Letter from James Stewart to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; March 10, 1862

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Letter from James Stewart to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; March 10, 1862

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People

Elette, H. T.Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867 Stewart, James

Events

Confederate States of America--Draft

Military Units

Mississippi. Militia

Organizations

Great Britain. Cabinet Office

Occupations

Planter

Places

Great Britain Jackson (Miss.)Liverpool (England)Rodney (Miss.)

Social Identifiers

Nationality--British

Page 1

Rodney. Miss 10^th. March 62

Sir,

I very respectfully ask you to inform me whether I a British subject am liable to be enrolled in the Militia & subject to be drafted for service in the Army—

I have been in business here for sixteen years & since the outbreak of this war have cheerfully & liberally subscribed to arm & equip soldiers. To day, I am willing to give a fourth of all I possess to aid the Cause & yet hints have been thrown out that unless I go and fight in the field, I must leave. The total result of sixteen years hard labor & toil is in the hands of the Planters, & of course I cant get any thing back at the present time

Page 2

& apart from my obligation to my own Government, I have other satisfactory reasons to keep me from taking the field—Now it would be Considered a hard Case were every American Citizen doing business in Liverpool Compelled to volunteer in the British service or leave to the sacrifice of their entire interest, & no harder would their Case be than mine—The Heroe H. T. Ellete has been apart of a Correspondence I had with a Member of the British Cabinet & he can tell you how I advocated the Cause of the South. I make no Complaint & will obey the law, but I wish first of all to know from you what the law is, & your early reply will Confer a favor on yours Resply.

James Stewart

His Excellency
John J. Pettus &c &c &c
Jackson

Page 3

James Stewart
March 18^th 1862
Ans " 18^th 1862