| Head Quarters |
| Naval Defences of No. Carolina |
| Wilmington December 4th, 1863 |
| |
| His Excellency |
| Z. B. Vance |
| Governor of North Carolina |
| |
| Governor, |
| The Hon. Secretary of the Navy has sent me
copies of your letter to him of the 28th ult. and of one to your
Excellency from Mr. Elliott. In order to preserve harmony between
yourself, the representative of the majesty of a sovereign State and
the head of one of the Departments of the Confederate Government I
deem it my duty to submit the following statement. |
| ***** |
| I have sent 435,000 lbs. of
old rails {27 carloads} to Atlanta and 125,000 lbs.
{8 carloads} to Richmond and have received
and am receiving the plates rolled therefrom. Not one plate has been
applied to any other purpose than the Naval Defences of this State,
which was the agreement with your Excellency. Every order I have
received from the Navy Department evinces its anxiety for the
completion of the gunboats in North Carolina and to that Department I
am responsible. |
| ***** |
| I have the honor to be |
| Very Respectfully |
| Your obt. servt. |
| W. F. Lynch |
| Flag Officer |
|