State of Maryland,
Executive Chamber,
Annapolis, November 9,
1860.
Hon. E. H. Webster.
My Dear Sir: — I have pleasure in acknowledging receipt of
your favor introducing a very clever gentleman to my acquaintance (though a
Democrat). I regret to say that we have at this time no arms on hand to
distribute, but assure you at the earliest possible moment your company shall
have arms; they have complied with all required of them on your part. We have
some delay in consequence of contracts with Georgia and Alabama ahead of us,
and we expect at an early date an additional supply, and of the first received
your people shall be furnished. Will they be good men to send out to kill
Lincoln and his men? If not, I suppose the arms would be better sent South. How
does the late election sit with you? ’Tis too bad. Harford nothing to reproach
herself for.
Your obedient
servant,
THOMAS H. HICKS.
SOURCE: George Lovic Pierce Radcliffe, Governor Thomas H. Hicks of Maryland and the Civil War, p. 20
