Letter from Robert Montgomery to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; September 22, 1861

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Letter from Robert Montgomery to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; September 22, 1861

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People

Montgomery, Robert Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867

Military Units

United States. Army

Places

Bodies of Water--Interstate. Pearl River Bodies of Water--Louisiana. Little Lake Louisiana--Tangipahoa Parish. Ponchatoula Mississippi--Covington County Mississippi--Harrison County. Ship Island Mississippi--Lincoln County. Brookhaven Mississippi--Pike County

Page 1

[seal]

Brookhaven Sept 22. 61

Gov. Pettus

Dear Sir I have not troubled you with communications often I wish to make a suggestion The Federals have ship island & the Bay shore Now with common transports eight strong The can go into the mouth of East Pearl R. then into Little Lake pass then into West Pearl R. up to the high lands say fifteen miles and march acros to Covington say 30 miles then across to [?] Station on this road on to [?] or to Ponchitola say 25 miles two days march by land no obstruction in the way of guns or soldiers Don't you know they would like to get possession of this road? I think they would give much blood & money for it—controol of the road

It is unsafe to rely on the weakness or ignorance of our enemy They could bribe pilots in that country you know I lived there many years and am somewhat famil-iar with these waters

Again by possability they might pass past Pike then there would be no obstruction to the bridge on the Manshack pass

Now have one or more big guns placed at the mouth of E. Pearl also at the mouth of W. Pearl and at the mouth of Manshack pass.

Page 2

You may call this timidity in me but—but I say look into it & don't spend much time in looking but act instantly

Where an all the guns you told us you had to cover our volunteers,

In hast

yours &c

Robt Montgomery

The matter shall be looked to

Sept 22^nd 1861

Robert Montgomery