John A. Dix to Cmr.ix Correspondence, Etc.confederate, July 31, 1861

Sir: Mr. John T. Sangston, of Caroline County, is desirous that a company of Union men in that county, who have been drilling for several months, should be armed. Governor Hicks thinks it important, and I concur with him. If I had the authority to arm eight or ten companies on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, I believe they could take care of themselves and do much to keep the secessionists in order. I think it proper to add that an active trade with the rebels in Virginia is kept up from Salisbury, the southern terminus of the Delaware Railroad. As soon as there is a disposable force, it would be well to place a regiment there.

There is a camp of secessionists, variously estimated from one thousand to three thousand men, at Eastville, in Northampton, the lower county on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. This is not in my department, but I would suggest that three or four regiments should be sent there aS soon as we can spare them and break up this camp. The exhibition of such a force and the destruction of the secession camp would have a salutary effect throughout the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia.

I have the honor to be, respectfully, yours,