Letter from James H. Rives to General Stephen Dill Lee; September 3, 1863

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Letter from James H. Rives to General Stephen Dill Lee; September 3, 1863

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

People

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889 Johnston, Joseph E. (Joseph Eggleston), 1807-1891 Lee, Stephen D. (Stephen Dill), 1833-1908 Pemberton, John C. (John Clifford), 1814-1881 Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867 Rives, James H.

Events

Confederate States of America--Draft Evacuations Military Events--Military service exemption Military Events--Recruiting and enlistment

Military Units

Confederate States of America. Army Confederate States of America. Army. Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana Mississippi. Militia Mississippi. Militia. Cavalry Regiment

Organizations

Mississippi--Executive Department

Occupations

Adjutants

Places

Alabama--Marengo County. Demopolis Mississippi--Hinds County. Jackson Mississippi--Noxubee County. Macon

Page 1

Executive Office
Macon Miss September 3^d 1863

Maj Genl S. D. Lee

General

I am directed by His Excellency Gov Pettus to enclose to you as chief of cavalry in this department a copy of a dispatch sent to the President and his answer thereto in relation to conscripting ~~the~~ certain commands of mounted men now in state service, and also to forward to you a list from the adjt Genls office of state cavalry—divided into separate classes as marked thereon. And I am furthermore directed to say to you that in addition to the cavalry mentioned in the dispatched he claims exemption for the three unattached companies marke on the list as organized before the 10^th day of January 1863—and also for the commands organ-ized in May & June under a call made by himself and Genl Johnston for volunteer companies of mounted men. It is deemed necessary by the Governor to give you the foregoing statement that there may be no misunderstanding or conflict between the state and confederate authorities. It is of itself a matter of no importance in what service the men are placed But some of these organizations were ~~gotten up~~ formed of the militia of the state previous to the extension of the conscript law beyond the age of thirty five years. Others were formed at a time where and in a district where the men could not be conscripted under the assurance that when reported their organizations should remain intact during the period of their enlistment and again others were organized under the call above refered to—and all of them are composed largely of men who are even now exempts and any interference with their commands would ~~leave their~~ occasion a loss of their services—For these reasons alone it was deemed best for these troops to preserve their present organizations during the Term of their enlistment.

The order of Genl Pemberton marking out the line refered to in the dispatch to the President is

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not now in the office—at the time of the evacuation of Jackson ~~the most of the papers belonging to the Executive office were~~ ^this among other papers was^ sent to Demopolis, ~~and their order of Genl Pemberton was among them, for safe keeping~~—as soon however as it is obtained you will be furnished with a copy.

The Governor directs me to say to you in addition that it never has been his purpose to have a separate state army—that all the state cavalry is regarded as being in the confederate service and under your command. The only object of the Executive being to strengthen the hands of those having our defences in charge

Very Respectfully

James H. Rives
A. D. C.

NB. upon inquiry it is found that some few of the companies embraced in the commands mentioned in the dispatch to the President were not in fact raise north of the line established by Genl Pemberton—but any effort to conscript these would result in no good. The President has been written to on the subject—his determination shall be made known

J H R
A. D. C.

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Copy of Letter to Maj Genl S. D. Lee