Letter from B. A. Smith to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; December 11, 1862

Documents
Letter from B. A. Smith to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; December 11, 1862

Document Network
Document Metadata

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

People

McLaurin, H. D.Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867 Smith, B. A.

Events

Emancipation and self emancipation Holidays and Observances--Christmas Military Events--Disband Military Units

Military Units

Mississippi. Militia Mississippi. Militia. Minute Men Infantry Regiment, 5th (1862-1863)Mississippi. Militia. Minute Men Infantry Regiment, 5th (1862-1863). Company I Under Review Under Review--Brigades

Places

Military training camps--Mississippi. Camp Harris Mississippi--Lowndes County. Columbus

Social Identifiers

African Americans African Americans--Enslaved People Military Families

Page 1

Dec^r 11^th/62

Camp Harris Columbus Miss

Governor Pettus Dr Sir

The Militia of the 5^th Regiment at this place requests me to write to you asking your honor to disband us and give us the privilege of going home and remaining there fifteen or twenty days during Christmas times as we deem it highly necessary that we should be there for the defence of our families as the negroes are making their brags that by the first of January they will be as free as we are and ^a^ general out break is ex-pected, about that time. We therefore pray your honor that you may grant us this request say from the 15^th Inst until the 1^st of Jany or as long you in your judgment may think propper We will anxiously await an answer at your earliest convenience believing at the same time you are a man that can deeply simpathise with us and our families as there is no protection left at home for their defence please let me hear from you soon and oblige your Obt^d Sevt

B. A. Smith

P S Direct your letter to me at this place Care of Capt M^cLaurin Co I 5th Reg 4^th Brigade M, M, M

B, A, S

Page 2

B. a. Smith. Co J. 5^th Reg^t
4^th Brigade M. M. M.
Capt M^cLaurin
Columbus Miss

He writes in behalf of the
5^th Reg^t—who desires permission
to go home. for 15 days for
reason that the negros have an
idea that they are to be free 1^st
Jany—