From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Alcorn Collection. Two letters and a sworn statement from C. M. Thomas, W. A. M. Hemy, and A. J. Shipman to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn, concerning an escapee from the jail of Noxubee County, Mississippi. Thomas writes to say that he had investigated the incident which was first reported as having been an abduction of a prisoner with the "help" of the guards on duty by masked men; however Thomas says that this was false and the prisoner escaped from the jail by jumping out of a window. Additional correspondance details the other accounts of the incident.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Alcorn Collection. Petition from Bell Davis at Valewood, Mississippi, given to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn, applying for pardon and asking to be released early from her incarceration so that she can care for her struggling mother.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Alcorn Collection. Letter from George Fletcher, an African American man in Washington County, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn, expressing his concern with the ability of African American people to make a living off the land when they are being charged $10 for an acre or two for rent. Fletcher asks Alcorn if he could make some arrangement for relief.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Alcorn Collection. Report from J. J. Gainey to L. M. Hall, chief of the Mississippi Secret Service, describing how he got a young Mr. Woods to confess to being a member of "the three K's" and to being involved in shooting up a widow's home, and the murder of another African American man during said incident. Gainey states that he is enclosing affidavits of witnesses to the confession. (Enclosed affidavits not present).

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from United States Army Colonel Samuel Thomas of the Freedmen's Bureau at Vicksburg, Mississippi, to J. D. Collier, informing Collier that his rights as lessee of an abandoned plantation will be protected by Thomas and his men. (Document is related to mdah_776-960-01-16).

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Petition from several citizens of Chickasaw County, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, concerning outrages allegedly commited by United States Colored Troops stationed in their community.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Clark Collection. Incomplete letter from Confederate Captain A. Q. Withers, commander of a company of state troops at Holly Springs, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark, asking that his troops remain in Marshall County, Mississippi.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey at Jackson, Mississippi, to Major General Henry W. Slocum, concerning a legal case in Warren County, Mississippi, in which a plantation owner sued to regain his leased property. A Colonel Thomas allegedly arrested one of the justices of the peace who tried the case after judgment was rendered in favor of the plaintiff. Sharkey regards Thomas's actions as unbecoming, and he asks Slocum to "furnish the [Warren County] sheriff with sufficient military force" to execute the court's judgment. Also included is a hand-transcribed copy of Sharkey's letter to Slocum (possibly transcribed by a member of either Sharkey or Slocum's staff).

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Clark Collection. Letter from William McWillie, former Governor of Mississippi at his Kirkwood Plantation in Madison County, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark, asking that Doctor E. H. Anderson be pardoned for allegedly illegally selling spirituous liquors.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Clark Collection. Letter from Mary A. Christian at Forrest, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark, concerning the impressment of her overseer into the Mississippi militia.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Clark Collection. Letter from W. H. Quarles at Macon, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark, complaining about crimes allegedly committed by Confederate Army deserters in Smith County, Mississippi, and asking for assistance in driving said persons out of the county.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Clark Collection. Letter from Mississippi Governor Charles Clark at Macon, Mississippi, to Captain W. E. Montgomery, commander of the Herndon Rangers (Mississippi Militia, Cavalry Battalion, Second Reserves), giving him authority to move his command and impress items needed for his company. Clark also orders Montgomery to arrest anyone who gives away his unit's movements to the United States Army as spies, and gives him instructions on protecting local plantations, imprisoning African Americans, and dealing with Confederate Army deserters.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Clark Collection. Letter from Captain W. E. Montgomery, commander of the Herndon Rangers (Mississippi Militia, Cavalry Battalion, Second Reserves), to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark, informing Clark about attempted United States Army cavalry raids in his area of operation, as well as soldiers that may need to be released from service. Montgomery also writes on the health and safety of his family, as he claims that United States soldiers have threatened to capture and hold them hostage.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from Sheriff W. M. Conner of Noxubee County, Mississippi, at Macon, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, at Jackson, Mississippi, asking if the tax on cotton should be collected before it is taken to market.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from J. J. Wheeless at Bahala, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, asking that the tax he paid on a number of cotton bales be remitted as they were stolen.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from John Bobb, Jr., at Vicksburg, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, seeking to rent Sharkey's plantation in Warren County, Mississippi, and inquiring about the rental terms.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from John A. Binford, [Sr.], at Duck Hill, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, informing Sharkey that his son, John A. Binford, Jr., wishes to form a company of mounted men for the state militia. Binford complains that African Americans on local plantations are allegedly armed with Enfield rifles, and he suggests that the militia should be authorized confiscate firearms from African American persons.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from J. G. Baptist, justice of the peace at West Point, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, asking about the powers of United States Treasury agents.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Two letters from R. S. Buck and George K. Birchett, respectively, both at Vicksburg, Mississippi, to Major General H. W. Slocum. The first letter, by Buck, concerns the leasing of Doctor R. B. Scott's plantation under the Abandoned Lands Law of 1864 and a legal case that ensued. The second letter, by Birchett, a justice of the peace who tried said legal case, states that the case discussed in Buck's letter is the one on which Colonel Samuel Thomas ordered Birchett's arrest.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from Joseph E. Davis, brother of former Confederate President Jefferson Davis, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, concerning the condition of his plantation in Warren County, Mississippi.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from R. S. Buck at Vicksburg, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, concerning his client, R. B. Scott, who sued in civil court to get back his plantation that had been leased by the United States Army.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from Sheriff W. J. Taylor of Madison County, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, complaining that he needs deputies to help him carry out his assigned duties. Taylor particularly wishes to hire guards to aid in the attachment of cotton. Beyond attachment orders, he states that much of his work is executing warrants against African Americans for larceny. Taylor also complains that the United States Army troops camping on the county courthouse grounds have rendered him no assistance and have allegedly caused harm to the grounds.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter form J. Pearce at Nitta Yuma, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey at Jackson, Mississippi, offering his ideas on how to implement a system of free labor on Mississippi plantations.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from George S. Gaines in State Line, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, complaining about federal policies which he says are encouraging formerly enslaved people to leave plantations. Gaines is frustrated that plantation owners can no longer legally exercise control over African Americans and their labor. He complains that planters cannot produce enough cotton, corn, and other crops.

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from S. S. Boyd at Natchez, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey, asking Sharkey to help Major Chotard reclaim his plantation in Issaquena County, Mississippi.