Wilmington, July 9, 1864
President Davis:
Following dispatch to General Whiting just received from ordnance officer at Columbia, July 8:
“Two thousand rifles left here yesterday morning for Captain Wilkinson, C. S. Army. Colonel Gorgas has just ordered 1,400 to be sent back. I send messenger for them.”
The number ordered, with what we can get from General Whiting, is little enough, and I request that we may be allowed to have them.
G. W. C. Lee,
Colonel and Aide-de-Camp
Wilmington, July 9, 1864
President Davis:
The arms ordered from Columbia have not yet arrived. I suppose they have been stopped by messenger referred to I dispatch of this morning. General Whiting is making every effort to get them, and will give us the 1,600 Austrian rifles that he has, but they are not of a desirable caliber for our purpose; have not accouterments, and are not sufficient in number.
G. W. C. Lee,
Colonel and Aide-de-Camp
Source: The War of the Rebellion, Series, Volume 40, part 3, p. 757
Transcribed by Colin Woodward, 2018 January 4
