Letter from M. Butt Hewson to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; October 12, 1874

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Letter from M. Butt Hewson to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; October 12, 1874

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

People

Alcorn, J. L. (James Lusk), 1816-1894 Ames, Adelbert, 1835-1933 Gillem, Alvan C. (Alvan Cullem), 1830-1875 Harris, Frank C.Hewson, M. Butt Ord, Edward, 1818-1883 Powell, John M.Rowland, Dunbar Spinner, Francis Elias, 1802-1890 Tidball, William Linn

Events

Taxation Taxation--Mississippi Wars and Military Conflicts Wars and Military Conflicts--Central American Civil War

Organizations

Mississippi--Department of Archives and History Post offices United States--Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands United States--Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. District of Mississippi

Occupations

Law Enforcement Law Enforcement--Sheriffs

Places

Mississippi--Coahoma County Mississippi--Jackson County New York Washington (D.C.)

Social Identifiers

African Americans African Americans--Enslaved People Enslavers

Page 1

[seal]

Box 1891, P O
New York, Oct. 12th 1874.

Dear Sir:

I am engaged in an enquiry which will, I expect, lead me to conclusions that will enable me to point out a duty to you in refer-ence to proceedings for restitution in the interest of Mississippi. Before embodying the result of my examinations in a~~n affid~~ letter to you as Gov-ernor of the State, I must seek in the first place to occupy a position by which I may repel the villification by which my testimony will be assailed. With that view I ask you to obtain for me the following papers now on file in Washington City or to cause them (by a request for one to one party, and for another to another) to be sent to me to this address.—

In December 1872 or January 1873 M^r Senator Alcorn testified before the Southern Claims Commission in the case of a claim of M^r John M Powell of Coahoma as ^to^ M^r Powells loyalty. A transcript of that evidence duly certified is one of the papers I seek.

Between July and October 1867 Captain W^m Linn Tid-ball was sent by Gen^l Gillem (then Asst Commissioner of Freedman's Bureau for Mississippi) to Coahoma with instructions to investigate a sale of the chattles of John M Powell for taxes during the war, by Sherriff Allen of Coahoma. The enquiry was ordered by Gen^l Gillem at the instance of Gen^l Ord, to whom complaint in the case had been made on his character as Commander of the District, or perhaps of Military Governor of the State. Capt Tidball's report refers to, and was accompanied by, several papers, one a copy of a letter in M^r Al-corn's handwriting purporting to have been written by M^r Powell, and another an affidavit of M^r Alcorn as to M^r Powell's loyalty. These two latter papers or cer-tified copies thereof & a certified copy of any reference made to them in the report, are the other papers I seek.

If you can cause the documents I describe to be sent to me from Washington where they are on file, I shall be very much obliged.

Very Respectfully, Dear Sir, your obdt sevt,

M Butt Hewson.

Governor A Ames.

Page 2

Jackson Miss
Oct 19 '74

My dear Frank

Can you get the information asked for within and forward the same to Mr Hewson. If you do send me copies

Yours

Adelbert Ames

Mr Frank C Harris
Care of Genl Spinner
Washington D. C.

Page 3

DEPARTMENT OF
ARCHIVES AND HISTORY
[Mississippi seal]
DUNBAR ROWLAND,
Director,
JACKSON, MISS.

Copy /

Box 1891, P O
New York, Oct. 12th 1874.

Dear Sir:—

I am engaged in an enquiry which will, I expect, lead me to conclusions that will enable me to point out a duty to you in reference to proceedings for restitution in the interest of Mississippi. Before embodying the result of my examinations in let-ter to you as Governor of the State, I must seek in the first place to occupy a position by which I may repel the villication by which my testimony will be assailed. With that view I ask you to obtain for me the following papers which are on file in Washington City, or to cause them (by a request for one to one party, and for anoth-er to another) to be sent to me to this address.

In December 1872 or January 1873 Mr Senator Alcorn testified before the Southern Claims Commissioners in the case of a claim of Mr. John M. Powell of Coahoma as to Mr. Powell's loyalty. A transcript of that evidence duly certified is one of the papers I seek.

Between July and October 1867 Captain Wm L. Tidball was sent by Gen'l Gillam (then Asst. Commissioner of Freedman's Bureau for Mississippi) to Coahoma with instructions to in-vestigate a sale of the chattles of John M. Powell for taxes during the war by sherriff Allen of Coahoma. The enquiry was ordered by Gen'l Gillem at the instance of Gen'l Ord to whom complaint in the case had been made in his character as commander of the District,

Page 4

or perhaps of Military Governor of the State. Captain Tidball's re-port refers to and was accompanied by several papers, one a copy of a letter in Mr. Alcorn's handwriting, purporting to have been written by Mr. Powell and another an affidavit of Mr. Alcorn as to Mr. Powell's loyalty. These two latter papers or certified copies there-of, a certified copy of any reference made to them in the report, are the other papers I seek.

If you can cause the documents I describe to be sent to me from Washington where they are on file, I shall be very much obliged.

Very Respectfully dear Sir your
obedient servant,d

M. Butt Hewson.

Governor A. Ames.

This endorsment appears on the foregoing letter.

Jackson, Miss. Oct 19 1874

My dear Frank. Can you get the information asked for within and for-ward the same to Mr. Hewson. If you do send me copies

Yours

Adelbert Ames

Mr. Frank C. Harris
Care of Gen'l Spinner Washington D. C.