Letter from John Ambrose to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; March 12, 1862

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Letter from John Ambrose to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; March 12, 1862

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People

Adams, William R. L.Ambrose, John Clark, Charles, 1811-1877 Davis, Reuben, 1813-1890 Harrington, J. F.Keirn, Walter L.McMillis, Adam Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867 Worton, C. A.

Events

Confederate States of America--Draft Military Events--Recruiting and enlistment Wars and Military Conflicts--Mexican War, 1846-1848

Military Units

Confederate States of America. Army Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi. Infantry Regiment, 29th Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi. Infantry Regiment, 29th. Company K United States. Army United States. Army. Mississippi United States. Army. Mississippi. Infantry Regiment, 2nd (1846-1848)

Occupations

Medical Profession Medical Profession--Physicians Plantation Overseers

Places

Mississippi--Holmes County. Richland

Social Identifiers

Military Families

Vital Statistics

Marriage

Page 1

[seal]

Richland Holmes Co.
Miss March 12^th 62,

Gov. J. J. Pettus

Dear Sir,

I am desirous of making some statements to you in regard to volunteering in the army from Holmes Co. Since D^r Harrington's Company has been organized—Myself in converstion Co^l. C. A. Worton & others prepared to raise another Company for the war—I find on going away the people in all the Southern part of the County that all have already volunteered that can conbeniently go, a very few young men are left—overseers nearly all gone, married men that could go most conveniently have also gone—rarely ever find two men on the same place & there are a good many places in which there is no man, Where you do find two men

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one is old the other generally quite Young.

Finding this ^state^ of things I felt discouraged from making any serious effort to get up another Company.

The people are patriotic, and seem to realize very well the necessity of our situation, but do not think that they would be justified in adandoning their ^,family,^ many dread to leave their families, or they consive in a defencily Condition, & as yet will not do it.

Nevertheless the most of these men say that they will not stand a draft—that they will volunteer when it comes to that, a few talk as though they were disposed to resist a draft, believing that they ought not to leave their familes,

Now Sir, in this Connection permit me to observe that should Doctr^s Harrington, & Keirn suceed in completing his Company from this County (& I believe & hope they will,) that another company could not be raised in the County, only in the face of a draft, in that case two, or three more might be raised.

From your position you know the situation & recruits of the state, & country—you probably know if the present call for service regiments will be filled—& the probability of another call before a great while, in either case the necessity of a draft—

If there is^be^ a necessity for a draft soon—then I will hold on with the nucleus of a Company I have, If not I let it drop,

If a draft is necessary let it be prompt, If Holmes should be called on for two more, after the present two companies—order the draft—giving say ten days in which they might volunteer—in this way actual conscription would be avoided although ordered, & the call responded to. pardon my

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suggestions.

I served in Adam M^cMillis Company in the war with mexico, in the 2^nd, Miss Regiment, Cols. first R. Davis, then Charles Clark—now Reg General, I was in service eighteen months, the last trade as orderly sergeant of the Company. You probably recollect being at my house when a candidate for governor—~~with~~ ^in Company^ W^m R. L. Adams.

Will you be good enough Governor to inform one ~~[unclear]~~ ~~or set it will be~~ of the probability of a draft—I will keep or use the knowledge at your discretion

very respectfully one of your constituents,
Jno. Ambrose

John Ambrose
volunteering
March 1862