From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from Ira McDowell at Greensboro, Mississippi, to Colonel Otto Funke, commander of the United States Army post at Grenada, Mississippi. In his letter, dated June 22, 1865, McDowell warns Funke that secessionist men are attempting to take power by seeking appointments to vacant offices in the local government of Choctaw County, Mississippi. McDowell asks Funke to telegraph Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey about this matter, as Funke believes that said men are on their way to Jackson, Mississippi, to present a petition for appointments to Sharkey. Attached is a note from Colonel Funke to Sharkey, dated June 23, 1865, in which Funke refers McDowell's letter to the governor with the request that Sharkey consult "the large number of Union men" in Choctaw County about the appointment of civil officers.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Petition from citizens of Jefferson County, Mississippi, to the Postmaster of the United States, William Dennison, requesting that George McMurchy be appointed postmaster of Fayette, Mississippi.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Petition from citizens of Yazoo City, Mississippi, to United States Postmaster General William Dennison, asking to have Seaborn Pierce named postmaster of the city.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Petition from citizens of Macon, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, asking that Ed Jackson be appointed as the Postmaster of Macon.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Order No. 1 from Colonel and Provost Marshal William E. Bayley taking command of the Militia of Bolivar County, Mississippi, and requiring all planters to make contracts with their workers.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Oath of allegiance to the United States by Henry Howard Burgess, a resident of South Orange, New Jersey. The oath is witnessed by the L. R. Waugh, Clerk of the Essex County Circuit Court.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from Z. A. Philips, state salt agent at Meridian, Mississippi, to former Mississippi Militia general A. M. West at Durant, Mississippi, giving his thoughts for rebuilding the Mississippi State Penitentiary system and arguing that African American convicts should be used for labor. Philips suggests that someone be selected to travel to examine and make reports on state prison labor systems in the Northern states. Describing his manufacturing experience, Philips makes several recommendations on how to use convict labor and asks to be put in charge of re-establishing the state prison. Attached is an unfinished and crossed-out letter that appears to refer to a robbery of Philips' sister and niece.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from St. H. Chalmers at Memphis, Tennessee, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, recommending James Fort of Holly Springs, Mississippi, for the post of Internal Revenue Collector.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from Samuel McClellan at Rocky Springs, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, seeking Sharkey's help to get an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point for his son, Samuel Bascom McClellan.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from Robert Smith at Jackson, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, requesting an appointment or a reference to a government job so as to support his family.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from Robert C. Wood, Jr., at Louisville, Kentucky, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, recommending that he appoint someone to receive donations for the destitute people of Mississippi.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from Nat S. Price at Mobile, Alabama, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, seeking Sharkey's help in obtaining a job with the New Orleans, Jackson, and Great Northern Railroad.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from Mary Greene to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, requesting that he appoint her nephew, Frank Templeton, as his private secretary or a clerk in his office. Templeton is currently working at the Yazoo River and cannot apply for the position himself.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from M. Emanuel at Jackson, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, requesting the Governor give his son-in-law an appointment as commissioner of deeds.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from Lottie Williamson in Simpson County, Mississippi, to Van E. Young, the commander of the post of Jackson, Mississippi, giving information on the witnesses and alleged perpetrators of the murder of her sons.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from Lock E. Houston at Aberdeen, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey at Jackson, Mississippi, recommending John B. Sims for sheriff of Monroe County, Mississippi.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from Probate Judge Isaac W. Scarborough at Kosciusko, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, requesting a re-appointment as county probate judge, a position he has held for three successive terms. Scarborough is fifty years old, in poor health, and has six children to care for.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from John Waddel to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey urging Sharkey to reopen the University of Mississippi, as there are many former soldiers wanting to attend.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from John Livingston at New York City, New York, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, requesting a list of the executive and judiciary of Mississippi for inclusion in the new law register and official directory for the United States. Livingston requests a list of counties, county towns, county judges, county clerks, and sheriffs.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from John Dowling in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey at Jackson, Mississippi, congratulating him on his appointment as Provisional Governor.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from James S. Prestidge in Jackson, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, requesting Sharkey's help to obtain a pardon for his law partner, John T. Lamkin, as Prestidge had pressured Lamkin into an office that would have him, a Unionist Whig, replace a secessionist, but denied him amnesty benefits. Prestidge also reluctantly asks for an office position, as he is in need of money.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from James Graham at New Orleans, Louisiana, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, requesting appointment as a commissioner of deeds for the state of Mississippi.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from James Allen at Vicksburg, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, requesting an appointment as justice of the peace.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from J. T. McMurran at Natchez, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, introducing Major General John W. Davidson.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from J. G. H. Jones at Mobile, Alabama, to Major General Thomas K. Smith, concerning the alleged murder of James Clinton of Pickens, Mississippi, by African Americans formerly enslaved by him.