Letter from D. J. Brown to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; April 3, 1861

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Letter from D. J. Brown to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; April 3, 1861

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People

Brown, Drury J.Brown, Edward W.Charlton, William Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867 Smith, Melancthon

Military Units

Confederate States of America. Army Confederate States of America. Army. Smith's-Turner's Battery

Organizations

Plantations Plantations--Mississippi Plantations--Mississippi. Linden Plantation Universities and colleges Universities and colleges--Mississippi. Mississippi College

Occupations

Politicians

Places

Florida--Escambia County. Pensacola Mississippi--Copiah County Mississippi--Hinds County. Clinton

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[seal]

Linden Miss april 3^rd /61

Hon J J Pettus
Gov &c,

Dear Sir.

I am just in receipt, of a letter from my old & valued friend W^m Charlton of Clinton informing me that my son Edward W Brown, had left Miss College at Clinton and joined the army of the Confederate States of America, and had attached himself to the Company of Capt Smith, that said Company had em-barked last Thursday as he supposed for Pensacola, I must Say that this information took me by Surprise as I had had no intimation of his inten-tions of entering the army: It would have afforded me much pleasure to have known it. So that I could have Seen him, given him a Fathers advice, and prepared him with a proper outfit, I presume however, that he thought I ~~would~~ not be willing. for him to go, but. in this he was mistaken, true, I regret, that he should loose the opportu=nity of completing his education, but what he has, if properly cultivated will take him through; I am glad that his patriotism prompted him, to leave his home & friends, and enter the Service of his County; I have contributed my influence to Going about the present state of things, and, I can See

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no good reason who I Should not be as ready to give up my Son or any one else, I trust in God, that our present difficulties may be Settled with out Bloodshid, but if war, has to come, for one, I want it to commence at once, and at the matter be Settld ~~at once~~, we want. peace, but not at the expense of our rights; our County. if war does come will present an unbroken front, in fact. we are determined, that "old Copiah,, shall be the Banner County in South Mississippi, there are now. in addi=tion to those already mustered in, some four companies being organ=ized, and they, and more. will be ready. when ever, they are demanded, let the time come, and we will show the people of the late United States whether we are a united people or not, we will show, them, that, the politicians, and as they term them the "Demagogues,, are not, the leaders of the people; but, that they are simply following, or carrying out the wish of the people, the people of the South, are always in ordance of the Politicians, a man to maintain himself must follow, not lead the people, as they do in the north;

But my object, was not to write you a long letter

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but Simply to ask you to do me the favor, to write me a few lines. informing me at what point I can address my Son—as I am anxious to communicate with him. I fully give him to my County, and only regret, that I have not more Sons old enough to go with him. I feel assured, that he will give a good account of himself at the proper time, excuse me in for this letter, and do me the honor to acknowledge its recpt at your earliest convenience, or I am more than axious to com-municate with my Dear Son, who I trust in God, may discharge faith-fully the duties of a Soldier,

You friend
D. J. Brown

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D. J. Brown
Linden
Miss.