Letter from Colonel William N. Brown to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; May 5, 1864

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Letter from Colonel William N. Brown to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; May 5, 1864

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

People

Ales, Unknown Borden, Unknown Brown, William N.Clark, Charles, 1811-1877 Evans, Unknown Hawkins, Unknown Knight, Newton Loring, William Wing, 1818-1886 Lowry, Robert, 1830-1910 Polk, Leonidas, 1806-1864 Reddick, Daniel Tillman, Unknown Whitehead, Unknown

Events

Crime Crime--Murder Crime--Robbery Crime--Shooting Crime--Theft Crime--Treason Criminal Procedure--Arrest Criminal Procedure--Escapes Criminal Procedure--Execution Criminal Procedure--Sentencing Guerrilla warfare Military Events--Insurrections Military Events--Military desertion Starvation

Military Units

Confederate States of America. Army Confederate States of America. Army. Cavalry Confederate States of America. Army. Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi. Infantry Regiment, 20th Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi. Infantry Regiment, 6th Under Review United States. Army

Organizations

Confederate States of America. Congress Courts Courts--Courts-martial and courts of inquiry Depots Headquarters, Military Knight's Mill (Jones County, Miss.)Railroad Railroad--Mobile and Ohio Railroad Company

Occupations

Commissioners

Places

Alabama Bolivar County (Miss.)Covington County (Miss.)Georgia Jasper County (Miss.)Jones County (Miss.)Military training camps North Carolina Perry County (Miss.)Scott County (Miss.)Smith County (Miss.)Wayne County (Miss.)

Social Identifiers

Impoverished people Military Status--Military deserters Military Status--Military families Military Status--Prisoners of war Unionists (United States Civil War)Widows

Vital Statistics

Death Wounds and injuries

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[note] E65 [/note]

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Camp 20^th Miss Regt. Knights Mills Jones Co. Miss
May 5^th /64

Govr,

[Presuming?] upon personal acquaintance and a high personal regard for you which has been often times manifested I have undertaken to give you [wishes?] & sketch of our operations in this part of the State. Thinking it would be of some interest to you and perhaps may result in some benefit to thi~~ses~~ Country.

As you and perhaps aware my Regt composes part of the Detachament of Lorings Division now engaged in arresting and returning deserters to their commands from South Miss and East La.—Under the command of Col. Robt Lowry of the 6^th Miss. We have been in State duty since the 23^d March and in that time men over the Country including Smith Co, Scrott, Jasper, Jones, a part of Wayne, Perry and Covington Counties The [?] arrested and sent to Department H^d Qurs about 500 Men, Several hundred men have eluded us now reported together Commands rather than be caught and sent under arrest, Lt. Genl. Polk estimates that 5.00 had reported to one Brigade, alone and that our success would no doubt do much towards determining and achieving the great object of this War, (This [?] is a digression as may object is more partionloxly transfers to what is yet to do rather than boast of what has been done,)

From representatives made to [issue?] has expected to find regular organizations among the disloyal

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for the purpose of resisting our authority, During first five days operations we obtained a Flag from the family of one Hawkins who lives on the line of Smith and Scott Co, thus led us to believe they had "hung out the banner on the outer wall." and ~~bitter~~ stubborn resistance ~~was what~~ might be expected In one or two cases this provided to be true, A small party under Lt Evans of of their 6^th Miss was fired into and one man (Sergt. Tillman) was killed, two others were wounded including Lt. Evans who we since have learned is dead—This was done by a single man. Daniel Reddick, who was afterwards caught and executed Another party under Maj, Borden of the 6^th Miss was ambushed and one man of my Regt wounded This was done by Capt. Newton Knight with 5 men, two of which were captured and executed on the spot and Capt Knight narrowly made his escape

At Knights Mill, Jones Co., on the 16^th four men two brother named Ales and two others name Whitehead were found guilty of desertion, and of armed resistance to the civil and military law and were sentenced to death by hanging before our military Court Accordingly the four were executed. This made to who have forfeited their lives for treason, All of their men clearly guilty and some of them had been wounded in skirmishes with the Country which had been sent to this country

Thus fir there has not been an example made from the citizens of the Country, all have been soldiers and yet these men have often been misled by some old and influential citzens perhaps their fathers and relations—who have encouraged and harbored their

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We find great ignorance among them generally and many union ideas that, seem to be prompted by demagogues of the agrarian class

Among the women there is great reluctance to give Miss their husbands and brothers and the reason alledged is the fear of starvation, and a desinclination to labor in the fields, more than half, I might say nearly all the soldiers wives are reduced to this strait.

Provisions are now scarce particularly corn. We estimate the supply inadequate for the mainteiance of the poorer classes and perticularly the families of such as are in the army. If something could be done to ameliorate their condition by State authority it will be productive of a much improved moral and political sentiment, It would convince them that we have a Government, a fact which they are inclined to doubt. A few wagon loads of corn distributed through their country from the most convenient Depots on the Mobile & O Rail Road would not only improve the political tune of the people here, but would greatly encourage the men in the Army from this quarter and in my opinion would greatly lessen desertions and the excuses to desert, Could not a train of wagons be organized for this purpose? I make the suggestion which from me I hope you will not take as officious, and will not pretend to argue this care to one of your noted administrative ability. Some complaint has been made of the commissioners whose duty it is to provide for the destitute families of soldiers, Of this I can not [?] to say except that very little seems to have been done by any one, and what was done is said to be for the families of particular favorites—

Another important item to which I would especially

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call the attention of your Excellency, is to the importance of s[page torn]upplying the women of this country with Cotton and woolen Cards—The females and decidedly the working part of the population and are greatly in want of these nicessary articles, There seem to be consignable wool and enough cotton to keep them engaged, As they are now provided they manage to clothie the soldiers from this country and if encurraged would add greatly to the comfort of many more A good article of jeans sometimes sells for $6 per yard I found to day a widow of a soldier who was killed by the Cavalry and having no Cards she had taken to Making Horn Combs—A specimen I send you which fir workmanship and ingenuity compares favorably with the Yankees—The husband of this woman having been Killed by our Cavalry (perhaps by mistake) calls to mind the many outrages that have been committed by several small commands ^of Cavalry^ sent into their country on the duty now assigned to our command—Such at least are the many complaints we hear every day—In several instances, improper shooting, robbing stealing about the houses, cutting the cloth from looms, taking horses &c &c, These acts have done move to demoralize Jones County than the whole Yankee Army—We have been particular to try and have our [?] to conduct themselves properly and all have endeavored to be civil and kind to citizens Col. Lowry has done himself great credit in the management of the expedition—By attending to the Acts of the Cavalry which has been on duty—here I do not mean to hold all the cavalry responsable for this

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outrages committed by a few companies, or in any way increase the jealousies existing between that corps and the infantry, but it is the common remark of many intelligent Officers and mem that much of the mischief which has been committed in Jones and neighboring counties may be attributed to the course pursued by these small bands of Confederate Cavalry. Such was the terror of some neighbor=hoods on our approach that the old women had secreted their knives, & forks, bed, clothing and most of their household valuables

They were greatly astounded ~~that~~ on our arrival to find that we 'behaved like gentleman' to use their own expression

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Since I have be writing this orders have been received ordering us to return, which for the present at least suspends our operations in this part of the world, we understand we will be sent towards north Alabama, or Georgia—This breaks up our arrangements to some extent and relieves us from our unpleasant though important duty

Gov[page torn], I hope you will not construe my suggestions as improper and hope they may so for meet your favorable considerations as to inquire into the true state of affairs of this benighted world and I know such remedies will be applied as may be

at your command

The items of Cotton and Woolen Cards are difficult to procure, but I am told the State of North Carolina succeeded in importing a large quantity and perhaps some are made in Georgia, With the means of manufacture and of foreign trade at your hands not m[page torn]uch can be expected to say nothing of t[page torn]he overrun condition of our state, but still somethin[page torn] [must?] be Done, As before mentioned I venture this as a private letter

Believe your friend &c

W. N. Brown
Bolivar Co. Miss
(Col, 20^th Miss)

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P. S—Enclosed you will find specimen of horn comb. made by a soldiers widow in Jones Co., who says she is compelled so to do for the want of cards cotton or wool and there by make a support—

Yours c

W N Brown