| Confederate States of America |
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War Department |
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Nitre and Mining Bureau |
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Richmond Va March 3rd 1863 |
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Major I. M. StJohn |
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Chief of Nitre & Mining Bureau |
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Dear Sir, |
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Allow me to call your attention to the very great
difficulty of procuring transportation from Lexington N. C. to
Petersburg Va. About once in six weeks it is necessary to send to
Lexington N. C. to bring in the lead ore from the Silver Hill Mines to
the Petersburg Smelting Works: and for this purpose, on the 16th of
January an agent was sent there to bring three car loads of ore which
was much needed immediately, the supply of lead at that time being
nearly exhausted. This agent is still at Lexington with the ore: he has
had repeated promises from the Superintendent of the
{North Carolina} Road that the ore should
be forwarded: the Quartermaster at Greensboro and Salisbury have used
every effort to secure its shipment and the Quarter Master General at
the instance of the Chief of Ordnance, directed the Quartermaster at
Charlotte to have this ore forwarded if possible, but all without avail,
the ore still remains at Lexington. It will be useless to continue work
at these mines if the ore cannot be transported to the Smelting works. |
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There are many grave reasons for not erecting Smelting
works now at al the mines which will readily suggest themselves
to you & such as scarcity of labor materials &c. |
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Very Respectfully |
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Your obt Servant |
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Richard Mashon Capt |
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{on back of document} |
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Respectfully referred to the Sec of War. |
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Unless regular and certain transportation can be obtained
for ores, the lead requisitions for arsenal work can not be met. |
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To put up furnaces at the several mines will cost at present
prices from $8 to $10,000 each and with every effort, will probably not
be completed in time for the summer campaign. |
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I. M. St. John, Major & Supt |
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Chf or Ordnance |
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It will be impossible to supply our infantry unless transportation for
lead ore is furnished. This is now the vital point of this Department. |
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Gorgas |
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Col |
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Mch 4/63 |
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Brig Genl Comdg |
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Capt. Richd Master |
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Richmond |
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March 8/63 |
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Mr Sheppard wrote to the Superintendent of the N C Rail Road at
Charlotte that the lead ore stopped at Charlotte must be transported to
Petersburg. It is a ??? and the department urges & expects the utmost
effort to support the transportation ????? |
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JAS |