The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1882-07-26
Old Papers.

From Capt. j. W. Nicholson, OF war
rem, we have an old army contract. signed
by A. j. Dallas, Secretary OF War, IL
l~lsI4-l5. during the second war with
Great Britain. Thos. Cummings. Geo.
Graham and Geo. Boyd, attest. The
contract is with Joseph Hutchinson, who
agrees to furnish provisions to the army
posts in Georgia at the rate of Ia cents
per daily ration divided as follows, II
pound of beef, or n. Of pork Is
ounces of bread or -four; one gill OF
whiskey, rum, or brandy also salt, soap,
and candles. Cheap living, tor war
times."-We also have. from a friend
in Wilson, a copy Of Grow. Wm. Hawkins
message TO the Legislature IN 1913, de-
failing the efforts for protecting our
coasts from the second invasion by Great
Britain, then Just begun. The message
Is on paper OF as coarse a texture as is
now used for wrapping groceries but
the prin, is plain. We take an extract !;
Zone OF these gentlemen informed me
that the Sec'ry of tie Navy bad promis-
ed 20 put five gun boats In commission
on our coast Immediately that the Sec
rotary at War had promised to order into
service four companies of the Militi4
and that upon the representation OF the
inability of the state 10 finnish ammuni-
ton, &c, be s,qn,Red that it should be
furnished by the L. States. While |
was in the daily expectation OF receiving
= communication from the general
government upon this subject, the State
was invaded. Information of that event
reached me on the 18th Of July by the
mai! and by express from Newbern.
From communications received from the
Committee of Safety OF that town. Major
General Groom and Colonel Tlsdale, l
learned that the British had taken pos
session of Ocraeock and Portsmouth, had
landed and pitched tents for seven huns
dred men that there force consisted Of
one seventy four, six irioates, two prIva-
teers, two ~sChooners, a number other
smaller vessels. and from sixty to seventy
barges, with a disposable force of two
thousand five hundred infantry and ma
rines, all under the command Of Admir-
al COckburn that they had captured
the shipping in the harbOr, among which
we're two private armed vessels; that it
was thought the circumstance OF their
having landed and pitched tents for SO
large a force as 100 men, indicated an
intention of remaining there some time !;
ana that an attack upon Newbern was
expected as an event that would certain
ly tax place. That place was represents
ed as being without cannon, p~wder, and
balls, and in short nearly every article
and implement of war essential to its
safety and protection; and | was reques-
ted in the most pressing manner 20 fur
nish them that aid which their situation
demanded. | had reason to believe that
all our towns on the Pamptico and AL
benarle Sounds, and hose to the south,
were nearly in the same situation. As
the State was destitute of munitions Of
war, and had but q scanty supply OF mus
kets and ~bayonets, the greater part of
which had been SO distributed mot hav-
ing been placed in the hands Of the de-
teached militia In many insta noes as to
render 1t veryquestionable whether a use
ful portion of them could, ~Seds0n0Liy. be
collected at auy given point. L felt my
self not . little at a loss to ascertain that
course best to be persued under existing
circumstances. The eneny's force being
SO much larger than was necessary to
take possession of Ocracock and Ports
mouth, and having brought with them
such a large number of small vessels call
culated to navigate the Pamptico and
Albemarle sounds, seemed to favour the
presumption that they had not effected
their purpose. bu; that their Intention
"as ei her TO bring over the Swa.h into
tie sound by llghtering there. a thing
quite practicable. a number o! those ves>
sells with troops sufficient to lay waste all
our W situated on the navigable wa
tiers which empty themselves into those
Sounds, Or to reduce Beaufort and Will
mlngton. AT any event as attempt to
repel .hem, without poWder, lead and
.t7tnts, and with 4 scanty supply of suit
able arms even admitting those other ar
ticleS could be had, would seem to SAVIOUR
of extreme madness: And on the other
hand to make no opposition, but to per
NIT them to enter and let loose in our
towns their brutal soldiery 20 perpetrate
every species of horrible outrage upon
the persons and property of their inhabi-
tants, would he TO fix an indelible stigma
upon the character of the State. Under
such circumstances | resolved, although
the last General Assembly had refused
an appropriation for a supply of muni-
tons of war, to purchase all the powder,
lead, and Hints for sale in this and in the
nclShbouring towns to be %immediitel,
conveyed to the most vulnerable points
on the sea board. After all the orders
necessary to effect those objects had beer
distributed, and after | had informed the
General Government of the event through
our Senators in Congress, on the morn
ing Of the 18th | left this city for New
bern, preceded by Major General C.
Jones. with . detachment from this
city, ~hs had marched the day before.
and accompanied by Acknowledgement
Williams, Col. Daniel, one of nv aide
de camp, and the Wake dragons. under
the command of Major Thomas Herder-
son. On my arrival in that " wa.
that the enemy's squadron had
sailed from Occracock. though the course
1t bad steered hid not been ascertained.
Every effort has been made for the
defence of Newbern, by Maj. Gen. Groom
x Brisadier-Gen. Hardy Smith, aided
oy the Committee of Safety, who had
procured a handsome supply of powder
and lead. In a few days after nv arri-
val, . part Of the ammunition which had
been purchased by my directions, came
to hand. and a respectable force of the
detached militia arrived and were organ.
lied under the command OF Lieu. Col.
Simon Bruton of the "a regiment some
arms were received, and it was expected
that Major General Brown, whose Head
Quarters were at Wilmington, would
cause more to be transport from that