OR, Series 1, Vol. 40, Part 2, Page 701

War Department, C. S. A.
Richmond, Va., June 29, 1864
 
General R. E. Lee
Commanding, &c.
 
General,
   I have the honor to acknowledge your letter of the 28th instant relative to the necessity of obtaining a supply of railroad iron. I agree with you as to the only mode of accomplishing it, and have already taken active measures to remove the iron from the less important roads. I shall have to encounter injunctions and vexatious litigations, but the necessity is, in my judgment, too imperative to allow hesitation in assuming the responsibility of disregarding such proceedings so far as they would prevent immediate command of iron. In this course I trust to be sustained, if necessary, by the merited influence of your name and judgment. A force under the direction of an engineer is already engaged in taking up iron on the York River road {Richmond & York River RR}. Unless necessity requires, which I hope will not be the case, the road within the defenses will be retained intact.
Very respectfully,
James A. Seddon
Secretary of War

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