| State of North Carolina, Executive Department |
| Raleigh, N.C. |
| November 17, 1862 |
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| General Gustavus W. Smith
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| Acting Secretary of War
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| Dear Sir,
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| His excellency Governor Vance received a
communication from your immediate predecessor, Hon. G. W. Randolph,
in which he states that in consequence of the threatened attacks
upon the railroad connections in the eastern portion 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, and asking him to aid in procuring hands to work upon that
improvement. His Excellency instructs me to say that he will most
cheerfully give whatever assistance he can consistently with his
sense of duty to further the speedy completion of this work, but at
the same time he hopes it will not be improper to remark that the
Government should at all hazards and at all times defend our present
railroad connections at Weldon. That section of the country is of
the utmost importance to the Government, abounding in abundant
supplies for the army. His Excellency must decline authorizing or
recommending the Legislature to authorize the drafting slaves for
this purpose. Vast numbers of slaves are leaving our eastern
counties, threatened with invasion, and their owners are anxiously
seeking employment. The contractors upon the work can, without the
intervention of the public authorities, obtain the most abundant
supply of hands if they will offer fair and remunerating prices.
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| Yours, very respectfully,
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| David A. Barnes
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| Aide-de-Camp to the Governor
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