Letter from General Dabney H. Maury to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; August 20, 1864

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Letter from General Dabney H. Maury to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; August 20, 1864

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People

Browne, William Canby, Edward Richard Sprigg, 1817-1873 Clark, Charles, 1811-1877 Evans, Unknown Forrest, Nathan Bedford, 1821-1877 Maury, Dabney Herndon, 1822-1900 Stewart, Unknown

Military Units

Confederate States of America. Army Confederate States of America. Army. Department of the West United States. Army

Organizations

Confederate States of America--War Department Confederate States of America--War Department. Ordnance Department

Occupations

Clerks

Places

Alabama Alabama--Marengo County. Demopolis Alabama--Mobile County. Mobile Bodies of Water--Alabama. Mobile Bay Mississippi--Covington County Mississippi--Lauderdale County. Meridian Mississippi--Marshall County. Holly Springs

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[seal]

Private

Meridian Aug: 20. 64

My Dear Sir

I arrived here this morn-ing. the arms intended for you were sent to Forrest on the 17.^th Captain Evans explained the facts to W^m Browne Colonel Stewarts Clerk.

There are now here &c at Demopolis enough arms to meet the call in your tele-gram just received (2,000)

The supply of ammun-tion at hand is very small but I am convinced that it will be properly increased in full time. Forrests ordnance Officer reports 100 rounds on hand for all Enfield Rifles

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with Forrest—This can be divided out to all Enfield Rifles you may immediately send/with your Troops) to Forrest.

There are enough of small arms to furnish all the Troops yet reported in this State and Alabama—The supply of am-mumition is in sufficient at this time but by manufacture and importation, from other Departments. I am assured this want will be met in time

If I can see you personally I will be able to explain to you better than by letter the very em-barrassing Calls which are ~~are~~ now being made up on me to your other points. of the Department. I will entreat myself with as

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feel cunfident and hopefule of the result. And believe that we have the means of succeas with-in our reach. If we have dif-ficulties this to contend against the enemy has greater.

I need not reiterate my sincere desire to cooperate with you—If I do not come up to you xpectations it will be from lack of means not of will.

Sincerely and respecty

Dabny H Maury

His Excellency
Hon Charles Clarke
Cov Miss

P. S. I did not give up the Arms for the trans Mississippi until repeatedly orderd to do so by the War Department after full information of emergency here have been laid before it. DHM

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[ruring?] you that Mobile is more imminently pressed than any other important parish. There is good reason to believe that Troops are being sent from the Army near Holly Springs to reinforce Canby's Army in Mobile Bay. Of my own ability to meet this in crew-ing force I will only say that like Forrest I have to take what I can get and make the best of it. If you know all, you would I think percieve That Forrest is probably stronger relatively than any other Com mander

I have full expectation that the next 24 hours will throw the bal-lance of force on our side But even should this fail I