| Head Quarters Engineer Department, D. N. V. |
| Richmond, 18th Decr 1863 |
| |
| Colonel, |
| I have the honor to report that, in the
month of June 1863, by your instructions, I constructed a Turnout and
erected a Turn Table at White House for using the "Railroad
Merrimac" in defence. {The Railroad
Merrimac was the artillery piece mounted on a flat car and protected
with a shield of wood and iron. One was first used on this road in
1862, during the Seven Days Battles.} |
| After our troops retreated, the R. R.
property was destroyed or carried away by the enemy. |
| I would respectfully suggest that the R.
R. Co. from whom we recd the materials have guaranteed to them (as was
done by the Dept. when their iron was taken up from West Point) the
return of the materials within a given time after the close of the
War. |
| There was used in Turnout 33,094 lbs of
Rails of 52 lbs pr yd description, and one Turn Table estimated to be
worth before the War $1500. |
| The Co. may prefer having us pay for the
construction of another now. |
| Very Respectfully |
| Yr. Obt. Svt. |
| Jno. A. Wilkines |
| Maj Engr |
|