Letter from Mrs. William L. Harris to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; June 13, 1863

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Letter from Mrs. William L. Harris to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; June 13, 1863

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

People

Chalmers, James R. (James Ronald), 1831-1898 Harris, William L.Johnston, Joseph E. (Joseph Eggleston), 1807-1891 Lawler, J. W.Montgomery, W. E.Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867 Robertson, Unknown

Events

Crime Crime--Robbery Crime--Smuggling Criminal Procedure--Arrest Emancipation and self emancipation

Military Units

Mississippi Home Guard Mississippi. Militia Mississippi. Militia. Cavalry Battalion, 2nd Mississippi. Militia. Cavalry Battalion, 2nd. Reserves United States. Army United States. Navy

Organizations and Businesses

Plantations

Places

Beulah (Miss.)Bogue Phalia River (Miss.)Bolivar County (Miss.)Greenwood (Miss.)Jackson (Miss.)Mississippi River

Social Identifiers

African Americans Enslaved people

Page 1

[seal]

Bouge Phalia Bolivar Cty.
June. 13^th 63.

Dear Govenor.

I wrote you by Col Montgomery a day or two since—Lt. Montgomery has concluded to send couriers to you—& I write again by then. I have just learned that Majr. Chalmers. has arrested Lt^s Montgomery & Lawler. for refusing under his order to take the company commissioned by you in February to Greenwood. I am satisfied there is something wrong. in this movement. Simultaneous with the appearance of Majr C. several persons from the vicinity in which he is staying have sent cotton to the River—& shipped it by a federal transport. & I feel assured that there is an arrangement made by some of our Citizens, for carrying on this kind of illegal trade, at Beulah. Independent however of this, the removal of this company leaves the county at the mercy of the negroes & the enemy. I informed Lt. Montgomery that this company was intended by you for the local defence of the River region, & was subject only to your orders. I am at a loss to conceive by what authority Genl Chalmers or his aid, can claim to order state troops acting under your orders, for local defence into the confederate service. If he has the authority, & it is in accordance with your directions, Lt Montgomery & his company are ready to obey the order. But in the absence of any knowledge of such arrangement he thinks it would be a violation of his duty to remove the company from here.

Page 2

There is a large quantity of provisions stock &c which ought to be removed from this county if it is concluded to abandon its defence. There is a great deal which has been already virtually abandoned. Large numbers of negroes have been taken from the River plantations, & the work of robbery is still going on. The pressence of some force here is absolutely necessary to prevent the extension of this system of plunder into the interior. If it is determined to remove the company, some notice ought to be given the citizens, that they may be enabled to escape with what they can.

My son in law Mr Robertson, & [?] [?] will hand you this—please write me by Thurs.

your friend

William L Harris

W L Harris
13 June 1863

shown to Genl. Johnston 17 June 63

Gov John J. Pettus
Jackson
Miss