Letter from R. S. Hudson to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; February 16, 1863

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Letter from R. S. Hudson to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; February 16, 1863

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People

Hudson, Robert S.Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867 Shotwell, Robert

Military Units

United States. Army

Organizations

Newspapers

Places

Bodies of Water--Arkansas. Little Red River Bodies of Water--Interstate. Mississippi River Bodies of Water--Louisiana. Berwick Bay Louisiana Mississippi--Hinds County. Jackson Mississippi--Madison County. Canton Mississippi--Warren County. Vicksburg Mississippi--Yazoo County. Benton

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[note] E 59 [/note]

Benton, Feby 16. 1863,

Gov Pettus,

D^r Sir, A young man from Louisiana has just reached my neighborhood and represents upon his person-al knowledge that the enemy are digging another cannal at some point on the river above Vicksburg to connect the River with a Lake that connects with other Lakes and through them with Red River. That this cannal will be only a half or three fourths of a mile long to perform its office—I have not seen this young man, but he is vouched for as alto-gether truthful, and that he makes this statement is also reliable—I have seen no notice of this [page torn] ted in the papers, and therefore suppose it is not [page torn] generally and perhaps not to our military authori-ties—hence I write you on the subject—Last summer an old Steam Boat Captain, whose name I have for-gotten told Robt Shotwell and myself on the cars [page torn] Canton that he could run his Boat from Berwicks Bay within 25 miles of Vicksburg through the Lakes Red River &c without touching the Miss, R. It may that this last effort of the enemy is feasable—Cannot those Lakes be obstructed by falling timber from each bank, forming a V, up stream? They are said to be narrow in places and heavily skirted with huge timber or trees—If our people could begin at the mouth of this chain of Lakes on Red River, and by falling timber in all the narrow places, so as to form a V or Rafter up stream and thereby prevent them from washing away or being forced I should regard it as good policy. I hope my suggestion is no intrusion and that it is the right one.

Truly

R. S. Hudson

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[stamp] MISS [/stamp]

Gov Jno. J. Pettus Jackson Miss.

Hon Robt S Hudson

[note] This item has not been deacidified. [/note]