American Hotel to Holmes, October 25, 1864

General HOLMES:

DEAR SiR: Major Dowd informs me that you have instructed him that all applications for the detail of hands in factories working for the State must be submitted to Major Chisman. A portion of these applications have already received the approval of the regular conseript authorities, including yourself. The others I now inclose for your approbation also, and desire to accompany them with an explanation.

Though I have heretofore submitted to apply for details for the State as other parties, I deny the right of the Government to seize any person working’for and in the employ of North Carolina in any department provided for by law. The Quartermaster-Gemeral, Lawton, has for a long time been endeavoring to force me to abandon the State’s contract for furnishing its own troops, and every possible effort for this purpose has been resorted to. The last device was the attempt to conscribe the hands in all the factories which had contracts with the States and would not abandon them for Confederate contracts. More than one instance of an open and avowed attempt of this kind can be cited, long before the recent order revoking details. The order from Richmond directing these applications to be submitted to Major Chisman is, I have no doubt, a continuation of the same plan. I Shall not submit to it. Whilst I am willing that every man shall go and everything stop at the decisive hour, I am not willing that General Lawton should break down the State of North Carolina in this way and deprive her of the power to clothe her armies in the field. Should these details therefore be unreasonably refused I shall have to try tilts with the Confederate Government.

Very respectfully, yours,