War Department, Engineer Bureau
| Richmond, August 8, 1863 |
| |
| General J. E. Johnston |
| Commanding Western Department, Enterprise, Miss. |
| |
| General, |
| To keep in repair the main lines of
railroad essential to the support and transportation of our armies,
iron rails and rolling stock must be obtained from every available
source. Will it be possible for the engineers serving in your
department to build a temporary bridge over the Pearl River at
Jackson, and make such other repairs as will enable them to save the
engines, cars, and a part of the rails from the Mississippi Central
Road? |
| Major Meriwether, Captain Porter, and other
engineers with your command, have had much experience as civil
engineers, and can direct all the operations, if by your authority
the requisite labor and material can be obtained. It is hoped slave
labor can be obtained; if not, the work might be accomplished,
possibly, by details from the troops. |
| Will you please to inform this bureau whether
the branch railroad to Marion, Ala., known as the Cahaba, Marion
& Greensborough road, is in any way important to the operations
of the army under your command. If not, the want of railroad bars
for repairing the main lines is so great, it is proposed to move the
iron from the branch. |
| I am, general, very respectfully, your
obedient servant, |
| J. F. Gilmer |
| Colonel of Engineers and Chief of
Bureau |
|