| State of North Carolina |
| Executive Department |
| Raleigh, Jany. 28th, 1863 |
| |
| Flag Officer W. F. Lynch |
| Wilmington |
| |
| My dear Sir, |
| Yours by Lieut. Commanding
Poindexter C. S. N. has been recd. in regard to iron for the
completion of the gun boats on the Roanoke. |
| The question is an
interesting one to me indeed. I have offered the whole of the iron of
the Atlantic & N. C. Road within our lines below Kinston, some
fifteen miles {about 1,500 tons}, but
this you say cannot be got for want of transportation. |
| The small amt. at ???
Station, not enough for your purposes, is held by Col. Whitford the
Prest. for the repairs of his own and our other roads who have no
reserved iron; and our roads as you are aware are fast wearing down
under the great amount of running they are compelled to do. Such being
the case, you may perceive my embarrassment -- I am only exceedingly
anxious for the completion of the boats. And the railroad men say to
give up this Iron would soon render it impossible for them to repair
and in case of such an accident (by no means unusual) as the burning
of a bridge they would be powerless to rebuild. I have referred Lt. P.
to Col. Whitford again instructing him to give up the iron if in his
opinion it can be safely done, otherwise to retain it. |
| I know {not}
what else to do for the best. |
| I am
still confident in the opinion that on a proper application to Gen.
Smith, the iron below Kinston could be secured and if so the whole
difficulty would be solved. |
| Most Respectfully |
| & Truly Yrs |
| Z. B. Vance |
|