Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 29.djvu/166

 150 Southern Historical Society Papers.

used by the United States; also, 500,000 percussion caps, price and quality subject to Colonel Meare's approval.

July 23, the Governor wrote Watson & Meares: "Your favor of the 20th received, advising me of the purchase of 280 muskets from Schuyler, Hartley & Graham. I wish you to buy from them 360 long Enfield rifles, with sabre bayonets, at $21. They can furnish 200 more Enfields in thirty days. You can contract for these." On the 25th, Watson Meares were sent a check for $9,093 to pay for 150,243 pounds of soft English lead, and the Governor said: " Use your best discretion as to guns. Don't give more than forty days for procuring them. The amount I wish to purchase is not arge."

An order March i3th to DeRossett, Brown & Co., Wilmington, directed them to deliver to Captain DeRossett, of the Wilmington Light Infantry, forty short Enfields.

March I4th, a check for $4,035 was sent Dupont & Co. for 200 barrels cannon powder and fifty kegs musket powder; also, a check fcr $2,239 to David Smith, of New York, for 100,000 buck and ball cartridges and 5,000,000 percussion caps; also, check for $4,770 to Schuyler Hartley & Graham for 300 sabres and ninety-seven short Enfield rifles; also, check for $8,545 to the Colt Arms Company, New York, for 500 navy revolvers, 7^ -inch barrel, which were shipped on the steamer North Carolina.

A letter from Watson & Meares, March i8th, said they could get 600 more rifles from Schuyler, Hartley & Graham; that the Gov- ernor had ordered 200 more from that firm, and that the 800 would arm a regiment; that they could buy 320 Mississippi rifles.

DeRossett, Brown & Co., were directed April 4th to deliver to Captain Robert H. Cowan, Wilmington Horse Artillery, two revol- vers and thirty-two sabres, and to M. M. Hawkins, Captain Cape Fear Riflemen, fifty-seven rifles; to C. J. Iredell twelve sabres and seventy-five revolvers.

Under date of April 23d, Anderson & Co., of Richmond, ac- knowledged receipt of $6,295 for 6-pounder gun carriages, four Col- umbiads, etc.

The next letter is dated May 6th, and is from the Governor to Brigadier-General T. H. Holmes, Fort Caswell: " My confidential aide, Mr. Winslow, will hand you this letter. He will report to me