Letter from General Samuel J. Gholson to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; August 5, 1863

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Letter from General Samuel J. Gholson to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; August 5, 1863

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People

Barteau, Clark R.Gholson, Samuel Jameson, 1808-1883 Harris, Wiley P. (Wiley Pope), 1818-1891 Inge, William Murphy Pemberton, John C. (John Clifford), 1814-1881 Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867 Ruggles, Daniel, 1810-1897 Street, Soloman G.Weatherall, John T.

Events

Confederate States of America--Draft Disband--Military Units Military service exemption

Military Units

Confederate States of America. Army Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi. Cavalry Battalion, 12th Mississippi. Militia Mississippi. Militia. Cavalry Battalion (Street's)Mississippi. Militia. Cavalry Battalion, 2nd (Harris')Mississippi. Militia. Cavalry Battalion, 2nd (Harris'). Company A Mississippi. Militia. Cavalry Battalion/Regiment, 7th Mississippi. Militia. Cavalry Regiment, 2nd

Organizations and Businesses

Headquarters, Military

Places

Tibbee (Miss.)Vicksburg (Miss.)

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H^d. Qrs. Miss. State Troops
Tibbee Station Miss. Aug^t 5^th 63

To His Excellency
John J. Pettus Gov^r. &c

Governor:

In reference to Brig. Gen^l. Ruggles' communication to you of 27^th Ulto. on the subject of dis=banding Smith's Reg^t & Ham's Battⁿ Miss. State Cavalry—I only wish to say that if the policy is, to abandon or annul the State organizations, then let the above named commands go with the others. Eight companies of Smith's Reg^t. are now in Camp amou-nting in aggregate to 600—as shown by their Muster-Rolls, and on Friday last there were present 320. This will compare very favorably with any reg^t or Battⁿ in Gen^l Ruggles' com^d. ~~except~~ with only one exception, and I will add the number is increasing. The men are opposed to being transfered to Confederate

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service and Gen^l. Ruggles has again and again declined to receive them as organizations. No Inspecting officer (of his) ever offered to inspect them except once—at that time the troops were in confusion and in the act of disbanding on account of a report that the state would not pay them, and the Confederacy had refused, to receive, pay, or subsist them—and it is true that Gen^l. Ruggles is still refusing to subsist them except for the last five days. Forage has been refused all the time although I immediately transfered these troops to Confederate service in obedience to your order about 1^st June.

All the time Gen^l. Ruggles has been anxious to get some of the companies to go into the Reg^t. of Co^l. Barteau—and Maj. Inge's Battⁿ—he has had the use of Cap^t. Streets' compy.

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(of Smith's Reg^t.) on detached service—he has also had the use of a Lieu^t. & 20 men of Cap. Weatherall's Compy—(unattached) as scouts.

I have had a lengthy corres-pondence with Gen^l. R. on this subject which is at your service—if you desire it.

I am confident it is and has been the object of Confederate officers in this District to break down the State organizations—and I am informed that after the surrender of Vicksburg Gen^l Pemberton stated to Gen^l Harris that he would have no further use for state troops under his Com^d. I would suggest that timely preparation be made for these troops so as to make them available as soon as exchanged if the organization is to be continued—if not suitable orders should be at once issued, disbanding them.

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The condition of the country requires in my opinion prompt and vigorous action in assembling the militia & preparing them for service, & I wish to add to what I stated in my letter of yesterday, about the obstacles in the way—the fact that men are starting up over the country authorized as they say, by Confederate officers, to raise volunteer companies of Cavalry—all they accomplish is to cause trouble and screen men from the service—claiming to be exempt from the operation of the draft and conscription: as soon as the pressure is over the company dis=appears and the men are disper-sed, never having been in camp

This should be stopped at once & I ask your intervention in the matter.

I have the honor to be
Very Resply & Truly yr &c
S J Gholson
Major General &c