Letter from James C. Rogers to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; March 23, 1863

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Letter from James C. Rogers to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; March 23, 1863

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People

Harris, Jeptha V.Johnston, Joseph E. (Joseph Eggleston), 1807-1891 Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867 Rogers, James C.

Events

Confederate States of America--Draft Legislation. Confederate States of America. Congress Legislation. Confederate States of America. Congress. Twenty Negro Law (1862)Military Events--Disband Military Units Military Events--Insurrections Military Events--Military discharge Military Events--Military leaves and furloughs Military Events--Military service exemption Starvation

Military Units

Mississippi. Militia Under Review Under Review--Brigades United States. Army

Organizations

Mississippi--Legislature Plantations

Businesses

Farms

Occupations

Farmers Plantation Overseers

Places

Mississippi--Oktibbeha County. Starkville

Social Identifiers

Confederate War Dissenters Draftees Impoverished People Military Families

Vital Statistics

Disease and illness

Page 1

Starkville Miss March 23^rd 63

Gov J. J. Pettus

D^r Sir will you allow an humble citizen to address you on a subject of vital interest to the suffering citizens of this County & I think of equal ^interest^ to the State and Confederacy & thereby add my testimony with others to the evil effects which the militia system in this state has worked, & is now working in this section of country In the first place I will state that I am aware that the militia would have been disbanded had it not have been that during the session of our last Legislature imminent danger was appre=hended & Gen Johnston thought that the conscript act would not be speedily enforced & even then would not bring into service as many troops as there existed in the state organ=ization. The Legislature concurring this organization has been kept up But what has been the result. It has suspended the the operation of both conscript acts in the interior Counties & in a great measure demoralized those liable to conscription & I believe from the testimony of those discharged from the State troops that it has wholly demoralized that body of men The disaffection is so great that it may result in rebellion It is striking a fatal blow at our independence Mississippi must raise supplies for our armies in this state if the war continues, but how can this be done when plantations are left without some heads to controll & direct the planting operations The most of our brave volunteers have entrusted their families & farms to the older men supposing that they would be the last to be called into their Countrys defence & these are the only men now retained in the State service Every week these men are taken from their farms

James C. Rogers

Ans Apr 10^th 1863

Answer—the exemption allows most of state troops state troops state troops alone having defended N. Miss—if they are with drawn the Con-federate auth [?] cannot [?] and the [?] cannot [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] to [?]

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and sent to the camps—remain a few weeks just long enough to retard & derange their planting operations get sick & are sent home & another sett of men fill their places & serve the same rounds & thus we we have continued for nine months & still the companies are not half full but the country is being ruined by it Every man in the State service is needed at home to protect the stock of cattle, hogs, &c & direct the work on the plantations of those in the confederate service Sir it would make your heart bleed to witness some of the scenes that have come under my observation. Old men with large & helpless families who have scarcely enough of subsistence for them intill the new crop comes in drafted & dragged away from them & they think only to gratify a little State pride & fill the pockets of incompetent officers while their farms are to lie uncultivated & their families to want for bread. This is the way they talk in ^the^ poor districts & can you wonder that these men soon become disaffected in camp & with others swear that they will not fire a gun at the enemy but surrender on their approach This feeling was engendered in October last when Gen Harris gave indefinite furloughs to one half of his Brigade under the twenty negro exemption act & filled it up with poor men & the old leaven is still at work. How can this & other evils be remedied The only solution is disband the militia & then enforce the conscription act Knowing the inefficiency of the militia or their need at home I believe that every man woman & child would in this & adjoining counties would sign a petition for their disbandment

Respectfully submitted

Jas C. Rogers Major

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