Edward L. Berthoud to James H. Steger, September 6, 1864

September 6, 1864, Capt. James H. STEGER, Assistent Adjutant-General :

Srr: I would respectfully report for the information of the general commanding district that in obedience to Special Orders, No. 157, headquarters District of Central Missouri, current series, that I went yesterday to La Mine bridge, on the Pacific Railroad, to attend to the erection of the block-house at that point. I find that in the past week but little progress has been made in its erection, due in part to the almost utter impossibility of obtaining even two carpenters for the necessary framing and joining work; also that the troops stationed there have been the past.week on scout and picket duty part of time and were necessarily withdrawn from the work, together with a large sick list, and the still incomplete organization of that detachment into the Forty-fifth Missouri Volunteers. These reasons, with the difficulty in procuring the suitable sawn lumber necessary for the building, have delayed its rapid completion. These difficulties have been, as far as it lay in my power, attended to, and during my stay yesterday I personally superintended the building, and left last evening with the first story nearly completed and all the timber, except the sawn lumber, upon the ground and hewn out.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant.