Letter from H. S. Van Eaton to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; July 12, 1864

Documents
Letter from H. S. Van Eaton to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; July 12, 1864

Document Network
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 Lamkin, D. A.Lee, N. W.Lowry, Robert, 1830-1910 McNair, John E.Van Eaton, H. S.

Events

Crime Crime--Destruction of property Crime--Theft Crime--Threat Criminal Procedure--Arrest Military Events--Military service exemption Military Events--Raid Military Events--Recruiting and enlistment Mississippi. Legislation Mississippi. Legislation. Chapter XVI (1864)

Military Units

Confederate States of America. Army Confederate States of America. Army. Cavalry Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi. Infantry Regiment, 6th Mississippi. Militia Mississippi. Militia. Cavalry Battalion, 1st (McNair's). Company A Mississippi. Militia. Cavalry Battalion, 1st (McNair's). Company B United States. Army

Organizations

Confederate States of America--Commissary Depots Stores, Retail

Places

Big Black Swamp (Miss.)Black Creek (Miss.)Bowie (Miss.)Brandon (Miss.)Covington County (Miss.)Gainesville (Miss.)Jones County (Miss.)Marion County (Miss.)Mount Carmel (Miss.)Pearl River (Miss. and La.)Perry County (Miss.)Simpson County (Miss.)Smith County (Miss.)

Social Identifiers

Criminal Status--Fugitives from justice Historically free and newly freed African Americans Military Status--Military deserters

Page 1

[note] E66 [/note]

Mt. Carmel Covington Co. Miss
July 12^t— 1864

Governor

I have just seen Your proclaimation Calling on County officers & all others "Capable of bearing arms" to repair to Brandon & Elsewhere & While I fully apprectiate the noble potriotism which induced The call, & hope it may generally be obeyed I think it My Duty to Submit to you a Statement of facts, and then ask Your indulgence & help in reference to affairs in this part of the State We are in the District that was So much troubled by Deserters & their outrageous conduct the past Winter & Spring, Jones County Bowie & Black Creek Swamps, are in close proximity to this point then & now famous as the rendezvous of Deserters and outlaws—Since the Departure of Col Lowry's command & Such other troops as made Effective war on these men a few months since, many of them who had fled have returned & more are returning Daily, breathing threats of vengeance against all our citizens who have given information or assistance to the Cavalry—

M. Carmel is the principal Depot of of the 3^rd Commissory Dist Miss, A large lot of Subsistence stores are now in Depot here, & more are being Constantly accomulated, An attack was made and an attempt to plunder & destroy the stores here in March last, which was Defeated—I hear from Sources I Deem reliable, that these outlaws still threaten vengeance for their Defeat & the Subsequent punishment of Some of their associates as Soon as all protection is withdrawn,

Page 2

At this very time Capt M^cNair's Co. of Exempts of this Country, & Capt Lee's Co. of Simpson County are collected here with a view to repel a threatened Raid throught this country of the Enemy & Deserters Combined, from Gainsville on Pearl River—Capt M^cNair rec^d imformation which he deemed reliable, a few Days Since that Such a raid was contemplated from that direction, its object being to Devastate the Country, and take Revenge on all good & loyal citizens, Since They have assembled They have arrested & now hold in Custody quite A number of Deserters & outlaws who had bonded to gether & pretended to organize for the Service, but as it is Generally believd Really, for bad purposes—

All the troops were ordered out of these Counties Some weeks Since, The Companies of Reserves were next ordered off, & are gone, and I know it is the candid opinion of all Who are best informed, that if the companies of Exempts ar in the language of your proclamotion "all who are able to bear arms" are now taken out of these Counties, Even for thirty Days, that the County will be overrun with Deserters & villains; Our Citizens Generally were very Zealous in rendering the Cavalry all the assistance in their power, believing that if the Domestic Enemy were once subdued, they would be amply able by organization to Keep them in Subjection, And under this belief they organized with Alacrity in most of the counties adjacent—but I most respectfully Submit that it would be bad policy to force them—the very best Defense of public order, out of a county Environment & threatened with an active, ensidious & a vindictive

Page 3

Enemy—And under these circumstonces & in behalf of publis order, & for the Good of our common couse I appeal to You to Except from Your call at least the Counties of Simpson & Covington, the Members of the Companies from these Counties now here evince Great anxiety to comply with the terms of Your proclamation, at the Some time they feel the importance of the State of things I have attempted to lay be fore You, which almost necessitates their remaining in this vicinity, and I would Suggest the propriety of Excepting Several of the Surrounding Counties from [your?] [?] by Smith, Perry & Marion at least, but strong tate I urge that Simpson & Covington be excepted as the Members of the Companies from these Counties are now accustomed to rally together on the opposite of Donged—

Gainsville is only Some 100 miles below here on Pearl River, reliable information has been rec^d that Yankee Soldiers White &black occupy &garrison the place, It is the paradise of Deserters who flee from their own Swamps, many have gone there with their families & Draw rations from the Enemy, & ^I^ doubt not a raid maybe attempted from that point at any time and as above stated information it will not do to this regard reports a raid of pretty formidable proportions now on its way, or about starting, [gap] For all these reasons Gov—

I respectfully therefore urge on you the propects of Excepting at least Simpson & Covington counties from the terms of Your proclamation

Respectfully Submitted

H, S, VanEaton
Capt & A.L.S,

His Exc'n'y
Cha^s Clark Gov Miss

(over)

Page 4

I respectfully & cordially concur in the above

D,A,Lamkin Lt
& Officer Covington Co
Miss

H.S. Van Eaton