Letter from General J. Z. George to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; May 6, 1863

Documents
Letter from General J. Z. George to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; May 6, 1863

Document Network
Document Metadata

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

People

Forrest, Nathan Bedford, 1821-1877 George, James Z. (James Zachariah), 1826-1897 Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885 Griffin, Thomas M.Harden, E. J.Harris, Isham G. (Isham Green), 1818-1897 Hartin, J. A.Hollowell, E. B.Kilgore, B. M.Kyle, Thomas J.Logan, John W.McDaniel, J. M.Pemberton, John C. (John Clifford), 1814-1881 Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867 Watson, R. L.

Events

Confederate States of America. Congress. Legislation. Impressment Law (1863)Impressment Impressment--War Material Military Events--Military elections Military Events--Military leaves and furloughs Military Events--Recruiting and enlistment Resignation

Military Units

Confederate States of America. Army Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi. Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi. Cavalry Regiment, 3rd. Company A Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi. Cavalry Regiment, 3rd. Company B Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi. Cavalry Regiment, 3rd. Company C Mississippi. Militia Mississippi. Militia. Infantry Regiment, 8th (1st Brigade). Company F Mississippi. Militia. Minute Men Infantry Regiment, 4th Mississippi. Militia. Minute Men Infantry Regiment, 4th. Company H

Organizations and Businesses

Confederate States of America. Congress

Occupations

Impressing Agents Legislators

Places

Calhoun County (Miss.)Carroll County (Miss.)Choctaw County (Miss.)Forts Grenada (Miss.)Hinds County (Miss.)Holmes County (Miss.)Lafayette County (Miss.)Marshall County (Miss.)Tallahatchie County (Miss.)Vicksburg (Miss.)Yalobusha County (Miss.)

Page 1

[note] E 61 [/note]

[Seal]

Grenada: 6th May 1863

Gov Pettus.

I recd night before last The copy of the law of impressment also an order directed to Brig Gen^l Harris to impress I have appointed officers to impress in Carroll, Tallahatchie, Holmes Choctaw. Yallobusha Co has been [hrwth?] thoroughly drained by the Confederate impressing officer. I have Military furloughed & sent home to mount [those?] Companies who have volunteered viz Capts Kyle of Holmes, Griffins of Hinds, & Logans of Marshall. I have enformed Kyle & Logan to impressment & not having the law when Griffin left I referred him to you for the order

The order to Genl Harris enclosed to me directs that horses be impressed to mount his whole Command. Your telegram to me [?] instruct me to mount volunteers & I have acted on the supposition that you are not wish me ^to^ go further. Especially as this Regt are so much reduced by the Volunteers into Cavalry that it would be useless to mount them.

I would respectfully suggest that owing with great reductions in the number of the men in the Reg^t, by volunteering & otherwise, that I be orderd to consolidate the Cos. at least to 5 in the each Reg^t. If this be done, shall new offocers be elected. or shall a sufficient number of

Page 2

The old officers of Cos be retained to command the Cos. What shall be come with the old field officers &c.

I enclose you the resignations of [two?] Capts & one Lt. I advised these resignations [?] furloughed the parties for 30 days without pay.

Capt M^cDaniels Co. has only one confirmed present. There is no use to keep him [?] [?] in command [with?] [no?] officer. There is no prospect of getting any more.

Capt Hollowells Co was reduced to 2 by volunteering in the Cavalry there was no use in [keeping?] him. He will never get any more His Co. is from Marshall Co. I have ordered these two Cos. condolidated with others.

I have authorized Capt R L Watson of Marshall, ~~Capt~~ Mjr Kilgore of LaFayette, Lt. Col Harten of Calhoun & Lt Harden of Calhoun to raise Companies of mounted men. I look for at least three of them to succed

I have one other Co of 55 here but as could not undertake to mount within 20 days I have not permitted thme to go home. I have so few troops herethat I do not regard it as safe to send off any more for so long a time.

I have but little [?] of

Page 3

holding this place against any considerable force of the enemy especially if they have artillery. If I could get four or five guns with a Lt to command & a few gunners to each I could furnish men to man them & probably save this place. I am determined at all events to fight if there the slightest chance to save the [bridges?] & public property.

The citizens here will not assist in the defence of the town.

I have read your appeal to the people & approve it heartily. Will they respond? If they would the [State?] can be saved in 30 days. [Suppose?] you call on the people to go with you to Vicksburg & defend the fortifications & release our army from that duty so that it attend to Grant. Let the members of Congress the State officers [?] & prominent citizens volunteer at once. Would not this [create?] an uprising of the masses? I think so. I cant believe anything else will. The people are more apt to follow the example of their leaders than to practice their [?].

I confess to a good deal of apprehension as to the issue of Vicksburg though I am hopeful. I should feel much better if I saw a greater spirit of resistence that is now exhibited

Page 4

I shall continue to do all I can to carry out your wishes

Is Forrest to come to this State? I hear such is the case.

As soon as I can be returned to command here I wish to go into the Cavalry. I cannot understand exactly what is wanted in reference to this place. It seems that Gen^l P—has left its defence to chance or the cavalry. Is it desireable to put the last man ^at this place^ that can be got on horseback?

Very Respectfully

J Z George

Brig Genl J. Z. George
May 6^th 1863