Benjamin, Judah Philip (1811-1884) to Henry T. Clark
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01353.01 Author/Creator: Benjamin, Judah Philip (1811-1884) Place Written: Richmond, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 3 February 1862 Pagination: 3 p. : docket ; 25 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
Discusses the defense of North Carolina. Will send reinforcements, but cannot send as many as he would like, which he blames on the shortness of enlistment terms. Lack of men is not his real concern though, "I am sure I could organize the defenses of our country, wherever attacked, if I only had munitions." Overall assures him North Carolina will be safe, "Your people may suffer somewhat at points where the enemy's superior water forces enable them to ravage the country within reach of their guns, but I do not fear, and am sure you need not, that they can do more than this and even this shall not be done if every possible precaution in our power can suffice to prevent it." Of the Union fleet "the enemy's fleet has been crippled much more seriously than you seem to be aware, and we are thus allowed some time for preparation beyond what we could otherwise have hoped." Postscript notes "I was compelled by stress of occasion to send 1,000 flintlocks to your last two regiments, but will immediately replace them by better arms." Written on Confederate States of America War Department stationery.
Henry T. Clark was the Governor of North Carolina.
Judah P. Benjamin was the Confederate Secretary of War. One month later he became Confederate Secretary of State.
Richmond, 3d February 1862.
Sir
I have received your favor of the 1st inst, and assure you that you but do me justice in confiding in my earnest desire to do everything in my power to aid in the defense of your coast - Most fortunately the enemy's fleet has been crippled much more seriously than you seem to be aware and we are thus allowed some time for preparation beyond what we could otherwise have hoped -
In regard to reinforcements, my thoughts had already been turned on the Peninsula, but there is a serious difficulty in the way there of which you are not aware - Four or five of the Regiments on the Peninsula are twelve months' men, whose term of service is on the eve of expiring: others will expire a little later, and nothing can induce the men to re-enlist unless they have a furlough - But for this I could withdraw a few regiments from the [2] Peninsula - We are reaping the bitter fruits of the blind folly of short enlistments, against which I have struggled with unremitting energy from the day the first shot was fired at Fort Sumter -
However all is not as bad as you suppose - I have just ordered two batteries of artillery to your aid & have instructed Genl Huger to see in person to the defenses at Roanoke - He will also send two or three thousand men, perhaps more, that can be spared from Norfolk - I have ordered a detail of men to give full efficiency to the gun boats under Commodore Lynch, and to the floating battery -
The regiment at Petersburg ought now to be able to move and I will order it at once to report to Genl Gatlin -
I am sure I could organise the defences of our Country wherever attacked [3] if I only had munitions: but in addition to the heavy superiority in numbers of the enemy, we have to struggle on with a very inadequate supply of materials of war - your people may suffer somewhat at points where the enemy's superior water forces enable them to ravage the Country within reach of their guns, but I do not fear and am sure you need not, that they can do more than this: and even this shall not be done if every possible precaution in our power can suffice to prevent it -
I am
Yr obt St
J. P. Benjamin
Gov. H T Clark }
Raleigh }
No Ca. }
P. S. I was compelled by stress of occasion to send 1000 flint locks to your last two Regiments, but will immediately replace them by better arms -
[docket]
J P. Benjamin
5 Febry 1862
Coast. defences of NoCa
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