Letter from E. A. Pierce to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus, July 16; 1862

Documents
Letter from E. A. Pierce to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus, July 16; 1862

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Document Metadata

Each transcribed document contains links that connect it to other documents on the same topic in the collection.

People

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893 Myers, Unknown Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867 Pierce, E. A.Pierce, Unknown Seal, R.Unknown, Lewis Walker, Unknown

Events

Impressment Impressment--Enslaved people Military Events--Capitulations, Military Military Events--Invasions

Military Units

Confederate States of America. Army United States. Army

Organizations

Railroad Railroad--New Orleans, Jackson, and Great Northern Railroad Company Watercraft Watercraft--Creole (Ship)Watercraft--Oregon (Steamer)

Occupations

Cooks

Places

Gulf Coast (Miss.)Gulfport (Miss.)Jackson (Miss.)Military training camps--Camp Moore (La.)New Orleans (La.)Pass Christian (Miss.)Pass Manchac (La.)Vicksburg (Miss.)

Social Identifiers

African Americans Enslaved people Impoverished people Military Status--Prisoners of war

Vital Statistics

Death Disease and illness

Page 1

Shieldsboro, July 16^th 1862

Gov. Pettus

Dear Sir,

My object in addressing you at this time is to solicit your advice. I hired Capt. Myers a negro man for a cook on the Gun boat Oregon when she was ploughing these waters guarding our Coast. A few days before the Surrender of New-Orleans, I was in the City, and went to the lake to see about my boy, found Capt. M. absent but was introduced to Capt Walker whom Capt M. had left in command of the Oregon, Capt W. told me that Capt M. re-quested him to Say to me that they would retain my boy Lewis on the boat to cook for the officers, and pay me $20.00 pr month for his services I consented to leave L., and begged the Capt to take special charge of him, which in the presence of my friend Mr R. Seal he promised to do. A short time after this, I heard the Oregon was burnt, and for weeks was in suspense about my boy, the only information I received was that he had been seen on board of the Creole at Pass Manshac. I wrote letters to many of my friends at Camp Moore, Jackson, & Vicksburg making enquires but could hear nothing of him, and I finally came to the conclusion that the Fed-erals had him, On the 23^rd of June when the Federals landed here, I was informed that Capt Walker was on the wharf, I sent a friend

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to Capt W. to ask after my boy, in a few minutes the Capt came up to see me, and told me that he, and several others Lewis, among the number, were taken prisoners when the Creole was seized by the Federals, and that there was no way of get-ting off at the time. I told him I should try to have L. returned to me if I had to apply to Gen. Butler, Capt W. said I had better see Adj [Spudr?] acting assist Gen then in Command of the troops, Capt W. brought the Adj, to my house, I told him I wished my slave returned to which he replied it was not in his power to order L. to leave the boat, but if, of L's own will he came ashore, he should use no means to force him to continue with them, he thought I had better see L., and my friends advised me to interrogate the boy, and in company with several gentlemen I went to see him, asked him if he had taken up arms against his mistress, to which he replied no, that he was taken at the same time Capt W. was, and had requested a letter written to me stating the facts, I said to him do you wish to come home, he answered yes, but that he wanted to get his clothes, the Capt told him he would leave his clothes here if he would tell him where they could be found, the boy said no one but himself could get them, the Capt assured me that Lewis should be left here next trip of the boat, and L. said if you will land me

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I will go, with my consent, and relying on this promise the by went on board. On the 8^th a letter was handed me by a man from Pass-Christian, on opening it I found it contained money, two gentlemen were near me for it was in the sheet the letter was handed, I called them to me, and on discussing the signature of Capt Walker handed the money to one of the gents and read the letter aloud, I wished to send you the letter but as it may be best for me to keep it, I will briefly sketch the contents, "As I promised to leave your boy Lewis at the bay I will now state that the boy, is willing to remain on the boat and thinks he can be of more service to you as we intend to pay him at the rate of $30.00 pr month, and have paid him $51.28, $40 of which he sends you, the remainder he has bought clothes with, if you still desire the boy sent home we will do so," this is the pur-port of the letter. Now Gov, do advise me what to do in this matter as regards the $40.00 I mean for of course I am at no loss what to do in re-gard to hiring the negro, no money could benefit me to in any way to have business transactions with those who are seeking to drive us from our homes, hae already deprived of almost the necessaries of life 'tis this money that worries me, the bills are Northern Jackson R. R. & U. S. bank bills, my first impulse was, to send it back enclosed in a bitter letter, but on reflection I

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thought it best to lay it aside, and await your counsel. I have written a very long letter on the subject and I by your charity and patience in having to be taxed with an [unbisiniss?] style of letter when you have so much of greater importance to attend, yet I have no one to appeal to, in whose judgment I could so safely rely as your's and beseech you to answer me at your earliest leisure. That man's wages and the little I could make by taking boarders is all the income I have had to sup-port my three small children & self since the sad death of Mr Pierce, of course now I have no in-come, and very few persons here will take Confederate money so we are deprived of many necessary articles of food, yet I would toil day and night on barely enough to sustain life rather than receive money from those who seek the blood of the noble sons of the South, I spurn the idea of touching a cent handled by them, I only want to know what are the proper steps for me to pursue in reference to this insulting tender. Of course, I have not acknowledg-ed the receipt but do intend to demand my negro and if possible get him immediately but should have to send him to Jackson for safety if obtained.

As this letter is woman like in length I must add one request, Do force people on the Coast to sell provis-ions, for Confederate money, unless some change takes place here I shall have to leave my little comfortable home, and seek one where I can obtain bread for my family, would that I now were near our dear sick soldiers giving them the aid I was able to give maⁿy last winter, I should feel happier. I am a native of this Noble State and my heart is wrapped up in our cause, and my earnest prayer is that very soon a complete victory will crown our brave Army and justice & peace once more be restored.

Gov please, consider this Scrawl private, and with Much Respect Yours

E. A. Pierce.