Letter from Captain R. A. Joyner to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; February 5, 1863

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Letter from Captain R. A. Joyner to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; February 5, 1863

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People

Brown, Drury J.Joyner, R. A.Mellon, Thomas A.Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867 Seal, D. B.Smythe, J. J.

Events

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. Cavalry Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi. Infantry Regiment, 36th Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi. Infantry Regiment, 36th. Company K Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi. Infantry Regiment, 38th Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi. Infantry Regiment, 38th. Company B Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi. Infantry Regiment, 3rd Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi. Infantry Regiment, 3rd. Company F

Organizations

Confederate States of America--War Department Confederate States of America--War Department. Quartermaster Department Mississippi--Legislature

Places

Bodies of Water--Mississippi. Yazoo River Mississippi--Hancock County Mississippi--Hinds County Mississippi--Warren County. Vicksburg

Vital Statistics

Disease and illness

Page 1

[seal]

Camp 3 Miss
Yazoo River Feb^y 5^th/63

His Excellency J J. Pettus

Sir

I see that at the last session of the state Legisla-ture, an act was passed, authorizing you to appoint three suitable persons to raise three regiments of Cavalry for state service.

I apply to you for the Command of one of these Regiments. I am now Captain of Co F 3^d Miss Col T. A. Mellon. my reasons for re-questing this Change, are briefly these 1^st I am well posted in Cavalry drill, having served as a Cavalry soldier in the Mexican War.

2^nd I cannot stand the Infantry on account of Rheumatism, which disease renders me incapable of enduring the hardships of a long march

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But my principle reason for requesting this change is that I wish to see active service.

Our Regiment, as you well know has been under arms for eighteen months, during which time we've never met the enemy. Therefore I as one of Mississippi's sons do not wish to see the end of this war without having met the invad on the battle field.

Governor, as to my qualifications as a military man, and officer I beg to refer you to the officers of my Regiment in general, also to Lieut Col. Brown of the 36^th Miss, Captain Seales of the 38^th Miss. & Representative of Hancock Co. Captain J. J. Smythe of Hinds and late Q^r Master of this Regiment I should not have applied for this position had it not been suggested

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to me by Captain Lowry who is now in command of a company of Cavalry in the northern portion of the state. Captain Lowry offered to place his company with two others (now organized) under my command.

I can get these three companies at any time. I under-stand that Major Steed's Cavalry on on the Coast has been disbanded. I am a resident of Hancock Co. where the most of these men reside, and I flatter myself that I can influence, at least two of Major Steeds old companies to join my command.

Governor, if you see proper to give me the Commission I can only pledge my word to do my duty in driving our ruthless enemy from my native soil

Hoping to soon hear from you on the subject

I am your obed^t servt
R A. Joyner
Capt Co F 3 Miss Regmt

Page 4

Capt R. A. Joyner
3^d Regt Miss Vol
Vicksburg
Miss

desires an appointment to raise a regiment of cavalry