Confederate States of America, War Department
| Richmond, Va., February 4, 1863 |
| |
| His Excellency Governor Z. B. Vance |
| |
| Sir, |
| Some six or eight weeks since I invited
your attention to the importance of the railroad connection to be
made by the Confederate Government, under act of Congress, between
Danville, Va., and Greensborough, N. C. {the
Piedmont Railroad}, and invoked your
aid to command the slave labor requisite for its early completion.
You then declined any interposition in this respect, under the
conviction that with adequate energy on the part of the contractors
a sufficient number of slaves might readily be obtained at not
unreasonable rates. Will you excuse my again asking your attention
to this subject and soliciting a reconsideration of your decision? I
am assured that every effort has been made and that rates exceeding
in liberality current prices for hire have been freely offered
without success in obtaining the required labor. Some impression has
prevailed that slaves employed in this locality had peculiar facilities
of escaping, and hence the unwillingness of their owners in the
eastern counties to hire them to the contractors; besides, there is
a general disinclination to hire servants, to be employed on works
of this character, where large numbers are assembled. |
| Serious delay must
therefore occur unless the authority of your State can be exercised
to provide an adequate number of slave laborers for the work. In
consequence, it is respectfully submitted to you to determine
whether the importance of this work does not justify, if it does not
require, such exercise of your authority. Full hires shall be paid,
and every care possible shall be taken to provide for the comfort
and safety of the slaves. |
| In connection with the
same subject allow me to ask your attention to a petition which I
understand has been presented to your Legislature, seeking such
change in the charter of incorporation for the connecting road as
will allow conformity of gauge throughout and prevent the necessity
of a break at Danville. The importance of this, in view of the
usefulness of the road for military operations, needs no comment;
but, in reference to the future advantages of the road to your State
interests, I may be permitted to suggest that a break at Danville
could only operate injuriously, as it would tend to make that place
more decidedly a depot and a place of transfer. All considerations
seem to recommend the proposed change of charter, and it would be
gratifying to this Department if you could concur in this view and
lend your potent influence to induce the amendment. |
| With great esteem, very
respectfully, yours |
| James A. Seddon |
| Secretary of War |
|