1861 May 13 Charleston

State of South Carolina, Head Quarters

Lieut Col. Ripley has authority to select
one of the iron twelve pounders now at
the citadel for rifling & experiment

F[rancis] W. Pickens

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My dear Colonel

I want the best 12 pdr
there is at the citadel--Within is the
Governors authority, as far as it goes. I
don't know what the Ordnance Board
will say but I want the gun & I want
Eason to select it & at once--Will you
let him have it & oblige

Yours truly

R[oswell] S[abin] Ripley

Col Edwd Maningault