Letter from William D. Mckay to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; February 4, 1861

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Letter from William D. Mckay to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; February 4, 1861

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People

McKay, William D.Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867

Events

Secession

Military Units

Mississippi. Militia United States. Army

Organizations and Businesses

Kentucky. General Assembly

Places

Bloomfield (Ky.)Kentucky

Page 1

Bloomfield Ky Feb 4^th 1861

Gov Pettus

Sir. A number of the young men of this place have organized a company of Minute Men and having made application, find it impossible to procure arms from the State unless we join the State guard, and in the position the state stands at the present time by reason of the unprecedented foolish and criminal action (or rather want of action) of our legislature, we are not certain but that we ^might^ be called upon to escort, (if we join that body) an expedition of yankees across our state for an attack upon yours, not because the people of Kentucky are not with you of the south but because our legislature is composed of a set of consummate apes who cannot see that the time of compromise is past.

We desire to know whether there is any possibility of our being

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able to procure arms from your state. Would a bond for the return after a specified time of the arms or their value. signed by fifteen of the responsible members of the company be sufficient.

We intend to commence drilling immediately and use our double barrels for that purpose. (if we can-not get ^Mississippi^ rifles,) until the authorities of our state come to their senses, which we fervently hope may soon be the case. We firmly believe that the first act of caution ^against^ a seceding state will cause the people of this state to speak out in such a manner as to compel immediate action on the part of those in authority. Hoping this may [?] an early answer I have the honor to remain yours & of

W^m D M^cKay

PS.
We think it likely the state would replace or pay for the arms when the time for action arrives

WDM

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McKay Asking Arms Kentucky