From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Two documents from J. W. Causey at Corinth, Mississippi. The first document, a petition, is addressed to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey at Jackson, Mississippi. In his petition, Causey claims that in April 1865, United States Army General Edward Hatch attempted to have Causey and an M. Pannell arrested for serving as witnesses in a case against a Philip Henson, whom Confederate authorities charged with being a "fed[e]ral" in 1864. Hatch's troops succeeded in arresting Pannell as well as allegedly setting fire to some of Causey's property. Pannell and a friend, Dr. Fitzhugh, then entered into a bond of $3,000 for Pannell's release. They were unable to pay the bond and Hatch allegedly seized Causey's tannery and property with intent to sell said property to pay for the bond. To prevent Hatch from selling the property, Causey paid $1500 of the bond and promised to pay the remainder on September 1st. With that date soon approaching, Causey asks Sharkey to "restrain" the military so he can bring the case before civil authorities. The second document, a letter from Causey, is addressed to Judge R. A. Hill, asking Hill to present Causey's petition to Governor Sharkey.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from N. G. Ford at Red Bluff, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, concerning the tax due on a shipment of cotton brought to Red Bluff before the Civil War ended.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from Ely R. Jones, deputy assessor for Jefferson County, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, asking for a bill of instructions.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from Sheriff A. Taylor of Wayne County, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, concerning the tax due on a shipment of cotton brought to Wayne County before the Civil War ended.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Petition from Doctor W. Kirk in Winston County, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey. Kirk, a physician, has made very little profit since the beginning of the Civil War, and coupled with his cotton being taxed, asks for the tax on his business be waived. Kirk's petition is sworn before and witnessed by probate court clerk E. D. Hyde. On the third page, Josiah Atkinson and B. Frank Woodward endorse Kirk's character in a statement sworn before and witnessed by Hyde.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Petition from Jacob Hurst in Copiah County, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, asking that the tax he paid on the cotton he sold be refunded to him.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from Haden Leavel at Benton, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, asking if there is any truth to a rumor about an order from United States President Andrew Johnson. The rumor purports that citizens of South Carolina will be compensated for the financial value of property taken by the federal government. The rumored order, Leavel heard, would include compensation to former slaveholders, as they considered enslaved persons as "property".

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from Charles Nettleton at New York City, New York, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, asking for the appointment as commissioner of deeds for Mississippi in New York.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from Thomas A. Cocke at Charleston, Mississippi, to United States President Andrew Johnson, seeking to get back property taken by the United States Army during the Civil War.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from J. S. Vaughan at Rodney, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, asking that James Smith of the 3rd Texas Cavalry be released from jail, as he was arrested for refusing to give up his horse and pistol to United States Army Lieutenant Lahone, whom Smith apparently mistook for a robber. Attached are reports from several United States Army officers, which explain that Smith has since been released but has yet to reclaim his horse, money, and pistol.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from B. B. Martin at Decatur, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, enclosing the petition of his son, S. R. Martin. (Enclosed petition not present).

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Petition from E. W. Wilkerson, postmaster and grocer at West's Station, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, asking that the tax on his business be waived. At the bottom of the page, Sheriff Lem Doty of Holmes County, Mississippi, endorses Wilkerson's petition and states that Wilkerson is "permanently crippled in his right-arm." On the reverse, J. A. P. Campbell also endorses Wilkerson's petition.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from James E. Broughton at Rodney, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, asking about the $20,000 clause for confiscation in President Andrew Johnson's amnesty proclamation. Broughton wishes to know whether it applies from the beginning of the Civil War or since the surrender of Confederate forces.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from S. R. Fant at Brooksville, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, asking that the business tax be waived, as he is a wounded veteran trying to get back to his family.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from Colonel William E. Bayley, provost marshal in Bolivar County, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, giving a report on the actions taken by his militia companies. Bayley also complains that African Americans have allegedly "nearly ceased work" since the arrival of United States Colored Troops.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from J. E. Gillwaters at Corinth, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, asking if he has to pay the fifty dollar business tax on his small dry goods business.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from W. H. West at Quitman, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, asking that the tax on his tavern be remitted.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from Sheriff J. V. Thomas of Verona, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, concerning hardships caused by the business tax.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from Sheriff James C. Culbertson of DeSoto County, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, giving an accounting of the monies he collected for the state of Mississippi.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from James Watts at Garlandville, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, asking that the business tax on his inn be remitted.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from D. F. Constantine at Shuqualak, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, asking that the tax on his business be reduced. On the reverse, Sheriff W. M. Connor and Thomas Haynes endorse Constantine's request.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Telegram from United States Secretary of the Treasury Hugh McCulloch at Washington, District of Columbia, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, concerning the disposition of Confederate cotton.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Petition from citizens of Enterprise, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, asking that the business tax be waived for the town. The petitioners state that Enterprise was mostly destroyed during General William T. Sherman's military campaign in February 1864. They further state that many citizens had only Confederate money on hand after the Confederacy's surrender, and have had to borrow money to start businesses in hopes of providing for their families.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from Otho Naylor in Louisville, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, asking that the tax on his business be waived.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from M. S. Day, United States Treasury Agent at Okolona, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, concerning his duties in collecting cotton that belonged to the Confederate government.