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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 13th—to DeRossett, Brown & Co., Wilmington, directed them to deliver to Captain DeRossett, of the Wilmington Light Infantry, forty short Enfields.
March 14th, a check for $4,035 was sent Dupont & Co. for 200 barrels cannon powder and fifty kegs musket powder; also, a check for $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 1/2-inch barrel, which were shipped on the steamer North Carolina.
A letter from Watson & Meares, March 18th, said they could get 600 more rifles from Schuyler, Hartley & Graham; that the Governor 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 revolvers 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, acknowledged receipt of $6,295 for 6-pounder gun carriages, four Columbiads, 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 ’
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Richmond, VA. 1901.
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