| From the Greensboro (N. C.) Patriot |
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| April 24, 1862 |
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| To the People of North Carolina |
| At the request of President
Davis, I have undertaken to collect all of the arms now in the hands
of private citizens of our State. For that purpose I have been invested with authority to
borrow, purchase or, if necessary, impress them. I am satisfied that
it will never be necessary to resort to the last named power.
Patriots of North Carolina, our soil is invaded, and though we
have men enough to repel the invaders, our men are useless unless they
have arms. Upwards of 20 thousand stand of arms are now lying useless
in our houses, these arms should be collected and placed in the hands
of our noble defenders. None
but a craven or disloyal citizen will refuse to comply with this
requisition. I will
immediately appoint suitable agents to go through every county in the
State, empowered to borrow, purchase, or if necessary to impress arms;
but in the meantime let me entreat all true patriots to send in all of
their muskets, rifles and double barrel shot guns (good, bad or
indifferent) to the sheriffs of the different counties, whom I do
hereby authorize to receive and pay for them agreeably to the attached
schedule of prices, and draw on me for the amount necessary. |
| For good rifles and muskets,
$13 and $20 each, according to value; good double-barrel shot guns
from $13 to $30, according to value; other arms and parts of arms
according to valuation. |
| I have also been requested to
purchase old scrap iron, whether cast or wrought, and of all weights,
for which I will pay for the former 11 cents per pound; for the latter
4 cents. |
| W. S. Ashe |
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