|
Confederate States of America
|
| War Department |
| Engineer Bureau |
|
Richmond, Va
|
| Feby 11th 1865 |
| |
| Hon. J. C. Breckenridge |
| Secretary of War |
| |
| Sir, |
| In response to the resolution of inquiry
of the C S Senate of the 23th ulta, I have the honor to submit the
report of this Bureau to such sections thereof as required the same,
as follows, viz: |
| To the first and third sections requiring a report of
the number of details of men between 18 & 45, and the number of
negroes necessary for Engineer service, embracing defensive works, and
repair and construction of railroads, |
| 1st |
For Engineer service army of Northern Virginia |
100 details |
5000 negroes |
| 2nd |
"
"
" Dept of North Carolina |
47 details |
1025 negroes |
| 3rd |
"
"
" Dept S. C. Fla & Geo |
175 details |
5500 negroes |
| 4th |
"
"
" Dept Ala, Miss, & E.
La |
150 details |
4800 negroes |
| 5th |
" Repair and
construction of Railroads South of Virginia |
350 detailed |
2000 negroes |
| 6th |
" Construction of
Columbia & Augusta Railroad |
100 negroes |
50 detailed |
| 7th |
"
"
Thomasville & Albany Rail Road |
50 details |
250 negroes |
| 8th |
"
" of
railroads in Alabama |
300 details |
2000 negroes |
| 9th |
" ????? |
30 details |
100 negroes |
|
Railroad ??? |
10 " |
100 " |
|
Total |
1297 details |
21,125 negroes |
|
| ????? |
| ????? as to the rail roads the repair and
construction of what will be ??? for military purposes and would be
????? in part by appropriations to the C. S. Army: |
| 1st |
The construction of |
Columbia S C and Augusta Georgia |
| 2nd |
"
"
" |
Albany Geo and Thomasville " |
| 3rd |
"
"
" |
Union Springs Ala, with Montgomery Ala |
| 4th |
"
"
" |
Montgomery
" and
Selma
" |
| 5th |
"
"
" |
Railroad Bridge over {Tom}Bigbee
River at Demopolis Ala {Alabama &
Mississippi Rivers RR} |
|
| In addition to the specified works, all
the main connections will require repair, and that some rail road iron
be furnished them. Possibly, no further assistance will be required
for the Columbia & Augusta road, that the details of able bodied
men above named, with the addition of authority to purchase supplies
in the vicinity of the work. |
| On the connection between Thomasville and
Albany Georgia, the Bureau has made a specific recommendation that
$6,000,000 be appropriated, and that the privilege of hiring negroes
in the neighboring counties, and of purchasing supplies in the same be
granted. |
| Instead of recommending an appropriation
for cash of the other works above named, and for repairs, I would
advise that a general appropriation be made for construction and
repairs of Railroads for military purposes of $15,000,000 to be
applied to such roads, as, in the opinion of the Secretary of War,
must be built or repaired. |
| Respectfully submitted |
| J. F. Gilmer |
| Maj Genl & Chf Engineer Bureau |
|