Navy Department, C. S. A.
| Richmond, October 28, 1862 |
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| Hon. G. W. Randolph |
| Secretary of War |
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Sir,
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| We can complete ironclad boats for the
defenses of the North Carolina waters and build floating batteries
in them if we can procure iron, and I submit to you the question of
removing the iron from the Portsmouth and Weldon {Seaboard
& Roanoke RR} or the Norfolk and Petersburg road. If your
Department can dispense with the use of either or both roads in
military defenses. I will at once proceed to remove the iron. Be
pleased to let me have your views as early as practicable.
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| Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
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| S. R. Mallory |
| Secretary of the Navy |
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| Endorsement |
| October
29, 1862 |
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| Inform the honorable Secretary that orders have been
repeatedly issued to remove the iron of these roads, but that the
pressure of the enemy has so far rendered their operations
impracticable. |
| G. W. Randolph |
| Secretary of War |
| {Also in OR, Series 1, Vol. 51, Part 2, Page 638} |
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