Letter from Superintendent Robert Kells to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; March 2, 1865

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Letter from Superintendent Robert Kells to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; March 2, 1865

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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

Beauregard, G. T. (Gustave Toutant), 1818-1893 Clark, Charles, 1811-1877 Handy, Unknown Kells, Robert Poindexter, Unknown Taylor, Richard, 1826-1879 Washburn, C. C. (Cadwallader Colden), 1818-1882

Events

Confederate States of America--Draft Criminal Procedure Criminal Procedure--Writ of Habeas Corpus

Military Units

Mississippi. Militia

Organizations

Confederate States of America--Congress Confederate States of America--War Department Mississippi--State Hospital

Occupations

Butchers (Persons)Commercial agents Gardeners Legal Profession--Judges Legal Profession--Judges. Justices of the peace Medical Profession Medical Profession--Hospital Employees

Places

Mississippi--Clarke County. Enterprise Mississippi--Warren County. Vicksburg

Social Identifiers

African Americans African Americans--Enslaved people African Americans--Enslaved people. Contraband of war Mental illness

Page 1

Miss State Lunatic Asylum
March 2^nd,,/65

To His Excellency
Gov Charles Clark

Dear Sir

On yesterday I rec'd a com=munication from Gen Washburn Commanding at Vicksburg, advising me that I could have the supplies belonging to the Lunatic Asylum. He also stated that he would permit the Asylum to bring in cotton & have such articles as was needed for the use of the insane, in the full amount of the sales. I have rec'd no answer from Gen Beauregard as to my getting a pass and in the present attitude of our affairs & his locality Can I Expect one. I think I had at once try & get a pass from Gen Taylor & get them as soon as the weather & roads will permit. I have not federal money enough to bring them out—will have to ask permission to carry in two bales of cotton or sell some of the goods.

Page 2

I feel great reluctance in touching the subject of the Employees again—as it has become chronic and annoying. It seems the War department is determined to know more about the necessity & management of the Lunatic Asylum than the Trustees & Superintendent. The Gardener, Ass^t,, Steward, Supervisor and the Ag't to collect Supplies are ordered to report at Enterprise. This leaves me not a single man outside to attend to stock, to do my butchering, gardening &c.—this must necessarily cur-tail the usefullness of the institution. I am obliged to say that with ^this^ small amount of help I cannot do anything like justice to the patients, as to cleanliness, discipline and proper preperation of food. This result is but natural, when the labour to keep ^up^ an institution ~~now~~ is much greater than formerly, and nearly one half the labourers taken away.

After knowing some—what of Chief Justice Handy.s views touching the Conscript law and the power,s of Congress, I expect no relief from a writ of habeas Corpus,—still I must try it.

Page 3

I have thought proper to suggest, if these men are taken away, for me to replace them by solicting as many from the militia of the State—working men and such as would be willing to make themselves useful. This you have the unquestioned right to do. I shall be glad to receive any advice or suggestions you may choose to make, when Your time & convenience will permit.

I remain
Yours very Truly

Robert Kells

P. S. The Employees are to report on the 15^th,, inst

Page 4

D^r R, Kells
Mch 2, 65
Ansd—

500.,00
600..00
600..00
,,650..00
$2.350,,00

[image: sketch of a rifle]

Poindexter.