Incomplete letter from C. A. Taylor to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; February 15, 1865

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Incomplete letter from C. A. Taylor to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; February 15, 1865

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People

Clark, Charles, 1811-1877 Fitzhugh, Unknown Forrest, Nathan Bedford, 1821-1877 Hill, Unknown Ross, Lawrence Sullivan, 1838-1898 Ross, Unknown Taylor, C. A.Thomas, George H. (George Henry), 1816-1870

Events

Crime Crime--Destruction of property Military Events--Impressment Military Events--Impressment. War Material Starvation

Military Units

Under Review United States. Army

Organizations

Military Headquarters

Businesses

Railroads and Railroad Companies Railroads and Railroad Companies--Memphis and Charleston Railroad Company (Memphis, Tenn.)Railroads and Railroad Companies--Mobile and Ohio Railroad Company (Mobile, Ala.)

Occupations

Judges Legislators Medical Profession Medical Profession--Physicians Railroad Employees

Places

Alabama--Colbert County. Cherokee Alabama--Colbert County. Tuscumbia Alabama--Marengo County. Demopolis Mississippi--Alcorn County. Corinth Mississippi--Alcorn County. Rienzi Mississippi--Lauderdale County. Meridian Mississippi--Lee County. Baldwyn Mississippi--Lee County. Verona Mississippi--Noxubee County. Macon Mississippi--Tishomingo County. Burnsville Mississippi--Tishomingo County. Eastport

Social Identifiers

Impoverished People

Page 1

If however it should be deemed unsafe to run trains into the county we can, as we did last Spring bring up corn on hand cars from Baldwin or the highest point on the railroad to which it would be safe to run, provided we can get the use of them. Under all the circumstances if we can get corn shiped to Baldwin and the use of a few hand cars to bring it from that point I do not know but it would be the safest & best arrangement as then we could stop them any where on the track & distribute the corn. The Yankees moved upon Genl Ross^s Brigade at Corinth week before last and destroyed a portion of the Rail Road across Tuscumbia [Boattam?] between Rienzi & Corinth but this could soon be repaired by the citizens of the county so as to admit hand cars to pass over it, whereby an arrangement with the Federals at Eastport they might pass on even to Cherokee in Alabama In conclusion permit me to say that relief cannot long be delayed without great suffering to the people, many of whom are now on short rations of even bread, while very few have any forage at all, not even fodder or shucks to feed their work horses & mules or any other kind of stock most of which must of necessity perish before the winter is over from starvation, thus having the people in a condition that they cannot make another crop. I make this appeal to you, our chief Executive, on behalf of the suffering people of my county, trusting that you will use your official position to have us supplied with corn and to avert as far as may be possible the suffering and distress that now threatens us.

Very Respectfully
Your Obt Servt

C A Taylor

P S. Since writing the above Judge Hill of this place & Dr Fitzhugh of Burnsville have visited the Federal Army at Eastport with a view to effect an arrangement to get corn brought up for the citizens, with an assurance of Protection both to the trains, & the corn, and have obtained from Genl Thomas himself who is now at Eastport, written authority or permission to suffer trains for that purpose to run to any point within the limits of the county on the Mobile & Ohio or Memphis

Page 2

and Charleston Rail Road, with orders to all officers, commanders & soldiers not to molest or inter-fere with the same. He also stated that he would extend the same privilege to the citizens in North Alabama as far as Tuscumbia, who are in a like destitute condition with us. These papers we will forward forthwith to the Head Quarters of Genl Forest at Verona—I would suggest that if trains run into the county to supply citizens it be ex-clusively for their benefit at the time & that no soldiers be permited to travel on them. If Capt. Ross of the Memphis & Charleston Road who I learn is above Demopolis would take charge of the corn trains he would be a suitable person I understand that when at Burnsville a short time since he stated that he would take pleasure in doing so. The orders of Genl Thomas Granting protection should also be in the hands of whoever has charge of the trains—

Very Truly

C A Taylor

Letter of [Col?] C A Taylor senator from Tishamingo Co—

Rec'd—Macon Feby 11, 65

Respectfully referred to Lt Gen Taylor—& earnestly recommen-ded to his immediate attention. The facts are not overstated & are from a most reliable source. I have seen the order of Gen Thomas referred to & "approved" by Maj Gen N B Forrest The relief should be gran-ted by the military authorities even to the assumption of power. I shall call the attention of the legislature to the dis-tress but this relief will be slow. I could impress the cars but have no power over the em-ployees.

Chas Clark
Gov of Miss

Rcd Dept Hqr Meridian febry 15/65.