Letter from Doctor W. G. Williams to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; December 5, 1864

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Letter from Doctor W. G. Williams to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; December 5, 1864

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

People

Allen, Henry Watkins, 1820–1866 Clark, Charles, 1811-1877 Ellett, Unknown Williams, W. G.

Events

Crime Crime--Smuggling Military Engagements Military Events--Blockade Military Events--Raid

Military Units

Confederate States of America--Military Service (Branch Unspecified)United States. Army United States. Navy

Organizations

Confederate States of America. Congress Depots Newspapers United States. Congress

Occupations

Governors--Louisiana Physicians

Places

Claiborne County (Miss.)Kentucky Louisiana Macon (Miss.)Matamoros (Tamaulipas, Mexico)Memphis (Tenn.)Natchez (Miss.)New Orleans (La.)Port Gibson (Miss.)Rodney (Miss.)Shreveport (La.)Texas Vicksburg (Miss.)Wilmington (N.C.)

Social Identifiers

Military Status--Prisoners of war

Vital Statistics

Disease and illness

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Claiborne Co Mi Decr 5^th 1864

D^r Sir

Sometime since I wrote you giving you some information in regard to the last raid made by the enemy in which Mr Ellett of Port Gibson was cap-tured. I did not sign my name to the letter fearing it might fall into the hands of the Yankees. They have not visited this neighborhood since but report says they design paying Rodney & vicinity a visit within the next two weeks. If so I hope we shall have a sufficient force here to resist them. As the bearer of this letter expects to be in Macon in a short time I have re-quested him to call and deliver this in person. I have been quite unwell for some weeks past and unable to bear the inconvenience of travel or I would have paid you a visit. I have a project for supplying our people with necessaries and I wish to know your opinion of it and as I see no prospect of being able to see you in person for some time at least I have concluded to avail myself of this opportunity to write you on the subject. Gov H. W. Allen of La has established a depot for goods at Shrevesport which are sold for the issues of the state of La and is I am informed rapidly taking up in this way the state money. Cotton is taken out by way of Metamoras and the proceeds invested in goods which are brought to Shrevesport and there sold for the state issues.

The United States is rapidly increasing its navy and it will soon be very difficult to avoid capture in running the blockade. The government seems

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determined in future to enforce strict non intercourse with our people in the way of trade so that it will in future be impossible for us to get any thing from the Yankees. Hitherto many necessaries have been brought into our lines from Memphis Vicksburg Natchez and New Orleans which have contributed greatly to the comfort of our people but since all trade has been interduted we are begining to feel the want of absolute necessaries and it becomes us to provide for the future and devise some means by which our people may be able to procure what they may need. If something be not done to supply our people with what they need from abroad and the war continues say a year longer, we will suffer greatly. I have thought that some relief may be afforded by adopting the plan of Gov Allen whilst at the same time we can take up the issues of the state. I am told that he expects to take up all the state issue in this way and it ap--pears to me that the credit of our state may be improved by adopting a similar course. It would probably be necessary for safety to estab-lish the depot or store for the sale of goods at some safe point in La. The money would soon find its way there if it was known that goods could be obtained for it. Perhaps the Confederate government might find it advanta-geous to introduce goods in the same way I have no idea what the issues of the state

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Amount to but expect they are large. If the Confed-erate government is indebted to the state you could take government cotton in payment in Texas. I expect the government has much cotton both in La and Texas. I write for the purpose of making the suggestion simply and if it strikes you favor-ably I would be glad to have an opportunity to carry it out. I can associate with me men of known integrity and ability in the business and am sure I can carry out the details of the business to your entire satisfaction. All that is necessary to the success of the enterprise is to devise the means of purchasing the goods. The profit arising from the sale of such things as our people need would if the business was honestly and economically managed soon be sufficient to take up our state issues unless they are greater in amount than I expect. I think our prospects are brightening. It is my firm conviction that when the spring campaign opens if not before Kentucky will be ours. Indeed the news from all quarters is encouraging. I expect we will loose Wilmington and this will stop blockade running from that point which may subject us to some inconvenience but with energy we will soon be able to supply ourselves through some other inlet. I hope you rec^d the letter I wrote you some time since. I enclosed you a slip from a Yankee paper to show you how shrewd and vigilant they

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are. If you deem it advisable to adopt the suggestion I make if you will let me know it I will call and see you. We are suffering for want of medicines. I suppose you failed in carrying out the plan you had in view when I saw you to supply the state with medicine.

In haste
Yrs truly

W. G. W.

D^r W. G. Williams