Letter from General J. Z. George to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; March 24, 1863
Title
Letter from General J. Z. George to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; March 24, 1863
Subject
Confederate States of America. Army.; Courts-martial and courts of inquiry.; Military deserters.; Mississippi. Governor; Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867.; Trials (Military offenses)
Description
From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Pettus Collection. Letter from Confederate General J. Z. George to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus requesting a court-martial for deserters captured by his command.
Creator
George, James Z. (James Zachariah), 1826-1897
Publisher
Mississippi Department of Archives and History. (electronic version); Mississippi Digital Library. (electronic version)
Date
1863-03-24
Contributor
Funding for this project provided by The Dale Center for Study of War and Society-USM, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, the Mississippi Digital Library, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, the University of Southern Mississippi, and the Watson-Brown Foundation
Rights
NO COPYRIGHT - UNITED STATES; http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/
Language
English
Identifier
mdah_757-944-7-19
Coverage
1863
Text
Page 1:
Head Quarters, State of Mississippi,
ADJUTANT AND INSPECTOR
GENERAL'S OFFICE. Jackson, _ 186
Copy of Letter
Head Quarters Grenada 24th Mch 1863
To His Excellency
Mr Governor
I am satisfied that a considerate con=traband trade is now going on with Memphis, I suppose it is not to be doubted that this trade is very injurious in the intents of the Confederacy & ought to be impeded, A rule has been adopted by our Military Authorities, which operates to foster & encourage this trade. instead of surpressing it, This rule exempts from confiscation & seizure, goods which, though evidently imported from the U.S. have been purchased inside of our lines, This rule is very well understood by the Sharpers engaged in the trade, & of course they do manage that there shall always be a purchaser between them & the enemy, An agent is sometimes employed to get the goods & bring them out, who makes an invoice to the principal, Of course everything is done in form, as if the transaction was bona fide & regular,
But I respectfully suggest that even when this rule is Complied with in good faith, it operates to encourage & foster the trade, For it is quite certain that of the party bringing the goods from Memphis or other points in the federal lines, Could not sell them to parties who would be protected in the purchase, that no goods would be so bought, If their be any persons, who really in their owne account & not as agents for others, Engaged in bringing out
Page 2:
goods, they bring them such a short distance before a resale is made that it is impossible to seize them whilst in their hands.
I am satisfied that the only way to surpress this traffic is to seize & confiscate the goods in whomsoever hands they may be & present the party to whose possession they may be found ethically Merchant's & traders,
I would also respectfully suggest that a commissioner be appointed to adjudicate & condemn all property of that sort, Military Men have little time to attend to such Matters & it is not their [province?] to do it, Let the Military seize all sent & turn the property & the offender over to the Commissioner for regular judicial proceedings,
The way things are now conducted by Ex facto affidavits no [strikethrough] [unclear] [strikethrough] body representing the Government, the results are bad,
I believe the trade to be extensive & growing larger every day, & if it ought to be surpressed a change of some sort is essential to effect it,
Very Respectfully
Signed J.Z. George
Brig Genl Commanding
Page 3:
Head Quarters, State of Mississippi,
ADJUTANT AND INSPECTOR
GENERAL'S OFFICE. Jackson, _ 186
Brig Gen J. Z. George
Letter 24" Mch/63
Copy
Original sent
Genl Pemberton
Apl' 3rd 1863
Head Quarters, State of Mississippi,
ADJUTANT AND INSPECTOR
GENERAL'S OFFICE. Jackson, _ 186
Copy of Letter
Head Quarters Grenada 24th Mch 1863
To His Excellency
Mr Governor
I am satisfied that a considerate con=traband trade is now going on with Memphis, I suppose it is not to be doubted that this trade is very injurious in the intents of the Confederacy & ought to be impeded, A rule has been adopted by our Military Authorities, which operates to foster & encourage this trade. instead of surpressing it, This rule exempts from confiscation & seizure, goods which, though evidently imported from the U.S. have been purchased inside of our lines, This rule is very well understood by the Sharpers engaged in the trade, & of course they do manage that there shall always be a purchaser between them & the enemy, An agent is sometimes employed to get the goods & bring them out, who makes an invoice to the principal, Of course everything is done in form, as if the transaction was bona fide & regular,
But I respectfully suggest that even when this rule is Complied with in good faith, it operates to encourage & foster the trade, For it is quite certain that of the party bringing the goods from Memphis or other points in the federal lines, Could not sell them to parties who would be protected in the purchase, that no goods would be so bought, If their be any persons, who really in their owne account & not as agents for others, Engaged in bringing out
Page 2:
goods, they bring them such a short distance before a resale is made that it is impossible to seize them whilst in their hands.
I am satisfied that the only way to surpress this traffic is to seize & confiscate the goods in whomsoever hands they may be & present the party to whose possession they may be found ethically Merchant's & traders,
I would also respectfully suggest that a commissioner be appointed to adjudicate & condemn all property of that sort, Military Men have little time to attend to such Matters & it is not their [province?] to do it, Let the Military seize all sent & turn the property & the offender over to the Commissioner for regular judicial proceedings,
The way things are now conducted by Ex facto affidavits no [strikethrough] [unclear] [strikethrough] body representing the Government, the results are bad,
I believe the trade to be extensive & growing larger every day, & if it ought to be surpressed a change of some sort is essential to effect it,
Very Respectfully
Signed J.Z. George
Brig Genl Commanding
Page 3:
Head Quarters, State of Mississippi,
ADJUTANT AND INSPECTOR
GENERAL'S OFFICE. Jackson, _ 186
Brig Gen J. Z. George
Letter 24" Mch/63
Copy
Original sent
Genl Pemberton
Apl' 3rd 1863