Letter from Fleming L. Swann to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey; July 24, 1865

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Letter from Fleming L. Swann to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey; July 24, 1865

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

People

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875 Sharkey, William Lewis, 1798-1873 Swann, Fleming L.

Events

Confederate States of America--Draft Conventions Conventions--Mississippi. Constitutional Convention (1868)Crime Crime--Destruction of property Crime--Robbery Crime--Threat Military Events--Guerrilla warfare Political Office--Appointment to office

Occupations

Clerks Provost Marshals Tax Collectors

Places

Mississippi--Hinds County. Jackson Missouri--Cole County. Jefferson City Missouri--Independent City. Saint Louis Missouri--Osage County. Bonnots Mill Virginia Virginia--Independent City. Richmond

Social Identifiers

Impoverished People Unionists (United States Civil War)

Page 1

Bonnotts Mill, Osage C^o. Missouri
July 24^th 1865.

His Excellency
W^m. L. Sharkey
Governor of Mississippi,

My Dear friend,

The first intelligence I have received from Missⁱ since the organization of a Provis^l Government for that State, is that of your own appointment by the President of the U. States, and it is indeed gratifying to me, always your warm friend, and also my friend in days past and gone, and both of us now and in 1851 firm and steadfast friends of the Union.

I heartily congratulate you on this evidence of confidence on the part of the Government, and whilst I have been robbed, burned of nearly all of my property and threatened with personal violence by Guerrillas & Bushwhackers in consequence of my uniform support of the Military, I hope that you have escaped unharmed. I have never rec^d a line nor message from any of my relatives either in Mississippi or Virginia

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and am astonished, as I have written to my mother and have rec^d no reply.

In my present dependent position and that of my family, (wife & one daughter) I would look upon a favor from you now, as one almost of charity. It is true we have considerable Land yet & some Houses & Lots here, near Jefferson City but yields no revenue, or income, beyond what is necessary for repairs, Taxes &^c &^c—all the property on the S. West Border, has been destroyed except the Land. All this belongs to my wife. The favor asked, would be an appointment to one of the State Offices, the duties of which, you are aware, I am familiar with, and if I could have any assurance I would go to Jackson at the assembling of the Convention at the time designated in your Procl^atn which has been published at S^t Louis & Jefferson with much delight.

As to my firm and uniform support of Loyal principles, sustaining the Government at all hazards, I can bring evidence from the Provost Marshal General of Missouri, as I was the Chief Clerk in that office, until

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recently at Jefferson City, only 12 miles distant, until the office ceased to exist, and the Draft suspended, as the war was about to terminate. This was the 5^th Congress^l Dist. M^o the largest in the State.

Now, my Dear Sir, I beg you to answer me at your very earliest convenience.

With the best wishes for your health & happiness, and a warm desire to see your administration of the State Government successful, I beg leave to subscribe myself, always your true friend.

—Fleming L. Swann.

Will you be kind enough to give my love to my Brothers, if there, with a request that they would write me. I would write them, but I have no more paper than will be required to write to my Dear Mother, near Richmond V^a. if alive.

address me
Bonnott^s. Mill
Osage County
Missouri

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Fleming L Swan
A friendly letter in which he asks an Office