2

New Custom House,

New Orleans Augt. 23

1860.

Dear Bishop

I was much obliged by
your message thro' Mr. Beck,
who gave me valuable information.
I should hasten to the locality, but
for the fact that Major Beauregard
is at East Pascagoula, with his
bride, and we cannot both be away
at the same time -- however, since
I got your letter of the 3rd. Inst. I
have taken every spare moment, and
half the night long, in considering
and distributing the Plans and
Details and have already commissioned
the finished drawings, which my
general knowledge of the country, and
very thorough knowledge of the objects