| Navy Department, C. S. A., Richmond,
November 4, 1862 |
| |
| His Excellency Zebulon B. Vance |
| Governor of North Carolina |
| |
| Sir, |
| Commander Cooke, sent
by me to North Carolina to obtain iron for plating the gunboats
being built in and for the defense of the State, has returned
without having accomplished this object. He reports that you have
the control of a quantity of railroad iron, and I therefore address
myself to you upon the subject. |
| To enable the boats to resist
the guns of the enemy their armor must be at least 4 inches thick,
placed at an angle of at least 36°. This armor, from the limited
power of our mills, we are compelled to roll into plates 2 by 7
inches and 10 feet long, and to put them on the vessels in two
courses. |
| If you will let the
Department have the rails, and facilitate its transportation to
Richmond, they will be immediately rolled into plates for the
vessels in question and for such other defenses as we may build in
the waters of your State. |
| Commander Cooke will remove
the iron if you consent to its transfer, and will arrange the
compensation according to his instructions. |
| Please telegraph your reply. |
| I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, |
| S. R. Mallory |
| Secretary of the Navy |