Letter from T. G. Brooking to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; September 8, 1864

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Letter from T. G. Brooking to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; September 8, 1864

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Document Metadata

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

People

Brocking, T. G.Clark, Charles, 1811-1877 Collins, J. T. C.Lamberth, W. F.Paine, R.

Events

Crime Crime--Destruction of property Crime--Robbery Crime--Smuggling Crime--Theft Criminal Procedure--Arrest Evacuations Political elections Resignation Secession

Military Units

Mississippi. Militia United States. Army

Organizations and Businesses

Distilleries

Occupations

Clergy Surgeons

Places

Aberdeen (Miss.)Booneville (Miss.)Corinth (Miss.)Macon (Miss.)Prairie (Miss.)Prentiss (Miss.)Richmond (Miss.)Tennessee Tippah County (Miss.)Tupelo (Miss.)

Social Identifiers

Impoverished people Unionists (United States Civil War)

Page 1

Boonville Miss Sept 8^th/64

Hoⁿ. Cha^s. Clark Gov of Miss.
Macon Miss. Hoⁿ. Sir
Permit me to address open lines to you in regard to some things.

I am not opposed to people being permited to haul Cotton to Tenn and exchanging for needfull supplies, but there is a regular traffic of Speculation going on between some of our people &those of Tenn &here as between them &the enemy. Regular trains of Cotton is constantly passing by here from one to 4 & 6 bales on the waggon &then return with one to 3 barrels of whiskey in the stead there of.

If ~~they~~'s perchance to have anything of use, they willnot sell it for money, but will exchange it for more Cotton. Great numbers of these traines come from near Tupelo, Richmond and Country around about, sales from other parts.

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They of course sell this whiskey to any one that can bring a better jug or canteen. and therilyy, they are not only impoverishing the Country, but they are demoralizing the Country and the Soldiers I. am aware that these things are positively prohiddin and as I think such things should not go on I have thought it but my duty to give you this notice of the facts, that seems steps best is your judgement, might be taken for its Suppression. Besides that there are some distillries [working?] ~~[ringing?]~~ in the making of brandy, which is Smuggled and sold to any and all that have the money. Furthermore since your last call upon this state for the Melitia there have appeared among us here in this &I am told in Tippah Countys bands of horse theaves &robbers, and smugglers of horses have

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been stolen &other depredations commited Would it not be well for us to have some sort of County organization by the au-thority of the Governor of the State, and them to be armed &equiped by the state, as we have no arms, the enemy having taken & destroyed them, and that Comp. to have the authority to arrest & to deal with as the [criors?] may disirve, as the Gov^r. [erelancy?] may [suggest?]. Unless we have some means of defence assvan-es the men are found to be out of the County, all the stock that is left will soon be "rested from the people &they left to Suffer. In regard to & ^the^ organisation above named or some other for the same purpose, & Can get a petition with the names of every loyal man, woman and Child in the Country. I offer these hints to you for the Consider-ation & action as you may in your judgement

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deem best I have been in the C. S. Service during 1862 &3 in the Capacity of Surgeon, and when the enemy evacuated Corinth and this County was relieved of them and they have^-ing^ _& destroyed everything that [?] and reduced my family to uter destitution &co~~[?]~~& I resigned my position and Came home to attend to them. I ain now at home engaged in the practice of medicine, The people very much need me, they had gouten up apetition of between 2&3 hundred names for me to come home. I am now willing &shall ever hold myself in readiness to do anything for the good of my Country that I Can do. If there is anything [since?] that you can place into my hands that I [sands?] for the promotion of my Countries good, I shall ever hold myself mosly for its accomplisment. Of you want any

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reference, Rev. J. T. C. Collins who is on a circuit near Prairie Station, W. F. Lamberth representive from this County, and Bishop R. Paine of Aberdeen Can advise you of me. I shall be glad to hear from you soon, and to have your view in regard to this Coutton &Whiskey traffic that is going on, and in regard to Some sort of organisation for the Suppression of the thefts &roberries &other evils that are going on here. I am truly Sorry to believe too, that there is Socalled Union Spirit being manifest here and even go so far some of them do as to declare that they will vote for no man that ever voted a Ciseshion ticket, this is being done even in the County election. &c. I am Respectfully you most Obt. Servt,

T, G, Brocking

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