Letter from Major B. B. Moore to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; March 15, 1863

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Letter from Major B. B. Moore to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; March 15, 1863

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

People

Moore, B. B.Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867

Events

Confederate States of America--Draft Finances Finances--Bankruptcy Military Engagements Military Engagements--Snyder's Bluff, Battle of, Miss., 1863 Military Events--Disband Military Units Military Events--Military discharge Military Events--Military transfer Military Events--Recruiting and enlistment Starvation

Military Units

Confederate States of America. Army Mississippi. Militia Under Review Under Review--Brigades United States. Army

Organizations

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

Businesses

Newspapers Newspapers--Mississippi Newspapers--Mississippi. Mississippian (Oxford)

Occupations

Law Enforcement Law Enforcement--Police

Social Identifiers

African Americans African Americans--Enslaved People Military Families

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Copy

March 15^th 1863

Gov Pettus
Commander in Cheif
of the Miss State Troops

Sir:

I have from the earlist organization of the "Minute Men" entertained doubts of the Wisdom of an independent permanent orgainzation of State Troops, but not wishing to appear desirous to ~~appear~~ escape public duty, I have up to the present remained silent—But the Press as well as the public mind being intensely excited upon this Subject I feel that I can no longer escape the responsibility of making known. my position as an Officer & Patriot, lest I should be liable to the [?] of holding place for the sake of its immoluments, which would be foreign to my nature and and impretation not deserved against my patriotism. While I viewed the Militia as a force designed to meet a temporary emergency, I saw no imprropriety in its organization. It was of the nature of a Militia force—It ever has been its distinguishing nature that it should be called away from the regular pursuits of life, for the purpose of repelling the

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enemy and that it shall as soon as practical return to those pursuits. Should the policy of the State forbid the return of the Militia to the condition of Citizens, then the nature of the force undergoes a change—they become a portion of the permanent Army of defense and should be incorporated into the Confederate Service and governed by all its regulations (Query) In transfering these men into Confederate Service, it is just, not to extend to them exemptions & protections, extended to all Confederate troops raised by Confederate laws &c? If those troops are to remain as a permanent Military force, then I see no reason against Conscripting the ranks and passing them into the Cenfederate Service at once, but a great many reasons in favor of it—

1^st The two Systems never work harmoniously the one with the other—

2^nd The conflict of jurisdiction produces jarring discords & jealousies—

3^rd The want of unity in the head destroys that concert of action, oneness of purpose & promptness of execution, essential to military success

4^th The large amount saved to the State or Confederacy is an item of serious importance to the people at large, In this Brigade alone, we have one Brig Genl, one Brig Inspr, one Brig Q M and about 70 Commissioned officers

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drawing from seven to ten thousand dollars, per month all of which could be dispensed with without any detriment to the public service that I can see. Our Companies are not near full and not likely to be soon—Our continued drawings & dischargings, are disturbing and unsettling the regular pursuits of the country—forbidding all calculation and leaving no hope of permanency or stability, in the regular pursuits of life. To Compensate for all this disturbance to agriculture & other usefull branches of industry, and, the immense sums paid for Transportation to & from this place, we are forced to acknowledge, a force, very little if any greater in numbers, than it was five months ago—

In the western part of the State, I am told, the case is still worse—

The Mississippian, seriously tells of a Batt that reports every officer for duty, and but Forty privates—I do know of my personal knowledge, that while at Snyders bluff, that a Captains Company of 4 officers & 3 men volunteered to join me in the pitts, the evening after the fight—It is not to be expected that an intelligent public, ever alive to their own interests can continue to view with indifference, the state of affairs. The men themselves, if required to remain in the

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service, it is my opinion, desire the change—To say nothing about patriotism, the duties will not be more onerous, while the service to say the least, will be equally honorable.

It is no discredit to the Militia, and there are many a brave officer and true man, among them, to say that in some instances the in their new organization, under Confederate officers, would be more efficient, Many of those officers have been in the War, from its commencement, are tried and experienced under these circumstances, I do not feel that it is patriotic to desire to preserve the present organization.

It is also to be lamented , that the press and the public, in their assaults upon the present Militia System, do not always nicely distinguish between the system itself and the men, who are made the victims of that system. This country is becoming universally opposed to the system, and a great many are in favour of its disbandment dreading, as they state, famine more than the sword. It is evident to every reflecting Statesman, that we will be able to protract the war longer by diminishing than by increasing the army and as a sequence the increasing the productions and diminishing the consumptions—

Maj B. B. Moore's letter
in relation to the Minute Men

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with the country, this question is becomming one of paramount importance. If the supply of provisions, is not already inadequate, then the regulations for its distribution are evidently imperfect & defective, and not equal to the emergency.

In some sections, there is a large force of negro labour—only partially beneficial for want of proper police.

In others, there are comparitively no negroes Hence, the productions of the country are unequally distributed and the obstructions in the way of transportation & communication, add greatly to these difficulties, So that if the army does not suffer, the families of the Soldiers must starve, and what prudent Genl or wise Statesman, will not dread the effect of such a state of affairs upon the army itself, The country is clamouring at the immense amount of expense, unnecessarly incurred by the present system, and, looking forward to Bankruptcy & financial riun—under such circumstances I can no longer hesitate what course to adopt.

But subjecting the pride of the officer to the impulses of the patriot and emerging the interest of the individual in the General good of the country, I feel impelled to declare against the present Militia organization

B B Moore,
Maj 3 Batt State Troops