Summary:
Union general and railroad specialist Herman Haupt reports to George B. McClellan
on the October, 1862, rebuilding of the Harper's Ferry bridge. He also mentions
Confederate plans to complete rail connections between Staunton and Mount
Jackson or Winchester using rails pulled from the Orange and Alexandria.
Maj.-Gen. MCCLELLAN:
OCTOBER 12, 1862.
President Garrett asks us to furnish timber to reconstruct the Harper's Ferry Bridge. I will order an examination to determine what timber we have that can be spared, and will place it at his disposal. The rebels are taking up the rails on the railroad between Bristoe and Warrenton, and are carrying them off with two engines captured from us. I reported this fact last night, and orders have been given to send out troops to occupy the road, and we will commence to-morrow morning to reconstruct it. Appearances would indicate a disposition on the part of the rebels to abandon the Orange and Alexandria Railroad south of Manassas, and complete the connection between Staunton and Winchester or Mount Jackson by using the rails taken up on the other roads, for that purpose. The reconstruction of the Harper's Ferry Bridge will require some time, as the remains of the old structure will be very difficult of removal, chiefly of wrought iron, strongly riveted together Trestles may be swept away at any time by freshest. It would seem to be necessary to construct a wagon bridge for present use, and unload stores on the opposite side of the river.
H. HAUPT.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 19, Serial No. 28, Pages 415, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
