12 August 1862: “They would be of great-service here enabling me to assist vessels running the blockade and drive off the blockaders.”

Item description: Letter, 12 August 1862, from Col. George A. Cunningham, Commandant of Fort Caswell (N.C.), to Col. Collett Leventhorpe, colonel of the 11th North Carolina (and in charge of the defenses for the District of Wilmington).

Item citation: From folder 2 of the T. L. Clingman Papers, #157, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Item transcription:

Hd. Qrs. Fort Caswell N.C.
August 12th 1862

Col.

I have to request that I be furnished with one or more of those Whitworth guns, two of which are at Fort Fisher. They would be of great-service here enabling me to assist vessels running the blockade and drive off the blockaders.

I would like to have it as soon as possible as I have fatigue parties at work some distance from the fort and I expect the blockaders will endeavor to annoy them soon.

Very respectfully
Your obedient servant
Geo. A. Cunningham
Col. Comdg.

Col. C. Leaventhorpe
Wilmington, N.C.

Thos. I. Worthington
Craven

—-

I sent you a dispatch about Prvt. Cherry of the 20th Reg. who has been skulking around here for some time after he was able to go back to his regiment. I expect he will try to desert and he has said he would not go to his regiment if he could help it.

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Respectfully referred to General Clingman with an application for permission to order the Whitworth’s from Fayetteville and give them to Col. Cunningham. These guns are exactly adapted to our wants at the two Forts Caswell and Fisher.

C. Leaventhorpe
[Col. Cmdg.?]

—-

Approved respectfully forwarded.
T.L. Clingman
Brig. Gen.

—-

Genl. Clingman may dispose of this as he pleases.
D.H. Hill
M.G.

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