Letter from Louis Martinez to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; May 13, 1861
Title
Letter from Louis Martinez to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; May 13, 1861
Subject
Mississippi. Governor; Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867; Unionists (United States Civil War)
Description
From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Pettus Collection. Letter from Louis Martinez in De Soto, Mississippi, to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus relating local efforts for defense, aiding families of soldiers, and ferreting out "offenders."
Creator
Martinez, Louis
Publisher
Mississippi Department of Archives and History. (electronic version); Mississippi Digital Library. (electronic version)
Date
1861-05-13
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_757-932-03-03
Coverage
1861
Text
Page 1:
De Soto. Miss.
May 13th., 1861
wanting ammunition
To—
His Excellency,
J. J. Pettus
Jackson.
Dear Sir.—
We have formed at this Town a House Guard as a protection in the absence of our volunteer Company, (The "Chickasahay Desperadoes") who, we expect will be called away soon to the scene of action. From the House Guard we have appointed an Executive Committee, who have appointed likewise vigilance Committee from the same, who are to act as a secret Committee to ferret out all offenders and report to the Executive Committee all such for their action in the premises.
Our jurisdiction [strikethrough] excludes [strikethrough] (proper) extends within a Military District the lines and bounds of which are described in our Constitution and by-laws. We have appointed also, a Committee to have a special supervision over the destitute families of those of any (no matter to what Company they may belong) of the Soldiers who may be called away—within
Page 2:
the limits of our District.
Having said this much I come now to the point:—We are without any Powder or ball, and can get none in Mobile, nor any where else of which we Know. We write to Know of your Excellency, if you can, and will furnish us with a small quantity; and promise you upon our Honor as Gentlemen, that it shall be held in reserve for the special purpose herein mentioned before—to defend our Homes and firesides, our Wi[strikethrough]f[strikethrough]ves and our children, and the Peace and the Dignity of the County of Clark and the State of Mississippi.
Very Respectfully,
Louis Martinez,
Chairman,
Executive Com.
May 13th 1861
L. Martinez
P. S.—We have money in hand to pay for the ammunition, if it can be obtained. —
L. M.
Reference—John S. Dobbs Esq.
Capt. James S. Terrall.
De Soto. Miss.
May 13th., 1861
wanting ammunition
To—
His Excellency,
J. J. Pettus
Jackson.
Dear Sir.—
We have formed at this Town a House Guard as a protection in the absence of our volunteer Company, (The "Chickasahay Desperadoes") who, we expect will be called away soon to the scene of action. From the House Guard we have appointed an Executive Committee, who have appointed likewise vigilance Committee from the same, who are to act as a secret Committee to ferret out all offenders and report to the Executive Committee all such for their action in the premises.
Our jurisdiction [strikethrough] excludes [strikethrough] (proper) extends within a Military District the lines and bounds of which are described in our Constitution and by-laws. We have appointed also, a Committee to have a special supervision over the destitute families of those of any (no matter to what Company they may belong) of the Soldiers who may be called away—within
Page 2:
the limits of our District.
Having said this much I come now to the point:—We are without any Powder or ball, and can get none in Mobile, nor any where else of which we Know. We write to Know of your Excellency, if you can, and will furnish us with a small quantity; and promise you upon our Honor as Gentlemen, that it shall be held in reserve for the special purpose herein mentioned before—to defend our Homes and firesides, our Wi[strikethrough]f[strikethrough]ves and our children, and the Peace and the Dignity of the County of Clark and the State of Mississippi.
Very Respectfully,
Louis Martinez,
Chairman,
Executive Com.
May 13th 1861
L. Martinez
P. S.—We have money in hand to pay for the ammunition, if it can be obtained. —
L. M.
Reference—John S. Dobbs Esq.
Capt. James S. Terrall.