Letter from James H. Rives to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; June 22, 1863

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Letter from James H. Rives to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; June 22, 1863

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People

Allen, John R.Mican, William A.Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867 Rives, James H.Thomas, Charles M.

Events

Criminal Procedure Criminal Procedure--Arrest Military Events--Impressment Military Events--Impressment. War Material Military Events--Recruiting and enlistment Special Orders. Confederate States of America. Army--No. 165

Military Units

Confederate States of America. Army Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi. Cavalry Regiment, 11th Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi. Cavalry Regiment, 11th. Company B Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi. Cavalry Regiment, 11th. Company C Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi. Cavalry Regiment, 11th. Company E

Places

Military training camps Mississippi--Attala County Mississippi--Hinds County. Jackson Mississippi--Madison County. Sulphur Springs Mississippi--Noxubee County Mississippi--Oktibbeha County

Social Identifiers

Military Deserters

Page 1

In camp near Sulphur Springs
Madison County Miss

His Excellency
John J. Pettus

Dear Sir

Special order No 165 directing me to rendezvous the companies now here at Jackson "as soon as practicable" has just been received. It will not be "practicable" for these companies to move before the last of this week or the first of next week, for the reason that before receiving the above order, I had made quite a number large details from the command for the purpose of arresting deserters, obtaining recruits and impressing horses &c so that I now have in camp only about 80 men, and the details were not ordered to return until the last of this week. There are four companies here now and three more expected by Saturday one from Attalla, one from Oktibbeha, and Capt Thomas' company from Noxubee.

I return by Sergt Mican all the carbines you sent me and a portion of those issued to Capt Allen, and the balance will be sent in as soon as his men return to camp with them. These guns require training and the most of the locks require work. I wish you would

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examine these guns yourself. If they can be put in order they are excellent guns. We want no better but in the condition they are now in they are not safe. Sergt Mican will explain to you the defects more fully than I can write. I have in the four companies now here over 160 men and if the other companies now expected or either of them get in in time I will have over two hundred men. If the carbines cannot be made reliable, please give us the very best gun you can for I think Governor when you see the men you will admit that better material has never gone into the service from this state. it is composed largely of boys, with just enough old men to give the boys confidence. If these companies have a fair chance they will never diminish the the Glory of Miss. If it is important for us to go to Jackson at once I will come down immediately, otherwise I will not get to Jackson before Tuesday the 30^th. I think by that time I will have all the men together that I can get in this section of the state.

Very Respectfully
Your Friend

James H Rives

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Official Business

His Excellency
John J. Pettus
Jackson
Mississippi

Jas H Rives
22 June 1863

Answd 25 June
by hand ordering him to bring his commands here at once