Copies of letter from D. S. Pattison to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; December 24, 1863

Documents
Copies of letter from D. S. Pattison to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; December 24, 1863

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Document Metadata

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

People

Adams, William Wirt, 1819-1888 Brabstion, James Brabston, James Clark, Charles, 1811-1877 Englessing, Unknown Foote, J. L.Pattison, D. S.Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867

Events

Christmas Collecting of accounts Crime Crime--Arson Impressment Impressment--Enslaved people

Military Units

United States. Army

Organizations

Mississippi. Executive Department Mississippi. Quartermaster Department Watercraft Watercraft--News Boy (Steamboat)

Occupations

Farmers Planter Salt contractors

Places

Brandon (Miss.)Brookhaven (Miss.)Claiborne County (Miss.)Macon (Miss.)Port Gibson (Miss.)Warren County (Miss.)

Social Identifiers

African Americans Enslaved people

Page 1

[seal]

Port Gibson 24^th Dec—1868—

Hon. Charles Clark.
Gov. of Missi

Dear Sir.

I am in receipt of yours. dated 'Executive Chamber' 18 Inst and reply at once. I have the money to pay the State, the amount of balance due by me on account of salt. and would be glad to pay it over to any one you may direct. Mr J L. Foote of this place is a bonded Quartermaster of the State. I suggest him. I cannot settle my account with the state as many of my valuable papers are in the enemies' lines at Mr Jas Brabstion's in Warren County, where I left my valise the 5^th of last May—and among them some of the 'salt papers;' this money has been a source of great loss and annoyance to me, as well as of anxiety,,

Page 2

I will; at once, pay as you may direct some 'Twelve or Fifteen Thousand Dollars, the problable balance due the state.

I am, almost, entirely broken up, and cannot afford the escpence of a journey to Macon, or I would go there at once,—it costs one hundred dollars from here to Brandon. and I suppose it would take a small bale of money to go all the way from here to Macon—and back.

I am trying to keep enough together to support my family for another year. We hear so much of the Yankees, that I am obliged to keep a constant watch; our people are also impressing without any system; so that between the two, there is no safety for anything.

I want to leave home for a short time to buy a few necessaries for my family, but have feared to do so until after the Christmas holidays were over. you can form no idea of the sondi-tion of things here. If no more impress-ments ^of negroes^ are made I think we can make

Page 3

a crop of corn [nesct?] year. and raise hogs. I have fifteen acres of wheat planted upon which I greatly rely. I made an esccellent crop of wheat last year, but owing to the disturbance of the times, and loss of my negroes, I lost it nearly all.

Gen Adams has a Quarter Master. to whom I could pay this money. there is also one at BrookHaven named Englessing. I would prefer to pay it in person to you at Macon could I afford the trip. but rest assured, I have the money, and will pay upon a proper order from yourself or those you may authorize to call upon me for it. I am res-ponsible for the Steam Boat 'News Boy' placed in my hands by the order of Gov Pettus and burned by Yankees. The boat I understand was valued at Thirty Thousand Dollars. I suppose the State will of course bear me harmless in the matter ^as^ I was a mere Agent in the matter, and did no act that I am aware of to make myself personally liable—

Respectfully

D. S. Pattison

Page 4

Letter

D. C. Pattison
Salt agt—

Acknowledging In-debtedness to the State

[note] Cor. Dec 13—31, 1863
Ser E—vol 64—65
(vol 65)[/note]

Page 5

[seal]

Port Gibson 24^th Dec _1863.

Hon Charles Clark.

Gov. of Missi,

Dear Sir.

I am in receipt of yours. dated 'Executive Chamber, 18^th Inst; and reply at once. I have the money to pay the State, the amount of balance due by me on account of 'salt,' and would be glad to pay it over to any one you may direct. Mr J L Foote of this place is a bonded Quarter Master of the State, I suggest him. I cannot settle my account with the state, as many of my valuable papers are within the enemies' lines—at Mr Ja^s Brabston's, in Warren County, where I left my valise the 5^th of last May; and among them some of the 'salt papers'. This money has been a source of great loss, and annoy-

Page 6

-ance to me, as well as of anxiety.

I will, at once, pay as you may direcy some Twelve, or Fifteen Thousand Dollars, the probable balance due the state.

I am almost entirely broken up, and cannot afford the escpense of a journey to Macon, or I would go there at once.

It costs One Hundred Dollars—from here to Brandon, and I suppose would take a small bale of money to go all the way from here to Macon, and back—. I am trying to keep enough together, to support my family for another year. We hear so much of the Yankees, that I am obliged to keep a constant watch; our people, are also impressing without any system, so that between the two, there is no safety for anything. I want to leave home for a short time to buy a few necessaries for my family, but have fear-ed to do so until after the Chrismas holidays were over: you can form no idea of the condition of things here. If no more impressments of negroes are made, I think we can make

Page 7

a crop of corn nesct year, and raise hogs. I have fifteen acres of wheat planted upon which I greatly rely. I made an escellent crop of wheat last year but owing to the disturbances of the times and loss of my negroes I lost it, nearly all. Gen Adams has a Quarter Master, to whom I could pay this money, there is also one at BrookHaven named Englessing. I would prefer to pay it in person to you at Macon could I afford the trip, but rest assured, I have the money, and will pay upon a proper order from yourself, or those you may authorize to call upon me for it. I am held responsible for the Steam Boat 'Newsboy,' placed in my hands by order of Gov Pettus, and burned by Yankees; the Boat I understand, was valued at Thirty Thousand Dollars I suppose the State will, of course, hold me harmless in the matter, as I was a mere Agent in the matter and this no act that I am aware of to make myself personally liable—

Respectfully

D. S. Pattison