Letter from Captain G. W. Ellis to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; March 16, 1863

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Letter from Captain G. W. Ellis to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; March 16, 1863

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People

Ellis, G. W.Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867

Events

Confederate States of America--Draft Confederate States of America--Draft. Evasion Criminal Procedure Criminal Procedure--Arrest Criminal Procedure--Charges and specifications (Courts-martial)General Orders. Confederate States of America. Army--No. 16 (1863)Military Events--Disband Military Units Military Events--Insubordination Military Events--Military desertion Military Events--Military elections Military Events--Recruiting and enlistment Taxation Taxation--Confederate States of America

Military Units

Confederate States of America. Army Mississippi. Militia Mississippi. Militia. Minute Men Infantry Regiment, 1st (King's)Mississippi. Militia. Minute Men Infantry Regiment, 1st (King's). Company A

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Occupations

Law Enforcement Law Enforcement--Sheriffs

Places

Military training camps--Mississippi. Camp Vaiden

Social Identifiers

Draftees Impoverished People Military Families Military Substitutes Prisoners of War

Page 1

Vaiden Missi. March. 16^th.—1863.

Gov. J. J. Pettus

Dear Sir.

Having commanded a company in the 1^st Regt. Missi_" Minute Men Since July last. and being no disinterested observer of what is going on around me in this Regt. and among the militia in the field; and feeling a deep interest in ^the^ honor and efficiency of the service, as well as the welfare of our sacred cause. I have concluded that my duty demands that I should write you this private letter giving you correct, information in relation to the real condition and efficiency of the state-troops. You can not have failed to see that the Press have lately opposed the keeping of the militia in the field, The people at home, some from disinclination to enter the service them-selves, and some from an honest convic-tion that it would advance the interest of the state to have them disbanded. are opp-osing the organization—urging that it is totally inefficient; and because this in a great measure, from various causes heretofore existing is true. they come to the conclu-sion that it must necessarily be so—In the first place the companies have not been more than half as large as they

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should have been, thereby running the state to unnecessary expense in the pay of officers—and causing contempt and reproach on account of paucity of numbers in comp-anies just entering the service, A great many fruitless efforts have been made to fill up the companies by repeated drafts; until under order ^no 16^ of the Major Gen^l ~~[?]~~ after the amendment of the militia law it was believed that the companies would be filled up—; But the number now present for duty in this Reg^t_" is less than when the order was made—Great numbers of them draf-ted to fill up the companies are staying at home in contempt of law, while others have been illegally drafted and are seeing out writs of Habeas Corpus which have been sustained in my county. thereby throwing suspicion and distrust on the legality of cases without merit—This has caused nu-merous desertions which have lately increased to an alarming extent, sometimes 8 or 10 leaving in one day or night—The court Martials have been extremely ^indulgent^ in inflicting punishment in the cases of desertions ~~[?]~~ already tried, in the hope that it might be arrested without rigid military discip-line: But the cure has been inadequate

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to the disease— and men now go off with impunity— The law allows no compensation to the Sheriff & other civil officers for arres-ting deserters in the state service. and the duty has got tobe extremely onerous on account of the number absent without leave— It only requires them to take the off-endrs to the nearest military post. with no duty imposed on the officer at the posts to send the offenders to camp—Added to these intrusive difficulties is the overwhelming force of public opi-nion which seems to admit of no appeal—

The Regiments are now so far demoralized. that should the recruiting service be abandoned. and the companies and Regts. be merged together, and new election ordered, that none but the most indulgent and inefficient officers could be elected. Hence general confusion & insubordination would ensue—

From general indisposition to enter the service. and unpopularity of the organization among the people & the ~~Confederate~~ contempt entertained for it, by the Confederate army, most of the men of property and influence

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have employed substitutes leaving nothing but poor men in the ranks, many of whose families are in extremely destitute circumstances—causing them to be much dissatisfied with the service, on account of the partiality of with which it oprats, saying it is a rich man's war, and a poor man's fight—

So you see dear governor I have spoken to you plainly as I deemed it my duty to do, that you might be acquainted with the fact in the case—I do not think the organization is efficient. & do not think that after so much said and done, that it can now be made so, & consequently I am clear in the opinion that the militia should be disbanded. at once—There are some other reasons that should have some; possibly much right—; but if it can not be made eff-icient—that of itself is conclusion—

Another source of dissatisfaction I forgot to mention is that the troops have not been paid since Oct. 2^d & they need the m^o_" to pay taxes and ~~[?]~~ such things as to make camp-life tolerable. The honor of us all connected with the

G. W. Ellis
Vaiden

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organization is at stake if we can not make it efficient.

I would be glad to say much more but have not time being anxious to get this letter in today's mail—

What I say is not intended tobe official; and if you desire, will give any information for your guidance within my reach—

Dear Governor
Your obt servt

G. W. Ellis