Letter from Major O. P. Anderson to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; March 22, 1863

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Letter from Major O. P. Anderson to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; March 22, 1863

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People

Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867 anderson, O. P.

Events

Military Events--Impressment Military Events--Impressment. Enslaved people Military Events--Impressment. Exemption Political Office--Appointment to office Starvation

Businesses

Newspapers Railroads and Railroad Companies Railroads and Railroad Companies--Southern Railway (U.S.)

Occupations

Impressing Agents Lawyers

Places

Bodies of Water--Mississippi. Big Black River Mississippi--Grenada County. Grenada Mississippi--Holmes County. Goodman Mississippi--Leflore County. Greenwood Mississippi--Warren County. Vicksburg Mississippi--Yazoo County. Yazoo City

Social Identifiers

African Americans African Americans--Enslaved People Enslavers

Vital Statistics

Death Disease and illness Wounds and injuries

Page 1

[seal]

Maj O. P. Anderson

Goodman Miss
March 22 1863

Gno. J. Pettus

Sir

I received on last Monday your order to impress 100 Negroes in the County for Big Black River on Southern R. Road I Set about it immediately & have rode this week,, But I must Say with but little Success not because the people are not willing to Send their hands, But owing to the fact that this County has been under impressment Since last fall. For Granada, Greenwood, Vicksburg Yazoo City and now for Big Black The impressment for Yazoo City was made the week before I received your order. I find a great deal of Sickness among those who have been impressed owing to exposure to good deal of measles. And good many of

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of the negroes are more or less maimed from the treatment received by the Confederate authorities, Besides this, the planting Season is now on them. In fact in view of the County now being under two impressments Yazoo City & Vicksburg and Some at Greenwood. I will not Suceed only by the aid of an armed posse. After having rode this week I will not get only those who are willing to Send without force, As a large majority have not more hands at home than will make a Subsistance for next year, They say it is But death by starvation any way to give up any more of their hands. And I must confess it look very much like I was going to use the posse, But after consulting with two of our best lawyers I find that my instructions was not explicit enough. The law in relation to impressment has not came out yet only as published by the papers Hand I was unable to procure a copy until today which requires the impress man to give notice in writing also the probable time the hands will be required which my instructions said nothing about, So I will have all my riding to do over So as to give the writting notice I will Send down on Tomorrow all those that are Sent in and commence again on Tuesday to giving the notice in writting as I am Satisfied that nothing Short of force will make them give up what hands are left Send me as soon as possible the law on the Subject

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also give me the power to appoint one or two assistance as it take one person too long to ride over the county. The 100 negroes will have to be made up principally from the Small farmers as the large one are now press I think Sorely, And to take one hand from the places where there is only two or three it will take a great deal of time for one man your Honor will confer a favour by forwarding the law in relation to impressment at as Early a time as possible with any further instruction you may think necessary

Yours Respcly—

O, P, Anderson