Letter to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey; July 15, 1865

Documents
Letter to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey; July 15, 1865

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People

Barber, W. F.Brandon, L. C.Sharkey, William Lewis, 1798-1873 Whitehurst, A. F.

Events

Crime Crime--Affray Crime--Destruction of property Disband--Military Units

Military Units

United States. Army United States. Army. Tennessee Cavalry Regiment, 6th

Places

Pulaski (Tenn.)Tennessee Tishomingo County (Miss.)

Social Identifiers

Refugees Unionists (United States Civil War)

Vital Statistics

Death

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[seal]

Pulaski Tennessee
July the 15^th 1865.

Gov. Sharkey,—

Please allow me respectfully in this manner to call your attention, for a few moments.

I am a Soldier in the United States Service; belonging at this time to the 6^th Tenn Cavalry Vol. Beside myself there are fifty others, who belong to the Same Regiment; from Mississippi Tishomingo County.

We were compelled to leave our homes and fly to the army for safety, leaving all the effects of our hard & honest toils behind. We immediately entered the Service on leaving, ^our homes^ which was on Sept 12^th 1862, where we have been ever since. Batling, as it were, for the benefit of our Country.

Being thus circumstanced, we feel

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a delicacy in believing that we might someday or another be forced to come under the same old tyrannical rule, of the very men, who pilledged, ~~and~~ plundered and devastated our homes and what is still worse the very men, who attempted time after time, to hang us; for expressing a union Sentiment.

We responded to the demands of our Country; we have helped to fight this rebellion through to the end; and when we return to our native state we wish to be represented by Union loving, and law abiding men. As I have heretofore said there are 50 men from Miss Tishomingo Co. taking myself in, belonging to the above named Regiment, who would like to be represented by men of tried loyalty. ~~and myself~~ out

of the above number there are two others & myself, who are willing to take any part in the reorganization of civil law in our native State that May be assigned us. We fling our banner to the breeze, as we will be disbanded shortly. We apeal to you in the name of common sense, for protection; we adjure you not to recognize as civil Officers the very men, by whom we were so brutily and Shamefully treated in days past; for cleaving to the old flag. We call upon you so far as lies in your power to give us a chance, with our former enemies. If we have not merit we ask not your favor, but if we have you have not failed to discover it. We have fought nobly for our Country; endured

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all the hardships & difficuties connected with a soldier's life; we therefore call upon you if it be in your power to give us apart in the recon-Struction of our State to its former position in the Union. We are ready to do anything in our power to restore law & order throughout out distracted Country

We will be discharged in a few days, and then we are ready to take hold of any business you deem most proper to assign us.

Hoping you will be so kind as to give the foregoing a Just consider-ation.

We have the honor
To subscribe ourselves
Very respectfully yours
To serve

A. F. Whitehurst
W. F. Barber
L. C. Brandon