and cleaned out as raked with a fine-toothed comb, and if any are left if they are called upon to do a little home-guard service, they at once apply for a writ of habeas corpus and get off. Some three or four cases [have] been tried by Judge Read the last two weeks and the men released. What are we to do? There are no Confederate troops scarcely in the western district of North Carolina. Longstreet is said to have left Tennessee. This emboldens the tories, and they are now largely recruited by conscript renegades and very soon it is possible our country may be full of Yankees. Give me your advice and orders. I have been doing as I thought the best I cold under all circumstances. How far you may consider me culpable for the loss of the Yancey guns, &c., I cannot say. I am sorry I did not act more promptly in their remove, but I thought when the citizens were warned of their danger, as I had warned them and told them it was impossible for men to send them any force, that they would at once rally to their own defense and use the guns against their foes, but alas, I was sadly mistaken; if I had not believed that I would have brought the arms and ammunition to these headquarters. If something is not done immediately for this country we will all be ruined, for the homes guards now will not do to depend on. I have written you several times on subjects of importance to me, and received no answer. I know your time is valuable to you and that you are pressed to death with business, but some instructions from you would be of great benefit to me and some encouragement to our citizens. Do let me hear from you at once.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. W. McELORY,

Brigadier-General, commanding First Brigade,

North Carolina Home Guards.

[35.]

RICHMOND, April 22, 1864.

Major General D. H. HILL:

I have ordered no letters from you dated on the 4th and 17th.*

S. COOPER,

Adjutant and Inspector General.

[35.]

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Columbia, April 23, 1864.

Hon. JAMES A. SEDDON,

Secretary of War, Richmond, Va.:

SIR: I have the honor again to call your attention to the exposed situation of the mountain region of this State, and of the public works and factories there located. This matter was submitted to your consideration on the 4th of March and again on the 3rd of April. I again beg leave respectfully to submit to your attention the inclosed letter of Mr. J. K. Sass, a highly respected and responsible citizen, and to urge upon you the necessity of making some provision to defend the mountain passes leading into the State.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

M. L. BONHAM.

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*For copies of these letters, see VOL. XLII, Part III, p.1166.

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