The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-07-09
Messenger Bureau, Park Hotel.
Raleigh, n. c., July 3.

$500 80 -
from Governor Vance's war letter
books, in 1863.
On the Goth March Governor Vance
wrote the secretary of war that a re-
cent decision Of Chief Justice Pearson
on the habeas corpus rendered it impos-
sible for him, without further legisla-
ton, to aid in arresting conscripts with
militia, n that the whole execution
Of the law would therefore devolve up
on Colonel MalIett and his regiment of
camp guards.
=
March 25th Colonel Peter Mallett, was
in accordance with Governor Vance's
earnest request ordered to relieve Col
oneI r. i. August as commandment Of
COnscripts in North Carolina.
The war department notified the gov
ernOr that General Donelson had been
sent to western North Carolina, to cap
ture or dispense bands Of marauders.
Vance had urged that the cOnscript law
be suspended in the mountains, that
is in the counties west Of the Blu
Ridge, and that local organizations of
the militia or state forces be formed to
operate against these m~arauding
hands. General Edney had specially
recommended this plan to the governor.
President Davis declined to assent to it.
A letter to Governor Vance from
General X. T.. Lee, dated March 26th,
said the latter had RENTED all penal
ties imposed upon North Carolina sol
diers tried for deseTtion who had re-
turned to their cOlOrs under Vance's
proclamation Of January 9th.
1t became known hat this state had
the best system of clothing it's troops
and that it's cloth factories were under
contract with the state. Requests for
cloth came in from other states. Cloth
was furnished for the cadets of the
Virginia military school and also the
University of Alabama. The Noun
tain ISLAND goods We're in special de-
mand.
April 9TH the governor wrote the Sec
rotary of war that there was no need
Of troops at AsheVille, there being no
disorder except that threatened by the
illegal seizure Of COnSCriptS by General
Pillows independent COnSCript bureau.
All that is necessary at ASheyilie is to
order Genera Pillows men to cease
their operations and permit the regular
enrolling officers to do their duty. In
the counties Of Mitchell, Yanccy and
Watauga the tories and deserters are
in strong force and General DOnelsOn'S
force, ordered TO AsheVilIe, should be
sent to those counties at once Cen
eraI .DoneI,on went from Knoxville
with q regiment of cavalry, with or
ders to sweep the mountains of ma
RAIDERS, conscripts and deserters.'
81 * j = X *
April 10th this letter was written the
secretary Of war by Vance: Il have
forborno for a long time to ask your
attention to a nest OF confederate Off
GERS in the town Of Salisbury who have
long been suspected of specializing at the
public expense, and of depressing the
people in that region. | was gratitied
to learn that a commissioner had at
length been sent there by the quarter
master general and was not surprised
to learn that he mad unearthed quite a
den of sCOundrels and spectators who
have been selling in Charleston and
elsewhere supplies bought. and often
impressed as though for the govern
ment. The evidence (priVate Informal
tion) Enthusiastically duplicates Captain
Mccoy. the commandment OF the prlS-
on there in these d~isreputable transact
tons. If this he true it would furnish
the war department sufficient grounds
to 10 an act which would afford the
most lively qualification to the people
Of North CarOlina-the removal OF Nc
Coy from his present position. l as
sure YOU that three-fOUrths of the wide
spread dissatisfaction, caused by the
suspension of the writ of habeas cor
puS and the arbitrary arrest of our cit
liens. has arisen from the insolence
and disrespect of the state authorities
exhibited by that man. When to this
Is added the knowledge that he is i'm
pIicated in the Villainy which has long
abounded there, his remOVa Will be-
come a matter Of necessity. l there
fore felt it my duty to ask for his re-
mOVal.
T. J. Hughes writing from London to
w. T. Muse of the confederate navy at
Wilmington said PurSer CrOssOn of the
steamer Advance wanted a Wilmington
pilot sent out to Nassau. to bring in
this blockade runner. Muse said he
would look out for a pilot. Under date
Of April 18th he wrote: Il hope to get
a pilot tomorrow. One yesterday left
here to bring in a vessel from Nassau.
His terms were $4,000, 81, $50 of which
was paid him here, ($1, 900 in confeder-
ate notes and $3.50 in gold and SSoO IN
gold at Nassau-$1, 900 on return or ar
rival of vessel; also expenses While
waiting at Nassau and back. These
are the most favorable terms to en-
ployer 1 have hear Of" The next day
ne secured Richard Dosher as pilot at
the terms above named.
April 18th General Braxton Bragg
wrote that he would endeaVor to secure
the ~transfer Of the 1000 North Carolina
troops on duty in east Tennessee to ac-
tive service at the front, as Governor
Vance suggested.
Henry Hamburg, Green Mason, w
Jackson. Josiah Lupton. William
Hodges. Charney Kengan. f. H. Ger
kin. NJ. /. Stansbury and w. a. Fore
man. having been placed as prisoners