Letter from Sallie Eola Reneau to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; June 7, 1861

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Letter from Sallie Eola Reneau to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; June 7, 1861

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People

Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867 Reneau, Sallie Eola

Events

Military Events--Recruiting and enlistment

Organizations

Clubs and Secret Societies Clubs and Secret Societies--Ladies Military Aid Society Clubs and Secret Societies--Ladies Nightingale Society

Occupations

Medical Profession Medical Profession--Nurses Medical Profession--Physicians Medical Profession--Surgeons

Places

Mississippi--Panola County

Vital Statistics

Disease and illness Wounds and injuries

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[seal]

Panola, Missi.,
June 7^th, 1861.

To
His Excellency, John J. Pettus—

Dear Sir:

The ladies of this vicinity desire to form themselves into a company of "Mississippi Nightingales" to go around to the various camps where Mississippi volunteers may be stationed, to nurse the sick and wounded soldiers, and to sew for those who may need it. The ladies propose to organize a company numbering twenty or twenty five members to be armed, and uniformed in suitable travelling dresses trimmed with metal buttons, āla militaire. The ladies think that our expenses should be defrayed, as are the expenses of the other Soldiers—Officers and privates paid the same wages as are paid to our volunteers; they also think you will make the necessary arrangements

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for their accommodation, and have requested me to address you this letter, requesting an early reply with a full statement of the provisions you will make for them. Will the State equip, arm, and defray our expenses? I do not believe any railroad company would charge us for passage—they would give us passage free. We would want small arms—Colts Navy Repeater, or something similar—then we could carry conveniently.

I think you would be fully justifiable in fitting us out as we desire, and I presume you have authority to do so but I am ignorant om that point; please enlighten us. If you cannot provide for us, please present our petition to those who can do so. We would like to have a surgeon travel with us—some elderly, married gentleman as a sort of guardian to our company. Would you defray his expenses? If you cannot do so, we will try to prevail on some physician who is able to defray his own expenses to go with us.

If you will provide for us as we request, we will endeavour to organize a Mississippi Volunteers Relief Association, for the State at large; and our company will constitute a travelling agent to go around to the camps to distribute among the volunteers such necessaries as the Association may furnish for them; and to nurse the sick as best we can. Will you uniform and defray the expenses of six servants for our company; as for the volunteer companies. Hoping to hear from you soon,

I am, very respectfully,
Sallie Eola Reneau

P. S.—My father and brother have gone to "the war", and I am now staying with my aunt—five miles from the town of Panola. You will please address your reply to Panola.

S. E. Reneau

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S. E. Reneau

June 7^th 1861.