The Confederacy in need of arms for its troops has to resort to taking outdated
and broken guns stored at its now famous Citadel.

This letter written by the Ordnance Officer W. G. Easen is written on blue “State of South Carolina, Ordnance Office” stationary.  It is in excellent condition and a fine example showing the difficulty the Confederacy had in equipping their troops.


                                                                                                                                                                        State of South Carolina.
                                                                                                                                                                                    Ordnance Office
                                                                                                                                                                        Charleston April 8, 1863

                                        His Excellency

                                                        Gov. M. L. Bonham

                                                                                Sir, I have the honor herewith enclosed to hand you a statement of all 
                                        ordnance and ordnance stores shipped from the citadel in this city to the Columbia Arsenal.  
                                        We have remaining about twenty seven hundred arms of all kinds, which require cleaning 
                                        and some repair, as fast as they are made ready, they are packed for shipment as we are 
                                        compelled to use green lumber for our packing boxes.  It will not answer to send the guns
                                        off in their present condition, for in thirty days time they would be unfit for use.

                                                                                Understanding your telegram of this morning to direct me to send up 
                                        all the arms etc. except those needed for Capt. Thomas’s Corps will continue to ship as fast 
                                        as they are ready.

                                                                                                Very Respectfully

                                                                                                                Your Obt. Servt.

                                                                                                                                        W. G. Easen, Major

                                                                                                                                        A. Ord. Off. S.C.

For the Charleston or Citadel collector, here is an excellent one page frame-able piece!

#HC92 - Price $295

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