Letter from C. G. Dahlgren to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; July 29, 1864

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Letter from C. G. Dahlgren to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; July 29, 1864

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People

Chen, Unknown Clark, Charles, 1811-1877 Dahlgren, Charles Gustavus, 1808-1888 Riggs, G. A.Seddon, James A. (James Alexander), 1815-1880 Wilson, A. E.

Military Units

Confederate States of America. Army

Organizations

Clubs and Secret Societies--Mississippi Relief Association Depots Georgia--State Hospital Hospitals Mississippi--Legislature

Occupations

Banking and Finance--Collection agents Medical Profession--Physicians

Places

Georgia Georgia--Fulton County. Atlanta Mississippi--Noxubee County. Macon

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Wounds and injuries

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[seal]

Mississippi Relief Association
Atlanta July 29" 1864

His Exc'y
Chas Clark
Governor State of Mississippi
Macon

Governor

I adressed you some days ago upon the same subject, Viz Dr; Chen who was to have called in person to explain the wants and necesities of our Association; Viz he not having been able to leave I again address you upon the same subject; and to the same point—

It must be conceded that next to placing troops in the field, is

1^st. The proper taking care of them—

and as the Government are totally unable to furnish all, necessary for this purpose: for a variety of reasons: it follows

2^nd. That such aid can only be accomplished by Relief Associations—

It is not requisite to enter into any argument upon this question: but simply to state: the inconvenience of throwing such an additional number of [?] upon our army—the impossibility of procu-ring the requisite supplies: for many who would send to relatives, would not sell to the Government—and many other reasons, but especially the fact of the impossibility of procuring female assistance in our Army: the most important of all in [?]—all tend to confirm the proposition—

As individual reserves are totally inadiquate to the the demand the object of the Association can only be accomplished by primary assistance from our State—

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this proposition needs no remark: for altho individuals may do all in their power, yet they are impotent to accomplish the desired end—

In the present urgent crisis: I have not the liesure to go more minutely into details: nor to a practical soldier and business—now like yourself is necessary to do so: for I believe my propositions are plain and self—evident—

This mode arrayed for drawing from our State the requiste sup-plies is

1'' Sub-Associations in every County to collect and gather supplies

2'' Assistant Agents in each Congresional District to forward and expedite collection and transmission—

3'' Chief Agent for the State to attend to the entire gathering and transmission—

This your [?] covers the entire ground from the gather-ing from our citizens to this shipment to here—

The system of arrayment here is

1^st,, A chief depot at Atlanta

2" An adjunct depot near the Army, to supply the soldiers—

3" Assistants at the State Hospital to aid the wounded

4" A chief Hospital at some point for the depositing of our men—this you see takes aid and comfort to our soldiers from the battle-field to the Hospital—

To carry this act there must be

1^st. An appropriation from our State of $250.000—at least

2'' Authority from the Secy of War to employ disabled soldiers in the purposes of the Association—

It will not [answer?] to depend upon volunteers

Page 3

for our succes—I regret to say that not half a dozen persons from our State have come forward to render any aid—persons therefore must be employed and held to strict duty—which can be done if suitable wages are allowed—I ask neither pay nor wages for myself—: as a man who has expended our last $250.000—since the commencement of the war: need not stand upon the small matter of pay—Our present condition is sufficient proof of the necessity of the proposed measure of relief—for altho the demand has been great and urgent: yet I am the only person here attending to our soldiers and tho it is very little that our [?] can do: yet that I will do, as long as I posses the ability—do [?] and them; G A Riggs: and that noble nation, of more than Roman virtue; nor A. E Wilson are at [?]—doing all in their powers: for hundreds of our soldiers. [?] there—under our arrangement with the [?] [?] of this Army—

Please therefore lend your aid and influence to the wants of our gallant soldiers: who shall be; if the Legislator will authorize well cared for and attended to: and if they will not: I will still do all in my power; for noble men, strangers in a strange land: boldly battling for immortal principles of liberty—

Believe me Governor
With much respect
Your friend

CG Dahlgren
Prestd