Road described would have led from Old Fort Stoddard on the Tombigbee River to Mount Verson arsenal. Captain James G White left when the arsenal was removed to Selma AL in 1862. After that the only military positions in the area would have been defenses being built at Choctaw Bluff (Alabama River) and Oven Bluff (Tombigbee River) . Most of the labor was done by slaves whose masters made contracts with the Confederate government. It is likely that work was done under oversight of civilian overseers also contracted by the government. Trained engineers usually received commissions in Confederate service. Men actually in engineer service were enrolled in one of the engineer companies that were eventually assembled as regiments.