Letter from W. A. Strong to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; February 17, 1865

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Letter from W. A. Strong to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; February 17, 1865

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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

Bradford, A. B.Clark, Charles, 1811-1877 Kennedy, Thomas B.Montgomery, Unknown Pinson, R. A.Poindexter, J. T.Ross, Unknown Russel, Dan Strong, W. A.Threadgill, Tilghman S.

Events

Crime Crime--Burglary Crime--Forcible entry and detainer Crime--Robbery Crime--Theft Criminal Procedure--Arrest Distillation Military Events--Raid Mississippi. Legislation. An act to prevent the distillation of spirituous liquors… (Approved April 5, 1864)

Military Units

Confederate States of America. Army 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 A Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi. Cavalry Regiment, 5th Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi. Infantry Regiment, 30th

Organizations and Businesses

Confederate States of America--Quartermaster Distilleries Mississippi. Legislature

Occupations

Commercial agents Messengers Physicians Sheriffs

Places

Carroll County (Miss.)Carrollton (Miss.)Columbus (Miss.)Greenwood (Miss.)Macon (Miss.)Mississippi River Texas Vaiden (Miss.)

Social Identifiers

Military Status--Veterans

Vital Statistics

Disease and illness

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Greenwood Miss Feby 17. 1865

Govenor,

Gen^l. Bradford leaves in the morning from Columbus and I avail myself of the same method of reaching you by letter—I enclose J. T. Poindexter^s letters. M^r P is my agent in Vaiden and a better man cannot be found. I have written him, urging him to continue his agency and giving him every assurance of protection possible—His letter discloses a truly lamentable state of facts - The "Carroll Rangers" spoken of in his letter are men from the immediate vicinity of Vaiden, commanded by Cpt. Thomas Kennedy—1st Miss Cavalry. Col Pinson—The depredations at the Distillery have been made by some Texans, and some of the 30^th Miss Infantry—and 5^th Miss Cavalry—They demanded the whiskey and then took it by force, one squad of men, on one day, made a formal demand with two men, on being refused, brought up 15 men and by force took what they wanted—These were a lot of Ross^s men. 50 in number going across the Miss River—The next day some men, ten or twelve, Cpt [?] Threadgill A.Q.M. of 30^th Miss Inf^ty being the only comiss-ioned officer along—~~and others~~, made a demand with drawn Pistols in Their hands, and proceeded

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to saw the hinges off the door of the whiskey rooms, ~~and~~ entered and took what whiskey they wanted. My men being overpowered could only forbid and pro-test against such conduct—I have directed the Sheriff to arrest the parties—but, confess that I do not think the arrest will be made, I will cer-tainly prosecute to the bitter end—I have sent special messenger to Carrollton to Dan Russell to have the proper warrents issued—Another party of four came and made a demand for Whiskey—These we were able to clean out, and they left without whiskey—These occurances all happened whilst I was in Macon—

I have sent a messenger to Major Montgomery, to day to send me ten men, without delay—

I have stopped making whiskey for a few days. I cannot send it to Vaiden, and there is no use keeping a supply at the Distillery for Thieves and Robbers to Take from me, besides. This will not militate against operations much, as my new Engine, still. &c is all ready and works finely, I now can make 150 to 175 gallons whiskey every day, at the same cost of labor, and employees, as before while making half that quantity—of course corn consumed will add to the daily expenses—

Many efforts may be made to repeal the law

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establishing the State Distillery—the recent disposition of the returned soldiers of this County is sufficent argu-ment to forbid the repeal, and permit spirits to be made or introduced in the Country—Men have been engaged in the depredations here of good char-acter and family who would have scorned such actions previously—turn whiskey making loose in the state, or repeal the present law and whiskey will be introduced or made and our Country will be ruined on account of the use of it—to say nothing of the consumption of corn taken from the mouths of these families whose necessities call the Legislature together—The present Law furnishes the best Medical Whiskey or spirits ever made in the Confederacy, and in sufficient quantity for the Medical wants of the country—but unfortunately the whiskey is drank by well people instead of sick ones—in too many instances;

This I do not know how to remedy, The error lies at the door of Physicians who give certificates to any one who applies—although their professional honor is pledged to the truth of each certificate—

But for the raids the distillery is but just fully established—I can now come fully up to the wishes and expectations of the friends of the bill—such an undertaking cannot be perfectly established in a few months—

Truly Yours

W.A. Strong

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W. A. Strong
Feb 17", 65