compels it, and it is a
transfer of the men to another service, in which they may be equally
useful. |
| The importance of this road connected with
the military transportation of the government is known to yourself,
and the application is respectfully submitted, with the request to be
informed if the details will be made as asked by the Superintendent. |
| Very Resp yr obt svt |
| John J. McRae |
| |
| {on reverse of letter} |
| Qr. Mr. Genls Office |
| Sept 7, 1864 |
| Respectfully referred to Lieut.
Col. F. W. Sims Supt. R. R. Transpn. |
| There are no persons designated
in this application whom he desires to have detailed, therefore, this
office cannot take any action in the matter. |
| A. R. Lawton |
| Qr. Mr. Genl |
| |
| Richmond Sep 9/64 |
| Respy retn to Q.M.Genl. Have
addressed Judge McRae a letter upon this subject. |
| F. W. Sims |
| LtCol & Q. M. |
|