Letter from James H. Rives to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; May 25, 1863

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Letter from James H. Rives to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; May 25, 1863

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People

Bourne, U.Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi. Independent Infantry Company--Capt. Fant's Company Fant, A. E.Foote, H. W.Hamilton, Unknown Johnston, Joseph E. (Joseph Eggleston), 1807-1891 Perrin, Robert Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867 Rives, James H.

Events

Military Events--Military elections Military Events--Recruiting and enlistment

Military Units

Confederate States of America. Army Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi. Cavalry Battalion, 2nd Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi. Cavalry Battalion, 2nd. Company C Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi. Cavalry Regiment, 1st (Lindsay's/Pinson's)Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi. Cavalry Regiment, 1st (Lindsay's/Pinson's). Company G Mississippi. Militia

Organizations and Businesses

Confederate States of America--Ordnance

Places

Jackson (Miss.)Lowndes County (Miss.)Macon (Miss.)Meridian (Miss.)Noxubee County (Miss.)Winston County (Miss.)

Page 1

Macon May 25^th 1863

Gov J. J. Pettus
Meridian

Dear Sir

I wrote a letter yesterday to Col Hamilton in which I stated the complete failure of all my efforts to organize men to go to Genl Johnston. The failure to organize I think was ~~[?] the suppossed~~ the result of an unjustifiable jealousy between Capts Foote & Fant—each wanting to command whatever men I might be able to collect and each afraid to leave the matter to a vote of the men who were going The consequence was that their companies refused to go. The men from Winston who were here to go determined that they would not do so ~~as did~~ the recruits from Lowndes also returned and left me without any men at all—or at least not more than twenty five. I felt mortified and in some sence disgraced by the course the men had taken and determined I would quit and go to the army myself and let the balance of them go to the devil—Capt Perrin however came [page torn] to day—his company will go and I have determined to take such men as I can gather to-morrow and proceed through the county gathering men as best I can—Please send me 60 Sixty carbines—with amunition &c 120 cartridge boxes

J H Rives
25 May 1863

Page 2

120 cartridge box belts, 120 canteens Send the canteens without fail—if they are to be had—men cannot march without them and certainly they cannot with justice to ~~that men carry [?]~~ ^themselves go^ into a fight without them. If these things can be sent by The mail train Tuesday morning we ~~can~~ get them in time—Telegraph me if you will send them

I think all the militia ought to be called out and I so wrote to Col Hamilton, but I think it would be better for him to issue The order than for me if the orders were sent me for the different counties I will see that they are placed in the ~~proper~~ hands of the proper officer You will here from me next at Jackson unless you order otherwise

Very Respectfully
Your Friend

James H Rives

Col U Bourne
[?] Chf of Ord

Will issue the ordnance & ordnance stores called for in the above
[page torn] Pettus