Letter from W. P. Harris to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; August 21, 1864

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Letter from W. P. Harris to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; August 21, 1864

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People

Clark, Charles, 1811-1877 Dennis, James Harris, W. P.McCardle, William H.

Events

Confederate States of America--Draft Military Events--Military service exemption Military Events--Recruiting and enlistment

Military Units

Confederate States of America. Army Mississippi. Militia Under Review

Organizations

Confederate States of America--Army Adjutant and Inspector-General's Office Confederate States of America--War Department Mississippi--Legislature

Occupations

Military Role--Conscript officers

Places

Mississippi--Noxubee County. Macon

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[seal]

Macon Aug 21 / 64

Dear Sir

It appears that the organization of the Militia undr the late call of your excellency has given rise some questions of a very embarrassing nature to the offcers charged with the execution of the conscript laws of the Confederate states. I am Charged with the duty of effecting a satisfactiory solution of them (so for as it may be practicable) by Major Dennis who is anxious, ^for aid^ any conflict, in carrying out the orders of the war department. and at same time to remove all obstacles to the speedy assembling of a force to meet the present emergency. I will briefly state some of this difficulties which have arisen. Of the class of reserves there are these who having been duly enrolled have. reported as volunteers, or, on the supposition that they are ~~liable to~~imbraced by the praclaimation of your excellency and are being enlisted in the militia

Again then are them who have not been enrolled are nevertheless liable to conscription under the act organizes the reserves. or other acts of conscription among these are [?] recent act of the State Legislature waiving the exemption of such persons. The commandant Major Dennis concurs that his instructions require him to proceed to inforce the law in regard to these classes but in the present emerging will not interfere with the organization of the state forces Yet concures it to be his duty to ask your excellency to hold all enrolled men and men liable conscription enlisted in the militia subject to the requesition of the General of reserves, or the Com^dt of Conscripts and to this and ~~that~~ Iam commissioned to express the

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the hope that ~~your excellency~~ to relieve these officers from embarrassment should they ~~determine~~deem it proper to suspend action, under the circumstances, as to these classes your excellency will cause lists of ~~them~~classes to be made out and furnished to them so that the men may be promptly put into service under the acts of Congress at the termination of their service under the proclaimation of your excellency

I have the honor to
respectfully serv obt

W, P,Harris

His Excy Chas Clark

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Letter from Hon WP Harris, on the part of Maj Dennis on the subject of state reserves Enrolled and un Enrolled,—and answer there to—

WHM^cCardle
Col & Adjt Genl

Aug 21 1864