Benjamin, Judah Philip, 1811-1884 to Henry Toole Clark

Letter written as Confederate Secretary of War to North Carolina Governor Clark about establishing a prisoner of war camp at Salisbury, North Carolina. Benjamin writes, "I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your favor of the 25th inst, which greatly relieves this Department from serious embarrassment in relation to prisoners. - I enclose you a letter for Col Wm Johnstone of Charlotte, containing my instructions to him." Requests that as soon as Colonel Johnston secures the purchase of the property, the Maxwell Chambers Factory, Clark round up volunteers to serve as guards. Informs him that the prisoners will be sent with guards until delivery, along with an assistant Commissary to furnish supplies. Thanks Clark for his assistance in this matter. Writes "As soon as you are assured that Col Johnstone has purchased the property, I beg you will enlist a company, of from 80 to 100. volunteers, under the Act of Congress No 229 of 3d session 'to provide for local defence and special service' for special service as a guard for the prisoners - I will, when I send the prisoners, have them under guard till they are delivered up to the special service guard; and will send with them an assistant Commissary in order to furnish supplies, and will thus relieve you of all care of the prisoners now at the Fair Grounds, who will be removed to Salisbury with the others." Letter written on Confederate States of America, War Department letterhead. By August 1861, the Confederacy was in desperate need of a location to keep prisoners of war. North Carolina was the only state that volunteered a site, the Maxwell Chambers Factory at Salisbury. At first, it was refused because North Carolina could not provide guards but this was resolved by an act of the Confederate Congress. The purchase was finalized on November 2, 1861 and the first prisoners began arriving in December 1861.