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EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
Milledgeville, Ga., November
29, 1862.
General G. T. BEAUREGARD,
Comdg. Dept. of S.C., Ga., and Fla., Charleston,
S.C.:
GENERAL: The General Assembly of this State has just passed
an act authorizing me to place obstructions in the navigable streams of
this State against incursions of the enemy and to hire or impress slaves
to perform the necessary labor. As I desire to preserve and cultivate the
most cordial relations between yourself as the commander of the military
department in which Georgia is embraced and myself in carrying out the
provisions of said act, I propose to furnish the laborers by hiring or
impressing them as contemplated in the act, and putting them under
officers and engineers detailed by you for that duty, and to give the
whole planning, supervision, control, and execution of the work to such
officers and engineers as you may order on
such duty. I make this proposition, as it may be difficult for me to
procure the services of competent engineers, and to avoid any conflict
which might ensue in having the obstructions put in the rivers between
State and Confederate officers or any other conflicting interests. Should
you take charge of and execute the work I will cause all the laborers to
be furnished at such points as you may designate, and will expect the
Confederate Government to pay the expense of the slaves, including hire,
subsistence, transportation, &c., on terms somewhat similar to those on
which the laborers are furnished to General Mercer to finish the
fortifications at Savannah, in obedience to his requisition made on the
State for laborers. Be pleased to communicate with me on the subject.
The places in the streams where obstructions shall be
placed will be selected by your engineers or officers.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
JOSEPH E. BROWN.
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