Letter from B. C. Duckworth to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; June 14, 1864

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Letter from B. C. Duckworth to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; June 14, 1864

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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

Clark, Charles, 1811-1877 Duckworth, B. C.

Events

Confederate States of America--Draft Crime Crime--Destruction of property Crime--Threat Military Events--Recruiting and enlistment

Military Units

Mississippi Home Guard

Organizations

Confederate States of America--Army Adjutant and Inspector-General's Office Courts and Judicial Systems Courts and Judicial Systems--Circuit Courts Courts and Judicial Systems--Probate courts

Occupations

City Council Members Conscript Officers Judges Judges. Justices of the Peace Law Enforcement Law Enforcement--Police

Places

Mississippi--Jones County. Ellisville Mississippi--Smith County

Social Identifiers

Draftees Impoverished People Military Deserters

Vital Statistics

Death

Page 1

[note]E 65[/note]

Ellisville Jones County
June 14 /64

Honl. C. Clark Governor of the State of Miss &c

Dear sir I recieved a commission from your Exelency, on the 9^th of May to Enrole act the citizens of My County between the age of 17 & 50—I enroled them as soon as I could cosider the circumstances the Deserters [?] distroyed the Ferries & Bridges in this County and the [?] Book having distroyed I had to power the County all over with our any guide &C I have made the Enrolement and forward is to the Adjt General=It was said by several citizens that the Enrolment Could not be made it was said the deserters would not suffer it tho I passed them unmolested &C

I wish to call your attention to the Civil officers &C this County has more Civil officers at present then

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it ever had at one time—out side of the Probate Court there is no business done by the civil Authorities I have noticed that the ablest bodyd men holds those local officers an have ten Justices of the Piece & fine constables [?] and from three to four commissioners in ? each Police District as commissioners for for the Destitute—whose as one would be sufficient to do the business that is done all the civil officers

Stays at home and attends to there own business and the public business is un observed [?] [hours?] not have a Justices Court nor Circuit Court ~~[?]~~ ^in this County^ Times the war commimenced and if a man is found dead the Civil authorities pays no attention to it any more than if it was a dog &C

We have been over [awed?] by the Deserters but at present they are thined out so that the Citizens & Civil officers Could keep them under if they would=

I am ober the conscript age not withstanding I have joined a company in Smith County for the perpose of home protection &C

I hope I never will be fixed as I was some three months a go under the dictates of the desirters—there is at the present some twenty deserters in this settlement the main leaders of ^the Deserters in^my settlement is in the woods=&C

I have taken the liberty to address you a few lines in good faith ~~[?]~~ wishing you to excuse all errors ~~and [?]~~ and retain the contents as I am in a settlement that I am afraid to speak my sentiment on the account of the Deserters &c
I remain you friend and humble servant

B C Duckworth

NB when you wread these few lines Commit the same to the flaimes—

BCD

Page 3

[letter?]
B C Duckworth
Jones Co—