Letter from Captain D. S. Pattison to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; February 20, 1863

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Letter from Captain D. S. Pattison to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; February 20, 1863

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Each transcribed document contains links that connect it to other documents on the same topic in the collection.

People

Book, Unknown Humphreys, Benjamin Grubb, 1808-1882 Mason, Unknown Pattison, D. S.Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867 Quin, D. H.

Events

Confederate States of America--Draft Criminal Procedure--Arrest Military Events--Military discharge Military Events--Military leaves and furloughs Military Events--Recruiting and enlistment Starvation

Military Units

Confederate States of America. Army Confederate States of America. Army. Cavalry Mississippi. Militia Mississippi. Militia. Minute Men Infantry Regiment, 2nd (1862-1863)

Organizations and Businesses

Confederate States of America--Quartermaster

Occupations

Sheriffs Surgeons

Places

Claiborne County (Miss.)Military training camps--Camp Milldale (Miss.)Neshoba County (Miss.)

Social Identifiers

Impoverished people Military Status--Draftees Military Status--Military deserters Military Status--Military families

Page 1

Milldale 20th Feby 1863,

Hon J J Pettus, Gov,

Dear Sir, I take the liberty of calling your attention to the condition of things here, it is not to complain, but to ask that some remedy be applied before irreparible mischeif be done, Capt Mason and myself have been here within one or two days of a month. he has twenty eight men, I have thirty, You promised and issued an order to have our Companies filled up. I underst=and Col Humphreys or others acting under his authority when the men were assembled for draft, offered them the option of volunteering in his Cavalry or being drafted, all that had not discharges from the County Surgeon except four volunteered into the Cavalry, so we are left here without men, We cannot even get the men here we had on our rolls before the—draft, but one of mine out of quite a number has been arrested for the Camp, by the Sheriff, and although his arrest took place (13) Thirteen days since, he has not arrived in Camp, so between a Sheriff desiring popular applause and an officer having an interest at variance with the policy of the state and his orders, we are left—with the skeleton of companies—Now Govenor this is unjust both to our officers and men, We are the subject of jest and ridicule, constantly twitted about the malitia not coming

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out, which is having a bad effect upon the men. They daily appeal to me to have the company filled up, and to bring the other men here, other men who ought to be here, men who by influence of wealth and family keep out of the ranks, all this is producing a wide spread dissatisf=action, from Quins Regiment of which I have the command, (as well as our own Battalion) there are alm=ost nightly desertions, and from the causes above stated.

There is no feild officer here attached to the State Troops, and has been none except Maj book who has been absent two weeks, the Quarter Master of the Battalion has not been the—ground more than about four days scince I have been here, and for some days until now has been absent without leave.

The Officers and men cannot buy any=thing without money, the men do—not get enough to eat, the Buzzards will not eat the meat served to the men, (Beef) it is too poor, They cannot leave to go or send home for provisions, because the orders prohibit more than twenty four hours furlough, and to bring food from home in many instances would be to rob their Wives and children, they could buy a little around the country if they could get paid, it takes more than all the pay the men to buy wholesome food, when it can be obtained,

If we are kept here, we ought to be uniformly clad, and have good strong shoes and Hats, this would do some good

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as it would mark us out as a class, and give us a more martial appearance, as well as raise the pride of the men, the state has the goods, and we are yet to have it,

Gov Pettus you promised me if this cavalry interfered with filling up our companies you would have it disbanded, it has done so and I now respectfully ask you to fulfil your promise, or turn the men over to Mason and my=self. they (the~~[?]~~ men volunteering in it) know this Regiment of Cavalry can never be raised, and join it thus to keep out of the feild a few months, in the meantime the war may end, I have tracked these men through all their—dodges, and am satisfied what I say is true,

If you do not feel that you can make infantry of volunteers for—Cavalry—(although Troops are freque=ntly both mounted and dismounted) mount us, and fill up with these men, this is the quickest and most ecanomical plan of getting Cavalry, in less than ten days you could thus have a Cavalry force in the feild, give us the short Mi Rifle, and let us act as mounted infantry If any preference is to be shown to any part of the State Troops, I think those like ourselves who have been out scince the first of last June ought to have the preference, we are equitably entitled to it, and

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not the men who have not only ridiculed the policy of calling us out but evaded it, and now when they are to leave their comfortable homes and business seek another and easier service than we have had—[at?] Govenor I do not think your justice will permit this. The remedy will have to be applied with a just and firm hand, which we feel our cheif executive has. Capt Mason and myself hope you will not permit any more drafts to be made by the same men but will appoint some one for that purpose or allow us to name a man,

We understand the State has some Cavalry here, and we would ask that part of it be sent to Claiborne County under our orders to bring our men here. I belive this is the only chance to get them,

I have not done naught in ~~[?]~~ malice, but have only desired to place the facts before you, and hope you will relieve us from our present unpleasant situation

Respectfully
Your friend
D S Pattison

Capt D. S, Pattison