| Headquarters State of South Carolina |
| October 2, 1861
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| |
|
Hon. J. P. Benjamin
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| Acting Secretary of War |
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| Sir, |
| I most respectfully suggest that when
our troops in Virginia
go into winter quarters, if the country becomes frozen up our
regiments may be permitted to return to winter them in our piney
woods, as it will be much cheaper for the Government and more
healthy for our men. Even if they were in the lower part of North Carolina
it would be better than where they are, for with the speedy
transportation on our railroads they could at any moment be returned
to any point where any sudden emergency might require them. If such
a plan is entertained by you at all I would be glad to be informed
in time, so that I might prepare proper places for their winter
quarters, and I would also accumulate supplies in advance at State
expense, so that they could be furnished as Confederate authority
might afterward require; and by doing this it would relieve your
Department from many details and arrangements that would have to be
made in advance, and you would then only use what provisions you
might need and the balance I would retain still at the expense of
the State, after you had only paid for what you might need for a
longer or a shorter period. If any such arrangement is to be made,
of course I would desire to be informed of it in time so as to make
all proper arrangements. Large bodies of troops could be wintered in
our piney woods, or in the lower part of North Carolina, at far less cost than on the frontier of
Virginia, and with much better health. By the Government taking possession
and control of the railroads they could risk a large force withdrawn
from the Potomac, if the winter is severe and the country frozen in. |
| Very respectfully, your obedient servant, |
| R. W. Peckens |
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