The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-06-15

piled. saving: Yours has been re-
ceived giving me the distressing newE
OF the increase of desertion from our
armies. l had heard from other sources
OF this detection OF our troops and was
already too well aware that the cause
of Ii was to he found In the general
public dependency. / ~inaugurated n
series OF public meetings in this state
by my recent proclamation, Tor th@
purpose of reviving public sentimenfs
and though many have been held and
many more VIII be held. yet the near
and triumphant approach OF the enemy
has so alarmed the timid and SO en-
crossed the loyal in preparation for his
coming that / fear they will hardly
have their proper effect. / have my
self been so busy in trying To organize
| my militia and secure my vast public
stores that / have only been able to
address the people at two or three
| points. Rest assured. however. gencr-
al. tina l am fully alive to the impor-
lance OF the crisis and whatever man
can do In my situation shall be done
/ shall now order out the home guard
in every county and keep it at work
arresting deserters. In many counties.
however. they are necessarily infh-
cient. from the great number of the de-
~serters and the natural fear OF the de-
struction of their property. etc. 1f you
could send me as many as two reg1-
ments Of cavalry. by ouartering them
in the midst OF these disaffected dis
tricts and foraging upon the friends or
the deserters, they could not only ar
rest many but could recruit themselves
and horses. restore confidence n in
spire with courage the local forces L
| earnestly recommend this action. gen
eral. and think in the long run IL would
not weaken your army. / think our
| people will respond literally to the ap-
peal for supplies which l have just pub
lished this morning at the instance OF
| the secretary OF war. The first answer
| made to il, two hours after its appear
ance in the morning papers, was from a
poor widow of this city. who. hard
pressed to live in these distressing
times. as / know she is, came yet to
offer me two pieces of bacon and a
barrel Of meal. Such offerings on the
| sacred altar OF our country hallow our
cause and 1 hope will secure Gods
blessing upon it."
| March 9Th General Lee replied to
this letter as follows: Il return you
my sincere thanks for you jealous eff
forts in behalf Of the army and the
cause. / have read with p~leasur and
attention your proclamation and ap-
peal to the people, rs also extracts
from your addresses. / trust you viii
infuse into your fellow citizens the
| spirit of resolution and patriotism
which inspires your own action. i have
now no cavalry to spare for the pur-
pose you mention. / think the sugges-
ton a very good one and regret l did
not receive it earlier. i have sent a
force of infantry under Brigadier Cen
eral n. d. Johnson to guard the line
Of the Roanoke and operate as far as
practicable in the adjacent counties to
arrest deserters. Another detachment
Of 500 men under Colonel McAllister has
been sent to Chatham and Moore coun-
ties, in which the bands Of deserters
are represented to be very numerous
They are instructed to take no prison
ers among those deserters who resist
with arms the civil or military author
tiles. / hope you viii raise as large a
| force of local troops to cooperate with
them as you can and think the sternes
course is the best with the class ] have
referred to. The immunity which these
lawlesS organizations afford is a great
cause of desertion and they cannot he
too sternly dealt with. l hope you will
be able TO aid General johnson. who
needs all the reinforcements you can
give him. If he can check the progress
Of General Sherman the effect would be
of the greatest value. / hop the late
success Of General Bragg. near Kin
ston, Will revive the spirits OF the
people and render your labors less ar
duous. The conduct of the widow
whom you mention deserves the high
est commentator. If all our people
possess her spirit our success l should
feel to be assured"
The last letter in the book bears date
March 18th and is to Secretary OF War
Breckenridge. 1t is as follows: II nave
been informed that certain m
cations Of the utmost Importance to the
cause of the confederacy have been
submitted to congress in secret session,
by the president and the several heads
Of departments. I have also been in
formed that their nature was such as
to render it entirely proper and indeed
rightful that / as governor Of North
Carolina should be informed OF their
contents. I have therefore the honor
to most Re 5pectfully request a copy OF
said paper IL not deemed inconsistent
with the public good, and have sent
the bearer, Major James II. Foote. A.
A. G.. q discreet and loyal gentleman,
to receive them should you deem it ad-
visable to comply with my request"