The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-08-13
VANCE'S LETTER BOOK.

unCer vance Claim Tor MS
because he was an officer Of North
Carolina The secretary OF war declin-
ed to exempt, saying Russell was re-
duced to the ranks by the sentence OF
a court-martial and became liable to
service in the brigade to which he be-
longed; hat subsequent to this he pro-
cured his election as commissioner OF
Brunswick county n then Vance
made his claim. Vance replying May
10Th in a letter Of great length sal
that Russell was by an order directed
to report to General Herbert or General
Whiting for assignment or selection of
a company as he might chose. He had
not therefore been enrolled as a con-
script at the time of his election as a
commissioner, but had simply beeal
ordered to report for enrolment and
had actually not received the order"
Then Vance added: Il earnestly urge
upon you not to wound the spirit of his
gallant and promising young officer by
sending him into the ranks. At the
6 of is he left the state university,
raised a company, served in such an
acceptable manner as to win the admit
ration and approval of his superior
officers. Major General Whiting, in ap-
proving the sentence of the court mar
tial, bore testimony to his very good
character as an officer. Colonel Lamb,
diihCI lC Z SCuy gave IlOSI Itdl-
tering testimony as to his capacity
and efficiency. His aged father feels
most keenly and sensitively upon the
subject and on his account, in behalf
Of the promising young officer himself,
n as a matter of justice and right I
insist hat my claim for exemption for
him be allowed" The scarcity of war
refused to reply to this letter and so
July 5th the governor wrote that no
rQn1V had hnon rooaiVQ6 hlIt fhot he
was told General Whiting had orders
to conscript Russell Immediately.
Vance added, Il simply wish to inform
you that 1 cannot and will not submit
to this being done withou resisting it
by every means at my command"
And Vance carried his point; Russell
was not conscribed.
May 18th General Lee wrote to the
secretary Of war as follows: "Yester-
day evening the enemy penetrated a
part Of our lines and planted his colors
upon the temporary breastworks erec-
ted by our troops. He was Immediate
ly repulsed and among the brave men
who met him the Twentieth North
Carolina regiment under Colonel TOOn,
Of the brigade commended by General
r. I. Johnson, captured his flag. It
was brought to me by Major John S.
Brooks, Of that regiment, who received
his promotion for gallantry in the bat
tie of Charlottesville, with the re-
quest that it might be given to Gov
ernor Vance. I TAX great pleasure in
complying with the wish of the gallant
major and ask that it be granted and
hat these cOlOrs be presented to the
state of North Carolina as another evil
dence of the ValOr and devotion that
have made her name eminent in the
armies of the cOnfederacy." The Sec
rotary of war forwarding the above
letter said: THE flag is transmitted to
you, governor. to be placed among
the honorable trophies won by the
valor and devotion of the troops Of
North Carolina" The flag was brought
to Raleigh by Hon. Josiah Turner,
member of congress-, and placed in the
senate
Il
June 7th Vance demanded that Colo
mel Ashby, of the Second Tennessee
cavalry, be delivered to him for trial
in the state court for stealing three
mules and also for outrages in Wilkes.
He declared that he was sure he
would receive no military punishment.
June 9Th General Whiting finally di-
rected the suspension of the state salt
works; that the employees were dis
loyal and were endangering Whining
ton. Whiting seized all D. G. WOrth's
boats.
At Bermuda the governor Of that col
ony seized seven bales of state cotton,
for violation Of the revenue laws"
Vance tried to get it released but
failed.
x
In June the Advance was sent to
England for repairs. July 4th Vance
let Davis & Fitzhugh have a half inter-
est in the steamer. This firm operated
for the confederate government under
what was known as the Davis & Fitz-
hugh contract.
Vance claimed authority to appoint,
promote and commission the officers Of
the regiments known as the North
Carolina State Troops" He a some
lively tits with the confederate author
tiles as to this matter. June 18th the
secretary of war wrote 1T is decided
that the North Carolina state troops
must be placed on the same footing
with other regiments in the provisional
army in regard to their organizations
and hat this department shall have
absolute control of all appointments
and promotions"
j. H. Flanner wrote that as fast as
cotton receipts cancelled the bonds of
the state in England the bonds were
not sent back to the state, for fear of
capture, but We're kept by the firm:
July 18th a letter to the secretary of
war said the western border of the
state required protection from the in
roads of the Tennessee tories and yam
KEGS" He said he has lent the confed-
crate army all the arms he had, and
wanted 1000 or 5000 stand of arms, at
once.
A company which was building gun
boats on the Roanoke wanted to buy
iron rails from the Atlantic and North
Carolina to use for armor. Vance asked
that the sale be made, the company to
pay for the iron and the money to be
applied towards paying the roads debt.
to the state.