Letter from Thomas L. Brothers to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; October 19, 1863

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Letter from Thomas L. Brothers to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; October 19, 1863

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

People

Brothers, Thomas L.Gillespie, Unknown Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867 Turner, W. C.

Organizations

Boards of Police

Occupations

Banking and Finance--Auditors Commercial agents Manufacturers Salt contractors

Places

Mississippi--Clarke County. Enterprise Mississippi--Lowndes County. Columbus Mississippi--Noxubee County. Macon Mississippi--Wayne County. Red Bluff

Social Identifiers

Impoverished people Military Status--Military families

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[seal]

Red Bluff Wayne County Miss
October 19^th 1863

Hon,, J. J. Pettus
Macon Miss.

Dear Sir:

I am informed by W. C. Turner of Enterprise your "Salt Agent" that the Contractors of the State for manufacturing salt have forfeited their bond & ^had^ refused to deliver to him one thousand bushels they had on hand, And sold the same at/$30 per bushel to the trade and refuse to let the State have any more salt. This conduct of the Contractors is a very unfortunate precedent for the dependent poor of the State, for whose benefit the appropriation was made, I hope Sir as you are the Executive of this [?] you will at once institute strict investigation as to the parties at fault in this matter. I am not prepared to say that your agent is at fault in this transaction a close enquiry into the manner of conducting this business might develop some of the facts in the case. If you have the power the works ought to be [?] and put into other hands indeed Sir our poor women & children must suffer for the want of salt if it is not furnish at something like a reasonable price. The military relief fund of this (I know) and perhaps other Counties has long since been exhausted & we have no means of paying for salt at exhorbitant rates—but at 10 or [page torn] per bushel it might be reached by all—I had [page torn] =versation in this [page torn] salt question with the State Auditor [page torn] Gillespie the [page torn] day & ^he^ said you was much troubled [page torn] this matter & hoped I would call & see you in the [page torn]

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not being able to stop at Macon on my return from Columbus I have thought it proper to pen you this letter.

Respectfully Yours

Thomas L. Brothers
President Board Police W. Co

P.S. The order refered to in the enclosed letter was given to me on the 24^th August last & immediately forward to [?] Weaver Stark & Cos. All this don't look right—The agent ought to have been more vigilant

T. L. B.

Thomas L. Brothers
Prest B Police
Red Bluff Miss
Oct 19^th 1863

Red Bluff Oct 19/63

Hon,, J. J. Pettus
Macon
Miss