Letter from W. H. Hardy to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; February 8, 1864

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Letter from W. H. Hardy to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; February 8, 1864

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People

Carlile, Unknown Clark, Charles, 1811-1877 Hardy, William H. (William Harris), 1837-1917 McLean, George P.West, Wilson

Events

Confederate States of America--Draft Crime Crime--Destruction of property Crime--Murder Crime--Robbery Criminal Procedure Criminal Procedure--Arrest Criminal Procedure--Execution Military Events--Military discharge

Military Units

Confederate States of America. Army Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi. Cavalry Regiment, 4th Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi. Cavalry Regiment, 4th. Company D Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi. Infantry Regiment, 16th Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi. Infantry Regiment, 16th. Company H

Occupations

Clergy

Places

Mississippi--Alcorn County. Corinth Mississippi--Jasper County Mississippi--Jones County Mississippi--Newton County Mississippi--Scott County Mississippi--Smith County. Raleigh Mississippi--Smith County. Trenton

Social Identifiers

Christians Christians--Baptists Military Status--Military deserters Military Status--Veterans

Vital Statistics

Death Disease and illness

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[note] E65 [/note]

Raliegh Smith County Miss
Feby. 8^th 1864

To His Excellency
Gov. Charles Clarke

Dear General—

I addres you in this familiar Style as my old commander who gave me my first instruction as a Soldier at Corinth Miss in 1861.

The object of this communication is to inform you of the formidable character which the bands of Deserters in this section of the State or beginning to assume.

They are in Strong force supposed to be about 2 or 300 in Jones County and the Smaller Bandits through the Country have conbined with these and Confederating for mutual protection and [?] They have become quite bold and ^in^ some Sections of the Country have so intimidated the people that to save themselves and their property from degradation and pillage they are begining to give them aid and comfort, and I preceive now a Spirit of this kind begining to prevade the people to such an Extent that almost every man now is afraid to say any thing againist the Deserters

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for fear of some private injury and unless it is checked all law and order will soon be suspended and every loyal man diven out of the Country. There is now in This Town a Respectable Citizen who was driven from Jones County all his property destroyed & because he was a true and loyal Citizen—last week the Rev. Mr Carlile a Bobtist minister in the south western part of Jasper Co was Brutally murdered in his House by them—The Rev. Wilson West was yester-day with his family given notice to quit the Country or that he shall suffer the fate of Mr Carlyle—An last week a Band of Them sasked several Houses at Trenton of all the ammo and amu-nition and subsequently whiped a small band of Cavalry belonging to Capt McLean's Co. who had been sent in pursuit—Here I will re-mark that the Cavalry Stationed in this Country to apprehend Deserters are very inefficient. They never interfer with anyone except a Sick or dis-charged Soldier or some man who doesnt try to Evade them

Having given you the facts General I know you will be able to ascertain how to [?] the evil, but allow

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me to suggest a plan—Send one or two hundred well mounted under some efficient officer with instructions to impress every man liable to Militia duty into the ranks of his Command in the Counties of Smith Scott, Newton and Jasper & Jones Counties, and with this com-mand to Scour the Country until every [raskol?] is caught and Hung—I think the people will readily give a Com-mand of this Character for their own protection [honory?] it as an organ-ized nucleus around which to rally if not then they deserve to be pillaged by these outlaws

I am [Dear?] Genl
Your Obedient Servant

W H. Hardy
Formerly Capt in 16th Miss