Letter from George Barnes to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; March 29, 1865

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Letter from George Barnes to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; March 29, 1865

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

People

Barnes, George Brian, Unknown Clark, Charles, 1811-1877 Klein, P. A.Reading, John Rossman, Juliet Taylor, Richard, 1826-1879

Military Units

Confederate States of America. Army

Organizations and Businesses

Confederate States of America. War Department Depots Railroad Railroad--Southern Railway (U.S.)

Occupations

Commercial agents Superintendents

Places

Greenwood (Miss.)Hinds County (Miss.)Jackson (Miss.)Meridian (Miss.)Raymond (Miss.)Vicksburg (Miss.)

Social Identifiers

Impoverished people Military Status--Military families Orphans

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[seal]

Geo. Barnes
April 13, 65

Greenwood March 29 1865

His Excelency Govr. Charles Clarck

Dear Sir

As you requested I enquired of Mr Reading Supt. of the southern R Road the freight on cotton from Meridian to Jackson—it is nine dollars and a half per Bale. I think if it is represented to Jno Reading that the cotton is for the benefit of the indigent families of soldiers that an arrangement may be effected to convey it for a low price I enquired also in regard to the probable cost of transportation from Jackson to Vicksburg—waggons & teams can be had for fifty dollars per day Confederate or state money—in regard to storage & dray-age from Depot to Jackson, I thought it unnec-essary to make inquiry as they are small stores which can only be positively

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determined at the time of the trans-it of the cotton. Mr P A Klein my Agent in Vicksburg informs me that the Authorities at that point will per-mit the cotton to be brought and sold free of many of the imposts usually laid uppon it—Mr Klein also states that there is great destitution among this class of our citizens and that great relief will be given if a few Bales could be brought in for their benefit—I told Mr Klein to say to them that you had made and was still making evry exertion to relieve their nescessities—that noth-ing would be left undone to accom-plish that most desirable end—that you had expressed great interest and sympathy for them and was fully alive to their burning wants. I had an inter-view with Senator Brian yesterday we think it may have some good eff-ect to represent to Lt Genl Taylor the condition of the Families in our county and the great relief a few bales will be to them—we will in our official capacity adress a communication to him, in which we will fully and fairly represent their nescessities and urge him to permit the cotton to be brought in—it is one of those cases which to my mind clearly justifies a departure from orders and I have not the slightest doubt but that he will be sustain-ed in doing so by the War Department The beneficiaries are the Families of soldiers in the Confederate Army—many of them are the widows and helpless orphans of our bravest and best—relicts of natures purest noblemen—fallen heroes that have sacrificed home family and life itself, who have been gathered to the harvest home of death whilst defending country and all that makes country desirable. They have been bereft

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of their natural Protectors by the Confederate Government, for well and good purposes tis true many of them have been despoiled by the frisks of this most grevious War of evry vestage of property—consequently are left in an [?] destitute condition. They must be sustained—evry consideration of justice gratitude humanity and good faith requires a faithful regard for their interest—their Fathers and Brothers, Husbands and sons "are sleeping quietly their last sleep—have given their lives a holy sacrafice to our holy cause" and does seem to me that in view of their suffering in the future that Genl Taylor should and will grant this most reasonable request. I do not make this as an apeal to you, my dear Sir, for I am fully aware that you are as much alive to the importance of this subject as I possibly can be ^you^ have done and will do all that can be done to promote the interest of our soldiers Families, but when I get on this subject its importance ^often^ forces my enthusiasm beyond the limits of discretion and prop-riety.

At any time you may require my services in making any arangement you may desire for obtaining ^such^ suplies ~~that~~ ^as^ will be permited by the Authorities here—they will be most cheerfully rendered

Very respectfully
Yours &c

Geo Barnes

P. S. Direct to care of Mrs Juliet Rossman
Raymond
Hinds Co
Miss