Letter from Thomas S. Gathright to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; August 16, 1864

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Letter from Thomas S. Gathright to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; August 16, 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 Gathright, Thomas S.Lyles, W. D.Thomas, D. H.West, Absalom Madden, 1818-1894

Events

Confederate States of America--Draft Military Events--Military discharge Military Events--Military service exemption

Military Units

Confederate States of America. Army Under Review United States. Army

Organizations

Mississippi--Legislature Schools Schools--Mississippi. Summerville Institute (Gholson)

Occupations

Educational Profession--School principals Legal Profession--Lawyers

Places

Alabama Maryland--Washington County. Sharpsburg Mississippi--Noxubee County. Gholson Mississippi--Noxubee County. Macon Mississippi--Noxubee County. Summerville

Social Identifiers

Impoverished people Military Status--Military families

Vital Statistics

Wounds and injuries

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[seal]

Office of Summerville Institute,
Gholson, Miss. Aug. 18^th. 1864.

To His Excellency, Gov. Chas. Clark,

The under-signed having been informed that a bill has been passed ^by^ both branches of the State Legislatures now in extra session, in the town of Macon, authorizing you to call into ^the^ service of the state all white male citizens there of, exempting certain officials of the state Government, and some few others, not embracing, however, the class of citizens to which he belongs, and having been informed, moreover, that you have issued your proclamation in accordance with the provisions of the aforesaid bill, begs to call your attention to a few facts upon which is based a respectful application for exemption from the operation of the law aforesaid.

The undersigned is Principal of a board-ing school for boys. The school was put

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in operation on the 7^th day of January 1854 and has been continuously in operation ever since. On the 1^st. day of the present month a new class was organized and there are now, from abroad, thirty two boys under the military age. These boys are from various parts of this state, and the state of Alabama; some the sons of parents in the army, and others from beyond the enemies lines, The undersigned would respectfully state also that the sons of indigent soldiers have been and are now taught here free, and that the school (free of cost) is educating a maimed soldier from Sharpsburg. Charging nothing either for board or tuition. Furthermore, it is resepectfully shown, that the Absence of the Principal for thirty days would disorganize the school, and scatters the boys all over the county, and completely break the Institution, which is now the only Male school ^in the State,^ on a permanent footing,—where a liberal education can be—imparted.

These facts are respectfully submitted to the Governor, as Commander-in-chief, and an exemption from military service

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respectfully asked for the Principal and one assistant to carry on the school, as a public good, and for no private advantage. The idea of arguing any question touching the action of duty of His Excellency is not entertained, and the foregoing facts are present-ed in no such spirit. His Excellency will acquit the undersigned of any desire to evade or avoid any duty he may seem to owe the Country, where he is informed that the ^undersigned^ once volunteered and was ~~once~~ discharged by his regimental officer, in order that he might resume his professional—duties at the beginning of his regular session.

Reference is respectfully made to ]]Physicians|D^r.]] W. D. Lyles, Gen. A. M. West, and to the bearer, my neighbor, D. H. Thomas, Esq.

All of which is respectfully submitted by His Excellency's most,

Obt. Srvt.,

Thos. S. Gathright
Principal of the
Summerville Institute

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Gathright