Letter from General Richard Taylor to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; October 8, 1864

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Letter from General Richard Taylor to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; October 8, 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 Taylor, Richard, 1826-1879

Events

Criminal Procedure Criminal Procedure--Amnesty Criminal Procedure--Arrest

Military Units

Confederate States of America. Army Confederate States of America. Army. Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana

Places

Mississippi--Hinds County. Jackson Mississippi--Noxubee County. Macon

Social Identifiers

Impoverished people Military Status--Draft resisters Military Status--Military deserters Military Status--Military families

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[seal]

Jackson Missⁱ Oct^o 8^th 1864

To his Excellency
Gov^r Cha^s Clark,
Macon Missⁱ

Sir:

I have the honor to acknowledge rec't of yr communication referring to the return of absentees from the Army to this command, and have no doubt the opinion you express as to the fact that distress and want in their families induced many of these men to desert their colors, is correct.

I am of the opinion, whilst active and I trust effective, steps have been already taken to secure the apprehension of Deserters from the Army that whenever men prove their penitences by volun-tarily surrendering themselves for the purpose of being returned to their commands, they should be permitt-ed to do so with the assurance they will neither be shot or otherwise severely dealt with. I think however, it is due to the men who have remained true to duty by reason of the recusance of deserters, that some punishment should be inflicted upon the deserter, such

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such for instance as stoppage of pay, or some similar mild punishment as will, whilst it makes the distinction between the dutiful and undutiful soldier so necessary to be made at same time holds forth no real barrier to his return. That some such distinction should be made, I am sure justice to the good soldier who has always remained steadfast, demands.

Appreciating your sound views on this subject I leave the whole matter in your hands, believing your wholesome influence upon the people of your state will enable you to apply the best corrective to this evil—the existence of which, in my opinion, has alone prolonged this war.

Should you determine to offer terms of amnesty to the class of men under consideration, you are authorized to say to them, if they will voluntarily surrender they will be forwarded to their commands with a written statement of the circumstances, of their surrender and an assurance they will not be severely punished as indicated above.

I am Gov^r
M^o' respectfully & c

R. Taylor
Lt: General
Comd'r Dept Al^a Miss & E L^a