Civil War and Reconstruction Governors of Alabama

100 98 The Flag captured this daringly, was given to his Colonel, and, by his Colonel, returned to him, with instructions to send it to his Father in Alabama. At my request, the banner was yielded by the father to the State, and is now preserved in her Capitol, as a cherished Souvenir of the heroism of her son.

I am informed that his conduct on the occasion was bro't to the notice of his superiors, by Col. Winston, but of this I have no evidence; and mention it in my official capacity, to ask that you may suitably promote him, assuring you that it will not confer more pleasure on me, personally, than it will be gratifying to the people of Alabama - at large.

He stands very high, as a young man & Soldier, with his Regiment - officers and men; never having been, in nearly a years service - as I am credibly informed - under arrest - or reprimanded for the least neglect or orders - or violation of duty, and (which will, no doubt, be quite as gratifying to your Excellency) is irreproachable in manners and morals, being entirely free from all the habits of prevalent & popular vice and dissipation.

He is quick and intelligent in mind - and robust in person & health. Should it be within the legal discretion of your Excellency, I feel every confidence that it will give you pleasure to promote to a Lieutenancy, this very worthy young man; and this not more from deference to me - and the people of Alabama, than a sincere desire, on your Excellency's part, to distinguish merit, and advance the best interests of the army. I have the honor to be Your ob'^t Sev'^t (Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter c

Executive Department; Montgomery, Alabama, May 8, 1862 To the Honorable Mayor and Council of the City of Montgomery Gentlemen: Herewith I send you an order which I have caused to be made for the removal of the Cotton stored in the City of Montgomery. This order has been made for the purpose of saving the City from fire in the event it should be necessary to burn the Cotton to prevent its falling into the hands o the enemy; and inasmuch as it is designed for the benefit of the City I think the City authorities should assume the payment of the expense of removing it. I have no doubt you will take the same veiw of it, and I shall therefore, make the executors of the order dependent upon your action in the premises. I have the honor to be Your obedient servant (Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter c

Executive Department; Montgomery, Alabama, May 8^th 1862. Hon. G. W. Randolph, Secretary of War, Sir, I have the honor to enclose you - herewith, the application of Mr M. Holmes - ex-sheriff of Henry County Alabama, for a discharge. Mr Holmes volunteered in Co. A. 6^th Regiment, Ala. Volunteers, before the expiration of his Term of office - leaving the business of the office, in an unsettled condition; and he desires to return home & settle it. In addition to this, it appears that he is in declining health, and may not be fit for service; before he will be exempt from Conscription on accoun[t] of age. If not incompatible with the public interest, I w^d recommend that he be discharged - forthwith; Very Resp'^y Yr ob'^t Ser'^t (Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter; Governor of Alabama c

101 99 [left margin] (comp[?].) begin here Montgomery, May 8^th 1862 Dr Isaac F Dortch, J. J. Roach, and others, Camden, Wilcox Co. Ala My dear Sirs; The Commanding General, Lee - Gen^l Forney and Governor Shorter are uniting their energies and determination to defend - completely, the Alabama river by works and obstructions, both below, & above Mobile. The Governor is devoting the resources of the State - both pecuniary and otherwise, to the accomplishment of this object. We want a thousand laborers - to go immediately to work. Montgomery, Dallas & Lowndes Counties are, as we learn, contributing liberally as they have heretofore done. I know we need not urge, on you, the immense importance of keeping the enemy out of our rich Section. Able men are directing the work - at the head of whom I place Daniel Pratt, and his head-mechanic We have several steamboats chartered, and are at work on what, we hope, is a determinate and adequate Scale. We will succeed, if energy & means can command success. We feel that we are playing for an immense stake. We know the interest which Wilcox Co. has in this enterprize, and we know the patriotism of her people. We want laborers from your County, and, in fact, from all the river-Counties. May tax your known patriotism in this emergency? We want 150 laborers from your County, to aid in defenses below Mobile. They are wanted immediately, They are but a trifling percent of the male laborers of your rich County, Monroe & Clarke should also contribute - say 50 hands each. The public-spirited will contribute of their hands. As to the rest, that they be impressed - if necessary. Make them do their part. The hands must take spades - shovels - axes, and provisions for 20 days; and good and reliable men must go with the negroes, & protect them, - Say one supervisor for every 25 or 30. Cooking vessels also wanted. Transportation on Steam boats to be made-out against the state and settled here, by the Governor. Provisions, also, to be paid-for by the Governor, on the presentation of claim by the owner. Same for negrohire, if demanded. Gen^l Forney is urgent in this request, for immediate Service. May we urge you to great energy, as delay may involve ruin. The Governor commissions you - and such persons as you may designate to execute this order; and arms you & your appointees, with the power of the State, to impress hands, if necessary. The hands should be sent, immediately, to some landing on the river, to take the first steamboat. We send a copy of the Dispatch - under which this requisition is made. Laborers from Counties above you, have been assigned to duty on other works. Your hands will be reported to Chief Engineer Capt. Lemier, Mobile. The Governor has placed this business in my hands - and chairman of the Committee of Safety at this place Very resp'^y (Signed) Geo. W. Stone. Chairman Committee of Safety

Executive Department; Montgomery, May 8^th 1862 approved, in all particulars (Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter c

102 100 Executive Department; Montgomery, Alabama, May 10^th 1862 Gen^l D. Green, Qr Mr-Gen^l Mobile. Sir, As the knives and pikes were ordered by the Committee of Safety in Mobile, I suppose they were deposited with you for safe keeping. You will hold them - subject to the order of the Committee, or the Military authorities at Mobile. Resp^y Y^r ob'^tSer't. (Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter

Executive Department; Montgomery, Alabama, May 10^th 1862 Hon G. W. Randolph - Sec^y of War, Richmond. Dear Sir, Upon what I conceive to be a very great & pressing public necessity, I have, this morning, granted to the following named persons exemption from enrollment and service, under the "Conscription Act," viz. - A. Milner - Alexander Hart - R. H. Kelly - Cornelius Kennedy - Edmund Boyle - Benjamin C. Milner - Matt Kennedy - & James Lee. The Legal question is, I know, one that admits of controversy, but the nature of the case was too urgent to admit of delay; and I acted in the matter, with the full expectation, that when the case was stated to you - you would concur in the course propriety of my course - and, if need-be, ratify what I have done. These men are super-intendants - and overseers of negro laborers - now at work - to the number of (300) three hundred, on the line of Rail-Road - in process of grading, from the City of Montgomery to Decatur - on the Tennessee river.

The work is one of very great value and importance every way, as you, no doubt already comprehend; but its special importance at this juncture, and under existing circumstances is, that the Iron & Coal-beds, of great value & extent, which lie on the line of the Road, about 90 to 100 miles from this City, are looked-to, as the point at which we expect to develop, at the earliest moment possible, supplies of coal & Iron for the use of the Country. How[?] much both - but especially, Iron, are now needed we all understand. And, in this connection I may state to you that the State of Alabama has, recently contracted for an advance to a highly responsible company of gentlemen, the sum of two hundred & fifty thousand Dollars, for the manufacture of fire-arms, and it is the purpose of this Company to establish their manufactory, at the point above alluded-to on the line of this Rail-Road. In one year more, we are assured, by the Chief Engineer, that if the hands, now at work on the Road, can be kept at work - he will have the road graded from Montgomery to the said iron mines.

Now to the point, the negroes are showing symptoms of uneasiness & insubordination. A good many have run-away - already. They have to be watched - carefully - day & night. In this condition of things, if the men who have been set-over them for some time, and to whose control they have been accustomed, are removed, they cannot be kept on the work. The two-fold evil ensues, of stopping the work - and having 300 Negro-men - now under organization, turned-loose, and scattered here & there. The Chief Engineer of the Work assures me, that if his overseers - now in charge - are taken away, he cannot carry-on the work. Under this state of the case, I have concluded to give them exemptions, and, to avoid all controversy in the matter, I respectfully request that you will give a like order to the same persons whose names are given above. Very Resp'^y Your ob'^t Sev'^t (Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter c

103 101 Executive Department; Montgomery, Alabama, May 10^th 1862. Col. Jos. E. Murrell, Dear Sir, I duly received your esteemed favor of 2^d inst. for which accept my thanks. The pressure of business has prevented an earlier reply. The Telegraphic dispatches sent by Brigadier Gen^l Forney, of which you enclosed copies, were received through the Dispatch-office. I am much gratified to hear of the new energy, with which the defenses of Mobile are now being prosecuted. It is idle to indulge in reproaches or vain regrets as to the past. We have earnest work before us, and we must go - at it and press it onward with all possible vim. Much may be accomplished, even in the brief respite the Enemy will allow us. The Forts should be well-provisioned, and abundantly supplied with ammunition. The passes - on Dog-River Bar - if effectually closed, will arrest the fleet - if it reaches that point, but the batteries commanding it shoujd have big-guns - plenty of ammunition - well-protected in the magazines, and the men should be covered, securely, from the Shells and Shot of the Fleet. If this is not done, the men will be driven from the guns - and the guns will be lost. My opinion, however, inclines much to the idea, that, knowing the weakness of our Land-force, the Enemy - in addition to their fleet, will attempt a land approach to the City - with a largely superior force to ours. Could not Gen^l Lovell send a part of his Troops to re-inforce Gen^l Forney? As Pensacola, after all our labors & earnest wishes, has been abandoned, Brig Gen^l Jones' Command, will certainly join Gen^l Forney, in due time. In a landfight, we shall need more small-arms than we have. X The 1500 Enfield Rifles - promised me by the Sec. of War, and ordered, on the 14^th of April - to be sent, forthwith to Pensacola, were, on the 24^th April, by dispatch, ordered to Corinth. Last week I telegraphed for only 500, but could not get one. I have sent down all I had here; &, three days ago, sent Gen^l Jones 3 Cavelry Companies, armed here, with doublebarrell shot-guns. I have no arms now - but shot-guns, most of which have to be repaired - more-or-less and country rifles - which are being bored & repaired. I have several Shops at work, but good workmen are scarce; and the repairs move-on distressingly slow. I will, however, ship Gen^l Forney all the arms I can fit for service; now is the time to have plenty Cartridges & other ammunition got ready, if not prepared. As the shot-guns are of varying calibre, powder & lead should be distributed to the men, as they can, each, prepare cartridges to fit. Plenty of Buckshot should be got ready - I am having them moulded here, for Cavalry and Home Service. The batteries at Fort-Stoddard, and above, should be now pushed-forward with great energy. You may have to fall back to them; I hope not, but wisdom requires all due preparation. My call for negro-laborers to work on these defenses, has not been promptly responded-to in some of the Counties; to my astonishment & mortification; and I have been compelled to issue orders to press negroes - provision & materials. Pretexts set-up are the backwardness - & crop-demands, and the failure of former contributions of laborers - whose work was suspended by the removal of Gen^l Bragg's Command, and also - by the lukewarmness of some wealthy planters, who have, heretofore, done little or nothing. These men are dead weights upon our shoulders. Had I the power, I would bring them to their sense of duty, very quickly. They are not Unionists - or disloyal to the cause; but their spirit of avarice is the key to their disgraceful conduct. I have sent Ex-Governor Moore to visit the Counties, & hurry-up the ship-ment of hands.

My dear Colonel, with every new disaster - with every unpleasant rumor or suggestion, my will grows more resolute & determined

104 102 we shall be called to suffer and endure far more, I fear, than we have already passed through; but that we shall, untimately triumph, I have no doubt. Six millions of people, determined to maintain their right of self-government, can never be subdued. When the Yankees have got all our Coast & exporting cities, cut-off, as they will be, from the interior - they will find their possession, but barren victories; and they will be astounded at the grand moral spectacle of a great people, shut-out from the rest of the World, relying upon their own unaided power, & the God of Providence, who favoreth their just cause; giving conspicuous evidence to mankind that they value independence & free Government - beyond all other other Worldly considerations. Very truly, Yours - (Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter. P. S. What is the present condition of the Alabama Rain[?]? Has her machinery been completed? Is she armed and supplied with ammuntion? What kind of Guns? I fear her iron casing is not finished. I was telegraphed to-day, for six hands for a relay - iron-smiths, but have been unable to find but one - whom I send down tomorrow (Mr Murphey. a superior workman; I have dispatched to Selma for others, if to be had.

My health is rapidly improving, and I hope, in a few days, if I can get away, to visit you again. My heart is with you, & I pray God, that our beautiful Sea-port City may be saved from the pollution of an unnatural and wicked Enemy. (Signed) J. G. S.

Executive Department; Montgomery, Alabama, May 10^th 1862. To G. G. Lyon, & H. A. Woolf; You are, hereby authorized to impress, for twenty days, unless sooner discharged, one hundred able-bodied negro-men in Marengo County, to aid in constructing river-defenses at FortStoddard - and Choctaw Bluff - on the Alabama River; and near the Salt-Springs, on the Tombigbee river, and at such other points on said Rivers, as may be deemed necessary. In the exercise of the power, hereby given, you are instructed to adopt such course, as well be as nearly Equitable as may be practicable. The mode of doing this, is left to your sound discretion. It is important - not only that the labor be furnished promptly, but that each man - having the ability - should be made to contribute his due proportion. You will require each person, from whom a negro is obtained, to furnish twenty days subsistence, also an axe and a spade - if he has one. A sufficient number of sober & prudent men should be employed to superintend and manage the hands. Transportation will be furnished, and, if required, hire of overseers. Negroes, & subsistence will be paid-for by the state. You will make requisition upon any steamer, on either of the Rivers, for transportation, & have it charged to the State if any charge is made. The necessity for making this - and other similar orders to impress laborers, is much regretted, and was not anticipated. It was confidently expected that General Forney's requisition for hands - to aid in the construction of defenses for the Rivers, would have voluntarily - & promptly responded-to by those Counties through which these Rivers run; and that it would not be necessary to use the strong arm of the Law, to compel men to do that which patriotism enjoined - and self-preservation so imperiously demanded. Very Resp'y, Your ob'^t Ser'^t (Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter c

105 103 Executive Department; Montgomery, Alabama, May 10^th 1862 Hon. G. W. Randolph, Secretary of War, Richmond, Virginia. Sir, Col. F. W. Hunter, in Command of 2^d Cavalry Regiment Alabama Volunteers - and the bearer of this letter, visits Richmond, in the hope of obtaining orders for active service - at an early day. I have the honor to refer you to my Communication of 7^th inst. and trust you will not find it inconsistent with the public interest, to order this Regiment into the special service, which, I, then, took the liberty of pressing upon your Department.

The Rolls of the Companies are not yet ready for transmission to the office of Adjutant - & Inspector General, in consequence of one having been retained at Tuscaloosa - up to this time; a measure which the proximity of the Lincoln Forces - and the number of prisoners, at that point, rendered necessary. Orders, however, have been given to the Company to join the Regiment at this place, and on its arrival, the Muster-Roll will be forwarded. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, Your ob'^t Sev'^t (Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter c

Executive Department; Montgomery, Alabama, May 10^th 1862. Brigadier Gen^l Thomas J. Butler, Head-Quarters, Mobile, Ala. Sir, I avail myself of the earliest opportunity to reply to your letter of the 4^th inst (delayed several days, by the failure of the mail) tendering your resignation of the office of Brigadier-General of Alabama Militia. Your letter took me, completely, by surprise. The order of Brigadier Gen^l Forney, dismissing from service the Volunteer Militia Regiments - and dispensing with the valuable aid of yourself and Starr - I had not seen or heard-of until the receipt of your letter. The order itself I read - for the first time - to-day, in a Selma paper. I am a subscriber to both the City-papers in Mobile, but they are very irregular in their arrival, and if either number received by me, contained the order, it escaped my attention. I candidly state to you, that I am not less grieved than surprized at the publication of this order; and while I feel, as the Chief Executive of the State, that your resignation ought not to have been hazarded by any such proceeding - in consideration of past services, and prospective advantage to the State, as your personal friend, I cannot say that you are not fully justified in the course that you have thought proper to pursue. And yet, in view of the unfortunate condition of affairs, will you not allow me to refer back the question of your resignation to yourself, for reconsideration? I know your ardent patriotism- and undying devotion to our righteous Cause, and, if consistent with that self-protection & indication dear to every high-toned gentleman, you can, upon a review of the case, continue to hold the position, I earnestly beg you to do so. In the meantime, I will withhold my assured that you will act in the premises, as becomes your duty to yourself & your Country. With high personal regards, I am, Dear General, Your friend & obedient servant. (Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter c

106 104 Executive Department; Montgomery, Alabama. May 13th 1862. Hon Tho^s A. Walker, Sir, I have been advised by Telegraphic Dispatch - from W. B. Miller, Master of the Steamer, R. J. Lockheed, from Memphis, under date of 29^th Ult. that twenty two hundred sacks of Salt, belonging to this State, were on board his Boat, at that place. I telegraphed Gen^l Bragg, asking that the salt might be shipped over the Memphis & Charleston Rail-Road, and he agreed that it should be done, as soon as the necessities of the public service would permit its transportation. I have not, yet, been advised of its shipment, and [illegible] it is still, in Memphis. I desire, therefore, that you should go to Memphis, with as little delay as possible, and look after this Salt, and, if you can do so, procure transportation for it to this State. If you find that this cannot be done - you will store it as securely as possible, to await shipment by the first opportunity Very Respectfully, Yours, (Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter.

Executive Department; Montgomery, Alabama, May 13th, 1862. His Excellency, Gov ^Brown^, Milledgeville Geo. Dear Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10^th Inst, in reply to mine, in relation to the defenses of the Chattahoochie River. The Engineers subject to my order, are now employed in defending the rivers emptying into Mobile Bay, and I cannot, therefore detail an officer for this service. I have entire confidence in Col. Boggs, however, and I am willing to confide to him, the work of providing such works of defense, on the Chattahoochie, as, in his judgement, may be needed. I have appointed Dr W. M. Thornton & John M^cNab of Eufaula, who will co-operate with Col. Boggs, and who will have authority to represent this State in carrying out the plans which he may suggest. I concur in the opinion - expressed in your letter, that the channel of the River may be so obstructed as, effectually, to prevent the Gun-Boats of the Enemy from ascending it. These obstructions should be made at several points in the Rivers. How many - and what points should be selected - and the particular mode of obstructing the Channel, are matters which the Chief Engineer will determine; and whatever the plan of operation may be, I will co-operate in carrying it out, and, for that purpose, will invest the Gentlemen - before named - with full authority to represent this State. These gentlemen will be prepared to accompany Col. Boggs, whenever he may notify them of his readiness to undertake the work. I am, With great respect. Your obedient Servant. (Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter.

107 105 Proclamation. By the Governor of Alabama. Executive Department. Montgomery, Alabama, May 12th 1862. The policy of Conscription, which has been adopted by the Confederate Government, will so materially weaken the Militia System, as to impair its efficiency. For the purpose, therefore, of providing a reserve corps for the defense of our homes, I propose to organize a State-guard, to be composed of the entire white male population capable of bearing arms, not subject to Conscription, who will, for that purpose, unite in the formation of Volunteer Companies, and tender their services to me. We have reached the point in the struggle for independence, when every man who can fight must become a soldier. It will not be possible - nor is it desirable - that every man should leave his home, and take his place upon the tented field; but it is important that the entire fighting capacity of the Country should be organized - and rendered available for defense in every neighbourhood of the State. Such an organization is necessary not only to quiet any Domestic troubles - which may arise, but defend our hearth-stones against desecration by an invading foe. I do, hereby, enjoin upon all the people in the State, in every Community, who are capable of bearing arms, to enter - at once - upon the work of organizing Volunteer Companies, in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth. [left margin] begin. 1. Each company must consist of not less than forty privates four Corporals - four Sergeants - two Lieutenants - and a Captain. When the number of privates in a company exceeds Sixty, it shall be entitled to an additional Lieutenant. The Captain & Lieutenants will be elected by the Company; and the now Commissioned officers will be appointed by the Captain. 2. As soon as the requisite number of men shall have been enrolled, and the Company officers elected, the Captains will make-out their muster-rolls, showing the names - ages - and rank of every member of the Companies, accompanied by the Certificate of the Commanding officer, to the correctness of the Roll. These musterRolls will be, at once, forwarded to Gen^l H. P. Watson AdjutantGen^l of Alabama Militia, when the company will be, at once, accepted into the service of the State 3. The Companies - thus formed - will be subject to the order of the Governor, but will not be called into actual Service, except in cases of urgent necessity, & then they will be employed, only for purposes of local & State defense. 4. Each Company will be expected to provide its own arms, but the State will aid in furnishing ammunition. Captains of companies will be authorized to purchase all the powder & lead, which can be procured in their respective neighbourhoods, and upon properly certified vouchers, the State will pay for the same, which will be retained for Company-use, to be accounted for by Company Commanders. It is earnestly hoped, that every man in the State, who has - within his possession - either arms or munitions which he is not able to use in the Public Service, will place them at the disposal of their neighbours, who attach themselves to this organization. 5. It is not intended that this organization shall interfere with the business-pursu^i^ts of the people, as the Companies will be called into service - only in cases of actual necessity; but, for the purpose of acquiring some proficiency in the Drill, I request, that, in all our cities and large Towns, the business - Houses may be closed at 3 o'clock, PM., that the balance of the day may be

108 106 devoted to drilling; and that Companies organized in the Country - will drill as often as practicable, not to interfere too seriously, with their industrial pursuits. Even should this arrangement occasion some inconvenience, the public safety requires it, and no good Citizen will hesitate to adopt it. 6. All Companies reported under this Proclamation, will be enrolled as part of the State ^Guard^. When called into service, they will be paid and subsisted by the State, as other Troops. Should it be thought necessary, the Companies will be united into Companies Battalions and Regiments, and, in that event, the Field-Officers will be appointed by the Governor.

In testimony whereof, I, John Gill Shorter. Governor of the State of Alabama, have, hereunto, set my hand and caused the great seal of the State to be affixed, this - the 12^th day of May, A. D. 1862 and of the Independence of the Confederate States the second year [Locus Sigilli]

By the Governor, (Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter. (Sign^d] P. H. Brittan. Secretary of State

Executive Department: Montgomery, Alabama, May 14th, 1862. Col. J. Gorgas, Chief of Ordnance, C. S. A. Richmond, Va. Sir, I have the Honor to enclose a communication from T. H. Shepherd, Esq^r to you, which I take the liberty of commending to your especial consideration, and joining in his request that it may be submitted, through you to the President, and Secretary of War. Respectfully, yr ob^t Ser'^t. (Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter.

Executive Department: Montgomery, Alabama, May 14th, 1862. Brig^r Gen^l Thomas J. Butler, Head-quarters, Mobile, Ala. Sir, I have the pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of your gratifying letter of 12th inst, withdrawing your resignation of the position of Brig^r Gen^l of the ninth Brigade of Alabama Militia, for which, accept my thanks. I think it due to you, to return the letter making the tender, which - I herewith enclose. The amende, by Gen^l Fo[r]ney was no more than I anticipated from that gallant officer. With the best of wishes for yourself & our glorious cause. I am, dear Sir, Very truly, yours. (Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter.

Executive Department; Montgomery, Alabama, May 18th, 1862. Brigadier, Gen^l Tho^s J. Butler, A. M. Head-quarters, Mobile. Sir, I am to-day, in receipt of your letter of the 13th, containing the Correspondence between yourself & Brig^r Gen. Forney; & which I have placed on file in this Department. It is due to you that it should be thus preserved. I concur in your views as to the impolicy of the order in relation to the 90-day-Troops. I did all in my power to hold them, in what, I believed their true position; they should not reproach me for the unexpected passage of the Conscript-act, nor the orders of Confederate Officers in reference to it. Human Nature, however, allways hunts-up some-bod else's shoulders, upon which, to pile-up its own misfortune & dis-appointments. I thank you for your friendly intervention in my behalf, and hope those patriotic men, may appreciate all I have done in the premises. Very truly yours, (Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter.

109 107 Executive Department; Montgomery, Alabama, May 15^th 1862. Prof^r J. Darby, Dear Sir: I have the pleasure of acknowledging the receipt of your letter of the 13th inst., communicating a Report of your recent visit to the Salt-region of Clarke Co. For your promptness in responding to my invitation, & for the information contained in your report - please accept my thanks, with the hope that they may result in much good to the people of our State. I note, with approval, your suggestions, as to a more thorough exploration of that region, and for that Service, I know of no citizen of Alabama, more competent than yourself. I am aware that your private engagements demand your personal attention, and, ordinarily, I should not ask you, to forego those interests for the public good; But, I submit, whether, at a time like this, we all, do not owe it to our Common Country, to subordinate every other consideration to its service. The work - in which I invite your co-operation, is one of prime importance, involving not merely the comfort and convenience but the safety of our people. In view of these facts, I hope you will, if possible, consent to serve the State, by undertaking a thorough exploration of its Salt-resources, especially in that region, where springs have already been discovered; and, by a general supervision of the enterprizes which are on foot, for the manufacture of salt in this State

Hoping that I may hear from you, at an early day. I am, Very respectfully, Yours, (Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter.

Executive Department; Montgomery, Alabama, May 15^th 1862 Mess^r Figh & Rives, Gentlemen, As an exceptional case, I consent that you may sell - to Maj W. T. T. Ware, for Soldiers' families, 50 or 70 bushels of salt - on your own account - not making any entry of the same in your account with the state, and from Salt not packed for shipment to me - under the agreement with Dr Rives, to take all the surplus Salt. Very Resp'^y, Yr ob'd't ser't. (Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter.

Executive Department; Montgomery, Alabama, May 16^th '62 To Messrs Dennis, English, & Thomas, Gentlemen, When in Montgomery, Mr English, one of your firm, submitted a proposition, upon which you were willing to transfer to the State, a part of your lease of the Salt-works you are now work in Clark Co. That proposition was, in substance, the following; Reserving to yourselves a sufficient amount of Water, to make fifty bushels of Salt per day; and excepting a well which you had leased to a Company from Lowndes County, you agree to transfer to the State all the balance of your lease for the sum of fifteen hundred Dollars.

I have determined to accept your proposition, and write now, for the purpose of doing so. The fifteen hundred Dollars will be paid so soon as you make a written transfer to the State in accordance with the terms of your proposition; and I would suggest that one of your firm should come-up, at once, for that purpose. Yours respectfully, (Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter.