Confederate States of America, War Department
| Richmond, Va., November 10, 1862 |
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| His Excellency Governor Z. B. Vance |
| Raleigh, N. C. |
| |
| Sir, |
| In consequence of threatened attacks on
our railroad connections in the eastern portions of North Carolina
and Virginia, and our inability at present to withdraw from the Army
of Northern Virginia re-enforcements sufficiently large to secure
those connections, it is considered very important to complete the
Danville and Greensborough connection as speedily as possible. The
Piedmont Railroad Company is now working 800 hands on the road and
proposes to hire about 400 more. This is all that can probably be
obtained by the company, but is not more than half the number that
can be worked to advantage. I shall give the company every
assistance in my power by supplying at cost rations, tools, horses,
carts, etc., and under an act of the General Assembly of Virginia I
can draft hands for the portion of the road in the State. If Your
Excellency can supply hands for the North Carolina part of the road
I must ask you to do so, and to inform me when and where they can be
delivered to the company. Upon conference with the engineer of the
company it has been determined to add 1,900 hands to the force now
employed, and to apportion them as follows: Virginia, 650 laborers
and 100 mules, and North Carolina, 1,250 laborers and 500 mules. I
am informed that the planters of the Roanoke have hands, carts, and
mules. If you can prevail upon them to hire them to the
company it will enable us to complete the work by March 1. The
owners of the hands drafter under the Virginia act receive $16 per
month, and are taken under the ordinary responsibilities of hirers,
except that they are to be paid for if they escape to the enemy. The
distance of the road from the scene of operations and the presence
of a mounted patrol, which I shall organize to operate along the
line, will render the latter risk very small. Can you recommend a
suitable person to raise the mounted company for local service as
guards and patrols? He should be somewhat acquainted with cavalry
service. The company will be composed of non-conscripts and be
mustered into the service for six months. |
| Very respectfully, your obedient servant |
| Geo. W. Randolph |
| Secretary of War |
|