August 5, 1864
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| His Excellency Z. B. Vance |
| Governor of North Carolina, Executive Dept., Raleigh,
N. C. |
| |
| Sir, |
| I have the honor to invite Your
Excellency's attention to the state of things presented below, and
to request your co-operation in applying the only remedy which,
after much thought and deliberation, has appeared to be either
practicable or adequate.
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| The Wilmington & Manchester Railroad
forms an essential link in the great lines of southern railroads,
and there is no exaggeration in informing you that the safety of our
people and the possibility of maintaining the present contest with
success depend, to a great degree, on the preservation of this road
in an efficient condition for transportation of troops and
provisions, of imported articles, and of cotton for exportation.
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| The condition of this road, seriously impaired
and worn by the constant call upon it for heavy transportation, has
long excited apprehension. It is now represented on good authority
that unless thoroughly repaired the road must, in three months,
become wholly incapable of furnishing the transportation which the
interest of the Government requires. In order to repair it ten or
fifteen miles of railroad iron are absolutely necessary, and the
question whence this amount of iron could best be secured has
earnestly occupied the attention of the proper authorities. Under
present circumstances it is evident that the only means of keeping
up the efficiency of the main track lines of the Confederacy
consists in repairing them at the expense of other lines of
secondary and merely local importance.
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| The commissioners, acting on this principle,
have recommended that the iron required for repairing the Wilmington &
Manchester Railroad be taken from the western terminus of the eastern
section of the Wilmington, Charlotte, & Rutherford
Railroad from the track, namely, beyond Lawrenceburg, where are
situated the work-shops of the company.
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| This opinion is entirely approved by this
department, and is indeed recommended by paramount and obvious
reasons of convenience.
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| I respectfully and earnestly urge upon Your
Excellency's attention the importance of a cordial co-operation on
these measures between the authorities of North Carolina and those
of the Confederate States.
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| It is much to be regretted that in the
execution of this measure loss and inconvenience must unavoidably be
experienced by a portion of your State. The interests affected will,
however, be purely local, and it will be the object of the
Confederate Government to act in all such cases as liberally and
leniently as is consistent with the attainment of its object.
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| The Government, therefore, in removing the
iron will pledge itself to replace it within six months after a
treaty of peace between this country and the United States; to pay
interest in the meantime on the value of the iron, estimated at
schedule rates, and to protect the interest of the State of North
Carolina by such security as may be recommended as fair and just.
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| Under these circumstances I confidently and
earnestly appeal to Your Excellency for assistance and co-operation.
It is impossible to overestimate the importance, from a national and
military point of view, of a thorough repair of the Wilmington and
Manchester Railroad. It will, I think, be found equally impossible
to effect this by any course other than the one recommended above.
The highest interests of our Army and our Government are involved in
the question, and it is in my opinion only by the united action of
State and Confederate States authorities that danger of a permanent
and disastrous interruption of railroad communication can be
effectually obviated.
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| I respectfully ask for a prompt expression of
your views, and am, |
| Yours, very respectfully |
| J. F. Gilmer |
| Major-General, etc. |
|