| From the Raleigh Standard |
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| April 9, 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, to impress them. I am
satisfied that it will never be necessary to resort to the use of 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 20,000 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, impress arms;
but in the meantime let me entreat all true patriots to send in all
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
$38, 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 all weights, for which I will
pay for the former 1 1/2 cents per pound; for the latter 4 cents. |
| W. S. Ashe |
| April 3, 1862 |
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