Letter from Lock E. Houston to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; August 13, 1864

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Letter from Lock E. Houston to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; August 13, 1864

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

People

Barton, J. D.Burton, James M.Clark, Charles, 1811-1877 Houston, Lock E.Maury, Dabney Herndon, 1822-1900 Pinson, S. D.Pruitt, G. M.Wilson, Jeff

Events

Crime Criminal Procedure--Arrest Criminal Procedure--Charges and specifications (Courts-martial)Criminal Procedure--Imprisonment Criminal Procedure--Release Criminal Procedure--Trial

Military Units

Confederate States of America. Army Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi. Infantry Regiment, 4th (Army of 10,000-Davidson's). Company E

Organizations

Confederate States of America--Secret Service Mississippi--Executive Department Mississippi--Legislature Mississippi--Legislature. House of Representatives Mississippi--Legislature. Senate

Occupations

Legislators

Places

Mississippi--Lauderdale County. Meridian Mississippi--Noxubee County. Macon

Social Identifiers

Criminal Status--Imprisoned people

Page 1

[seal]

Macon—Miss
August 13^th_" 1864.

Gen Charles Clark,
Governor &c.

Sir,

We the undersigned members of the Legislature of the State of Mississippi, would most respectfully call the attention of your Excellency to the fact that from information now in our possession, Capt. James M. Burton, a citizen of this State, is under Military arrest and at last account, was kept in close confinement at Meridian. That he was arrested on or about the 8th of July last as we are informed and believe, and that no charge whatever has been preferred against him, although he has used every effort to learn the cause of his arrest, and to get a trial if there was any charge against him.

The undersigned are acquainted with Capt. Burton, the most of us for many years, and have known him as an upright and honorable man—A gentleman. He has been in the military service of the Country since the first year of the war, in some capacity or other, the most of the time, as we are informed, in the Secret Service of the Confederate States

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and was we believe, at the time of his arrest, so employed. Knowing him as we do and believing him to be a true and loyal man, we earnestly beg Your Excellency to intercede in his behalf, and have secured to him a speedy trial, if the Confederate Authorities have any charge to prefer against him, and if not, to demand his immediate release.

Very truly &c.

Lock E. Houston
Speaker of House of Rep.
J. D. Barton, M. L.
S. D. Pinson, M. L.

G. M. Pruitt, M. L.
Jeff Wilson Senator.

Page 3

[seal]

Mesrs Houston and others

Executive Office
Macon Aug 13^th_" 1864

Respectfully transmitted to Maj. Gen. Maury Commanding Department. This man is illegally detained as a witness. By what authority is unknown as he is capable of giving surety for his appearance. He alleges that he can not communicate with his friends freely. The names signed within are of the highest credit—

Chas. Clark
Gov. of Mississippi

[watermark: KENT MILLS Improved 1852]