To the People of North Carolina. —

At the request of President Davis, I have undertaken to collect all of the arms now in the hands of private citizens of our State. For that purpose I have been invested with authority to borrow, purchase or, if necessary, impress them. I am satisfied that it will never be necessary to resort to the last named power. Patriots of North Carolina, our soil is invaded, and though we have men enough to repel the invaders, our men are useless unless they have arms. Upwards of 20 thousand stand of arms are now lying useless in our houses, these arms should be collected and placed in the hands of our noble defenders. None but a craven or disloyal citizen will refuse to comply with this requisition. I will immediately appoint suitable agents to go through every county in the State, empowered to borrow, purchase, or if necessary to impress arms; but in the meantime let me entreat all true patriots to send in all of their muskets, rifles and double barrel shot guns (good, bad or indifferent) to the sheriffs of the different counties, whom I do hereby authorize to receive and pay for them agreeably to the attached schedule of prices, and draw on me for the amount necessary.

For good rifles and muskets, $13 and $20 each, according to value; good double-barrel shot guns from $13 to $30, according to value; other arms and parts of arms according to valuation.

I have also been requested to purchase old scrap iron, whether cast or wrought, and of all weights, for which I will pay for the former 11 cents per pound; for the latter 4 cents.

W. S. ASHE.