Letter from Edward Sparrow to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey; July 3, 1865

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Letter from Edward Sparrow to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey; July 3, 1865

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People

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875 Johnston, Joseph E. (Joseph Eggleston), 1807-1891 Lee, Robert E. (Robert Edward), 1807-1870 Pilcher, Mason Sharkey, William Lewis, 1798-1873 Smith, Edmund Kirby, 1824-1893 Smith, Morgan L.Sparrow, Edward Taylor, Richard, 1826-1879 Wells, Unknown

Events

Crime Crime--Destruction of property Criminal Procedure Criminal Procedure--Pardon Criminal Procedure--Parole Emancipation and self emancipation Military Events--Capitulations Secession. American Civil War

Organizations

Confederate States of America--Congress Watercraft

Occupations

Lawyers Politicians

Places

Alabama--Calhoun County. Alexandria Louisiana--Caddo Parish. Shreveport Louisiana--Orleans Parish. New Orleans Louisiana--Red River Parish Mississippi--Hinds County. Jackson Mississippi--Warren County. Vicksburg Texas Washington (D.C.)

Social Identifiers

African Americans African Americans--Enslaved People African Americans--Historically Free and Newly Freed Impoverished People Imprisoned people

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[seal]

Near Shreveport L^a
3^d July 1865.

My Dear Sir

I reached this part of our State in eight or ten days after I saw you in Jackson.

When I reached Vicksburg I called as as you suggested upon Brig. Gen^l Morgan L. Smith.—I fully explained to him my object in wishing to go to Louisiana & showed him the short address I read to you in Jackson.—At my request he changed my passport so that I might go up Red River, & directed that I should be received on board a Gov^t Transport which was to leave that day for Alex-andria with Texas paroled prisoners.

He retained the address I showed him, & returned me a certified copy. The original he told me he would forward that day to Washington.

On my way up Red River I met the U. S. Commissioners who had been sent to Gen^l E. Kirby Smith in regard to a surrender of his Department, re-turning with Gen^l Smiths refusal to

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surrender upon the terms granted to Lee, Johnston & Taylor.

Upon the Boat & at every point we lan-ded I declared my opinions as explained to you at Jackson, & strongly condemn-ed the cause of the Confederate General. I also immediately published my address of which I enclose you a copy. My course was condemned by many, but events soon proved that I was right. The great mass of the soldiers suddenly came to the same conclusion I had, that further resistance was useless & improper, & the Comman-ding General was forced to yield.—I think my presence here had something to do in hastening the surrender. I am sure I have done some good in quieting the public mind, & in reconciling our peo-ple to the changed condition of things. I have & will in good faith conform my actions to the rule I recommend in my address.—I have upon all proper occasions advised acquiescence in the present order of things, & I have told the people that I did not mean by acquiescence, a reluctant & sulky sub-mission to the necessities of the hour, but an active & ready participation in the

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support of the Government & in the main-tenance of law & order.

I have troubled you with these de-tails as I am about to apply to the Presi-dent for the remission of whatever pen-alties I may have incurred by having served in the Confederate Congress, & I want your aid in securing to my appli-cation a favorable consideration.—I ask your assistance without hesitation as I know you can do justice to ^the^ purity of the motives which led me to participate to the extent I did in the late revolution or rebellion.—I never was a politician or a party leader. For more than twelve years immediately preceding the war I never attended a political meeting.—I have never directly or indirectly sought political position. In 1861 I was called upon by my fellow citizens to represent them & I could not decline. I gave my best efforts to their service, but I never favored or approved the extreme & in many instances the lawless acts of some of those in authority amongst us.

In the fall of 1860 I was condemned in the public prints for my moderation, & for recommending a resort to less extreme

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measures of redress for the wrongs com-plained of, than secession.—I believed se-session was a constitutional means of pro-tecting the rights & institutions of the states, but still I recommended, less extreme meas-ures.—I always have been, as you know conservative, & I to day believe there is not within the limits of the United States a man who has higher respect for the laws, or who will conform his action to them more faithfully.—

I am now fifty five years of age. My fortune which I had acquired by my active labor is gone. It consisted principally of lands & slaves. The slaves being manumitted leaves my lands of little value, not more than sufficient I am sure to pay my debts. All my hous-hold & other personal effects, except the few things our trunks contained have been destroyed.—My family is now dependent upon my labor for their support. During the war I would not & did not make one Dollar.—Will you my Dear Sir, write such a letter to the President as will aid me & send it to New Orleans under cover to Mason Pilcher Esq^r who will forward it to Washington with other letters.—Gov. Wells has sent me word by a mutual friend that he will earnestly recommend my pardon.

Sincerely your friend

Edw^d Sparrow

Hon
W^m L. Sharkey