Semmes, Paul Jones (1815-1863) [Contract with Robert P. Parrott for rifles, projectiles & lead]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00508.04 Author/Creator: Semmes, Paul Jones (1815-1863) Place Written: New York, New York Type: Autograph document signed Date: 22 December 1860 Pagination: 5 p. : docket ; 25.5 x 20.4 cm. Order a Copy
Semmes's retained copy. Contract with Parrott of the Cold Springs Foundry in West Point, New York for 16 rifle cannons, 3500 "Dyer" solid shot, 4000 "Dyer" case or shrapnel shot, 500 canister shot, and 100,000 pounds of lead. Lists the specifications for each of these items and the price. Instructs that the advice of Captain A.B. Dyer (of the U.S. Ordnance Dept.) should be followed when manufacturing the ammunitions. Should be noted that a U.S. government official's advice was taken on manufacturing arms that would ultimately be used by the Confederacy against the United States. The original of this copy was signed by Semmes and Parrott, witnessed by W. J. Hardee, a future Confederate lt. general. Written from the 5th Avenue Hotel in New York.
New York City was a center for arms deals by Southern states in preparation for secession. Semmes was a Georgia banker and plantation owner who served as agent for the State of Georgia during the preparations for the Civil War. He served as colonel of the 2nd Georgia in the Confederate Army at the outbreak of the war and was promoted to brigadier general in March 1862. He was assigned to a brigade in McLaws' division of Longstreet's corps fighting in Crampton's Gap, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Salem Church, and Gettysburg, where he was mortally wounded.
[illegible]
Gov. Brown from 5th avenue
Hotel NYC 22 Dec 1860
Our contract made [illegible] day of December 1860 between Paul J. Semmes agent for the State of Georgia there of and acting for under behalf of the said Commonwealth of Georgia, and Robert P. Parrott of Cold Spring in the State of New York, [illegible], that the said Robert P Parrott [illegible] to manufacturer furnish and [illegible] on board [illegible] in the port of New York and board for Savannah Georgia [illegible] sixty days from the date [illegible].
(16) Sixteen Rifle Cannon of 3.3 in (3 3/10 in) cabin and of (1000, one thousand pounds [illegible] each, to be arranged to but the six [illegible] field carriage the said guns bring made of Cast iron with a wrought iron reinforced and rifled [2] in the [illegible] which shall be advised by Capt. AB Dyer of the of the United States Ordnance department for the use of his projectile. &the, (3500) three thousand five hundred "Dyer" solid shot of [illegible] might when furnished-also (4000) four thousand "Dryer" Case or shrapnel shot to be filled with Borman fuses and to be filled with bad balls and [illegible] in the same manner in all [illegible] as for the [illegible] case shot of the United States service the [illegible] furnished not to exceed that after solid shot. Also (500) five hundred Cannister shot of the ordinary kind.
It is stipulated that the mind of the "buyer" projectiles is not to exceed five hundred ([illegible]) of an inch and that to [illegible] they shall be turned in the shaght [illegible]. Also, that the advice of Capt. AB Dyer in regard to their manufaction shall be followed.
It is understood that
[3] [illegible] than before specified can be shipped as soon as ready.
It is further understood about the work shall be executed in the true maximum and subject within instruction of [struck: any] [inserted: any] [illegible] of the United States [illegible] be selected on behalf of the State of Georgia, [illegible] to the government by the instructions set forth in our current edition of the United States Ordnance manual
Also, Our hundred thousand (100.000) pounds of lead.
The Said of Robert P. Parrot agrees to effect insurance upon said [illegible] for and in behalf of and at the [illegible] of the State of Georgia.
The Said Paul J. Semmes acting [illegible] of the [illegible] of the [illegible] covenants by the Said [4] Robert P Parrott [illegible] covenant and agree that the Said State of Georgia [illegible] to the Said Robert P Parrott or followers:
For the Said Rifle Cannons Are hundred and sixty dollars each
For the Said Dyer case short fitted seventy cents (70) each.
For the Said Dyer case short fitted [illegible] one dollar and fifty eight (158) cents [inserted: each] and for the Said [illegible] shot sixty five cents (65) each, and per the lead [inserted: (5.6)] five and [struck: would of] [inserted: six tenths] cents per pound and the cartage-the said articles being delivered according to the terms of the contract Payment to be made [illegible] of the bills and bills of lading with policy of insurance attached at the Treasury of the State of Georgia [illegible] with the exchange in New York included. Provided that the State of Georgia shall not be bound to [illegible] or pay for any of the [5] articles [illegible] in the contract not delivered in the [illegible] stipulated
In testimony when of [illegible] Said Semmes and the Said Parrott have herewith [illegible] the Clay and year first above another.
Signed valid and
Delivered in presence of
WJ Hardee
Paul J Semmes Esq.
[illegible] Ga.
Robert P Parrott Esq.
[docket]
Contract
With
Cap Robt P Parrott
[illegible]
(West Point)
NYC
For
Rifle Cannon&
Projectiles
&
100000[superscript: ths] of lead
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