Letter from Robert Kells to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; October 27, 1864

Documents
Letter from Robert Kells to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; October 27, 1864

Document Network
Document Metadata

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

People

Brandon, William Lindsay, 1801-1890 Clark, Charles, 1811-1877 Dana, Unknown Hull, T. W.Kells, Robert Kelly, William H.Sproules, D. Eshelman Johnson Young, Charles

Events

Criminal Procedure Criminal Procedure--Arrest

Organizations

Mississippi--State Hospital

Occupations

Carpenters Engineers Gardeners Medical Profession Medical Profession--Hospital Employees

Places

Mississippi--Warren County. Vicksburg

Social Identifiers

African Americans African Americans--Enslaved People Mental Illness

Page 1

Gov C. Clark

Dear Sir—I telegraphed you to day concerning the arrest of the Employees of the Lunatic Asylum, viz D. Eshelman Johnson Sproules, Wm. H. Kelly, Chas. Young and T. W. Hull. I wrote to you some days ago as to this matter—but presume the press of business has kept you from Answering. If these men are kept away from the asylum the organization of the house is broken up and the patients must suffer. I have now two thousand bushels of potatoes to dig and house, and scarcely any one left to superintend the work. Mr Sproles the Gardener has control of the Labour of the Lunatics and this labour must in a great measure be suspended. My report will show you the product of this labour and how necessary it is for the Support of our house-hold.

Page 2

D. Eshelman is the Carpenter and Superintends the Engine and is quite indispensable,—as the regular Engineer has left and no one now left to run the Engine save a negro man. Knowing that I perform the Labour of two other officers besides my own, is good Evidence that I do not believe in supernumeraries. The officers and attendants have been reduced as far as compatible with the welfare of the patients;—and I feel it my duty to so advise you. I hope you will return me the men as specified above, as they are well trained in this work. Your influence with Gen Brandon I have no doubt can effect this. Gen Dana has advised me that his duty will not permit him to suffer any supplies to come out for the asylum from V.Burg. I shall therefore have to rely wholly upon lowells for winter clothing for the patients.

Page 3

Mr D. Eshelman is the Carpenter, & superintends the Engine and is almost indispensable,—as the regular Engineer has left, and now but a negro man to attend to this work.

Page 4

In this matter I must again trust to your intervention,—as the usual billing rates are beyond the means of the Asylum to purchase. I should not trouble you with any of these applications, if it could be avoided,—but your agency is needed to keep the asylum from going down. I am willing to give any whole Energies to this work, head, hands, heart & even my purse if I can have your Cordial Cooperation and Care increased in carring the Institution throught these trials. I shall be glad to hear from you at your Earliest Convenience.

I remain with great respect
Yours very truly

Robert Kells
Sup't.

Miss State L. Asylum
Oct 27th /64