Duke University Libraries 
 
 Estimate of fiv 
 Conf Pam #422 
 
 DTTDE35n3V 
 
A^v 
 
 HOUSE OF RErRESENTATrVKS.Febn«iry l,lS64.--I.Hidoa 
 the table, an4 ordered to be printed. 
 
 [Presented by Thk Chair.] 
 
 MESSAGK or THK .j'ln'SIDKXr. 
 
 HI^flM{)^D, V\., Jan. .]•», i,Hf;4. 
 To the Senate and House of Krpn^entatives : 
 
 I herewith transmit for your consideration a communication from th« 
 Secretary of War, covering an ef^timute of an additional suru needed 
 by the Engineer Bureau. 
 
 I recommend an appropriation of th(; .amount speeified, for the pur- 
 pose indicated. 
 
 JEFFERSON BAY 18. 
 
 communication; of i'hf sfckftahv of war 
 
 CONFKDKRATF. STATr> 01 AmLKRA, W'aR OlPART.MENT, ^ 
 
 BicfiTnondf January 3S, 1804. S 
 To the President of the Confederate States : 
 
 Sir : I hwe the honor to transmit herewith an eatimate prepared by 
 the acting chief of the Engineer Bureau, of the amount required to 
 meet the just claims presented, or to be presented hereafter, for the 
 loss of slaves who have been impressed by the Confederate authorities, 
 and, while engaged in laboring on the public defences, have died or 
 contracted diseases which have, after their discharge, resulted ftitally. 
 It is estimated that the sum of three millions one hundred and eight 
 thousand dollars will be necessary to pay such claims. 
 Very respectfullv, vour obedient servant, 
 
 JAMES A. SEDDON, 
 Secretary of War 
 
C, S. A,, Wak Devaktment, Engineer Bureau, ) 
 Richmo7id, Va., January 22, 1864. ^ 
 Hon. James A. Seddon, Secretary of War : 
 
 Sir : I have received from Col. W. II. Stevens, chief of construction 
 D. N. v., an estimate of five hundred thousand dollars (SoOOJHMI) as 
 required to meet the jusc claims presented, or to be presented hereafter, 
 for the loss of slaves who have been impressed in the >;: tate of Virginia, 
 and have esc ped to the e-nefej, or have died whilst engaged in labor 
 on the Richmond defences, or from diseases contracted while thus em- 
 ployed. This estimate is based on an average valuation of two thou- 
 sand d'ollars fctr eacii slave thus t.sca:;ed or dt-ceased. A consideration 
 of the losses sustained in other portions of this State, especially in 
 the Peninsula, earlier in the war, gives the sum of seven hundredand 
 eight thousand dollars ($7'!8.<i(n>) as the entire estimate for the State 
 of Virginia. Reasoning by analogy, for want of absolute data, and 
 extending the calculation to the other Stati,s of the Confederacy, in 
 all of which heavy losses have been sustained among the negroes im- 
 pres3e<i for labor on the defences, the bureau has arrived at the snm 
 of three million one hundred and eight thousand dollars {$3,108,000) 
 as the minimum probably required to meet this class of expenditures. 
 
 I have, therefore, the honor to submit an estimate of three million 
 one hundred and eight thousand dollars, ($3,lt'8,0(i0,) and to ask aa 
 appropriation of this amouni, for tiie purpose indicated. 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 A. L. RIVES, 
 Lieut. Co/., aoff ar.f.ing Chief of E/.gineer Burenu. 
 
pcnmalire* 
 
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