The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-07-23
VANCE'S LETTER BOOK.
The Governors Efforts to Raise More Troops.
The Advances First CargO--General Lee Re-
fuses to Allow a North Carolina Correspondent
With the Army.
Messenger Bureau, Park Hotel,
Raeigh, N c., July II.

MGSS0uScT Dun C6u = 14OSSAs
Raeigh, N c., july IL.
The following is continuation Of x
tracts from Vance's letter book:
July 9 Governor Vance wrote Presi-
dent Davis: II am fearful I shall not
be able to furnish the 1000 men called
for, to serve six months in this state. I
issued my proclamation and ordered a
general enrolment throughout h estate.
The returns so far are gratifying to
our state pride, but sad to contemplate.
The average OF soldiers and detailed
men lis about equal TO the voting pop
ulation, and there are very few behind.
On learning this I visited h legisla-
ture in secret session and urged it to
draft the magistrates and militia OFF,
GERS. 1t declined to de SO and dOpted
the exemption bin OF congress, which
1 fear will prevent me from raising the
whole number required. I will proceed
rapidly, however, to get as many as 1
can. I have already in Eastern Caro-
lima some 800 men raised for zoe de-
fence, whom 1 wish you to receive as
part of the number called for. There
are also some five or Six small COM
panies along the Tennessee border, au-
thOriZed by me to be raised before your
requisition, for defense of the citizens
against the swarmS of tories, refugees
and deserters who have c~Oglgregated in
the mountains, n who carry pillage
and murder in their path. 1t will be
impossible to remove this border guard
without ruin to the loyal people. l
would be glad if you would receive
them n permit them to remain"
Secretary Of War SedGcn wrote that
Colonel Gilmer of the engineer bureau
complained of the great siowneSS in the
construction of the Piedmont railway
(from Danville to G~reensborO) and said
that Gilmer urged the irnpressmerIt of
so per cent. of the able-bodied free
negroes between Is and As years of age
to be sent to GreensborO to work on the
road. Seldom accordingly issued or
>ders for the i~mpresSment. He declared
he thought Vance favored it, but found
the governor regarded the inlpressment
as u~nwarranted. Seldom apoligized
and asked Vance to please cooperate
with him in his matter.
John White was in England as agent.
D. K. MacRae was there also. Both
were making purchases of supplies. 1t
was Governor Vance's Intention that
MacRae should go no further than
Halifax. July 10 Vance wrJte him, care
Fraser, & Co, Liverpool.
t'The increased products OF our manu-
factories and our captures have rem
dered it unnecessary to make further
purchases in that line Chat is the pur-
chase of rifies)." MacFsa had been told
to purchase 10000 rifles. He bought
$500. Vance said that was enough. A
MIR. Saunders was also a buyer or agent
fol the state in England. He and Mac
Rae FLASHED, and the latter wrote Vance
a letter against him. In the letter to
MacRae, above alluded to Vance said:
I'VE have lost Vicksburg by starvation
of the garrison, and invaded Pennsyl-
vania, defeating the enemy, capturing
large numbers of prisoners and soaring
che Dutch almost into a cooked hat. We
listen out for great news. God a 1t
may be good"
Colonel CrosSan came over with the
blockade runner Advance and Governor
Vance, in a delighted way wrote John
White: Il am much pleased with the
result of your negotiations and approve
most cordially Of your whole conduct.
The legislature gives me full authority
to run the vessel when and how l maJ
think best, and I shall therefore keep
her going Until we get in the balance of
the purchase. Since you left this coun-
try many important changes have
taken place, and the wal is evidently
nearing it's close. The of Ouc
state and of the Confederacy have de-
yeloped in such a degree that we have
every assurance of being able to clothe
our troops with Our own goods and our
vast amount Of captures have given
us an abundance Of arms L will, there
fore, only continue your purchase of
clothing, on the ground of l
therefore send you the balance of the
bonds, amounting to $1,000, 900. Deposit
them as you need money and buy only
as 1 order. Please send me $4,000 pairs
each of cotton and wooden cards and
a machine for making them
White borrowed money from Alex
ander Collie & Co.. of London and Man.
chester. He got $1,000, 600. based on the
sale of cotton at 5 pence Tor 10 cents
per pound.) He wrote tire governor that
he considered this at least 12k per cent.
better than the terms made iby the o n
federate government, with ErIanger &
Co. He said he had deposited 81, 500, 600
of N. c.. cotton n as collateral
security. Governor Vance had sent him
sent 81, 900. 900 more July 10. With the
funds he got White bought h Ad-
- vance and 270 tons of assorted mer-
a. chandise. OF this 12O tons was brought
in or the Advance on her first trip to
Wilmington, and White shipped $50
tons to Bermuda by a sailing vessel,
SO the Advance could get it there.
Crossan said he hoped to be able to
make a trip once a month
July 9 General Pettigrew wrote Vance
knowing you would be anxiOu to hear
from your old regiment (the 26th), I
write you a hasty note. 1t covered itself
with glory. lit fell to its lot to charge
one of the strongest positions possible.
IT drove certainly three. and we lave
every reason to beIiev five regiments
out of the works with a gallantry I'M
surpassed. Its loss has been heavy, very
heavy. but the missing are on the battle
field and in the hospital. Both the 1st
and Sd, your old comrades, did honor
to your association with them and the
state they represent"
President Davis wrote July IL accept
ing the companies in the east and on
the Tennessee inc to which Governor
Vance. referred. He concluded: your
zeal and anarCv q nc so wpll known and