Letter from A. G. Brown to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; September 27, 1861

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Letter from A. G. Brown to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; September 27, 1861

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People

Brown, Albert Gallatin, 1813-1880 Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867

Events

Military Engagements Military Engagements--Bull Run, 1st Battle of, Va., 1861 Military Events--Invasions

Military Units

Confederate States of America. Army United States. Army United States. Army of the Potomac

Places

Gulf Coast (Miss.)Leesburg (Va.)Manassas (Va.)Military training camps Mississippi River Potomac River Tennessee Virginia Washington (D.C.)

Page 1

In Camp—
Near Leesburg V^a
Sept 27 1861—

His Excellency
Jn^o J Pettus

Dear Sir

We have rumor of formidable armaments fitting out at the north for the invasion of the South by Sea as well as by land, It has been my opinion for Some time past that as winter approaches the theatre for active operations would be transfered from this to a more Southern latitude It seems to me now that every thing portends Such a result—Not the least significant of the fore-Shadowings is the inertness of the vast Northern army known to be encamped in and about Washington and on the North Side of the Potomac, It has now been more than two months since the affairs at Manassas and the broken columns of the enemy have remained for the most part behind their entrenchments—We have moved up our lines Until our flag floats defiantly in Sight of thier capitol while our drum & fife night & morning invites them out to battle, and Yet–the hundred thousand Yankees on the other Side of the River Show no disposition "to disperse the insolent Rebels" who thus menace them in thier strong

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hold: mean while signs of great activity are visible all over the west=and the South & South West are now threatened with invasion That these are no some [?] merely strategical movements meant to devert our attention from the federal capitol I am quite willing to believe, But that they have another meaning that of an actual in-vasion of our soil I do not allow myself for a moment to question

I need hardly say that I witness with the devilish satisfaction any and every indication that the people of our state are awake to the dangers which are surrounding them, It will not do to slumber for a moment,—and the man who beguiles himself into a [?] condition and leans on the hope that others can do the fighting while he enjoys the comforts of home will live to see the margin between himself and the open enemies ofthe South grow very narrow—The time has actually come when every man capable of baring arms should shoulder his gun & with a hearty good will join the army—Some I know must remain at home, but I know ^too^ that some cannot bear arms let these remain at home, I do not of course desire that all our men should go the West or come to Virginia, far from it=Too many of ^our^ gallant brothers I fear have almost left the State—What I mean is that every man able to bear arms should at once lay aside every thing else and take as a primary object of life the one great business of preparing to meet at home, on the Tennessee line or the Sea Shore or on the banks of the Mississippi River the invaders of his State and country Take my Solemn warning—there is no safety any where else or many other [?] of conduct—One day given to the country now will be worth more than a life time of [?] after the enemy shall have perfected his infernal schemes—

Virginia is a member of our confederacy but Virginia is not my home, Virginia has claims upon my affections, my gratitude and my feeble arms but all these I owe first to Mississippi— when She [?] me I loaned them to Virginia and at her bidding I will take them home again—If as I fear Mississippi is or shall be invaded I want early & visible intelligence of the fact, [?] in that cage I Shall wait on fulfilling the solemn duty I owe her that of standing on her soil while I defend her rights—Now as ever I feel that my first ob-ligation is to my own State and tho I am de-

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fending her here it is not that direct defense which I want to give whenever Yankee ~~instance~~ bayonets menace her bosom.

I flatter myself that the little experience I have had in this army would enable me in case of active operations at home to be more useful at there than I can be here where every man is a trained soldier—I want no com-mission I only want to serve my country & to do it in the most direct & effectual manner—When Mississippi is invaded give me immediate and authentic intelligence and I will if allowed return home at once and take up arms in her defence—I shall I know leave thousands of unemployed Young Virginians to take my place here

Very truly
Your ob^t^s^t

A. G. Brown

Sept 27^th 1861
A. G. Brown

Hon A. G. Brown
Invading Miss