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Tuscaloosa August 19 1863

Gov. Shorter

Dear Sir
Please excuse me for wrighting
you this note which I will make as consise as possible.
I have just concluded the reading of your message
to the Legislator, which meets my views, and hope
that body will not desolve its sitting until all
you ask has been provided for.
The matter I want to bring to attention, is this,
there is a large number of strangers and deserters
prowling over the Country to which you have
very properly brought the attention of the
Legislature, the numbers in the upper Counties is
alarming, and greatly intimidate the good
citizens and soldiers which residing in those
Counties, and if something is not done to remove
them, they will soon become a band of desperadoes
and will require to be kept down by the soldiers

I [lern?] that soldiers sent from the army to
get them to go back to the army have been shot
and twelve or fifteen killed.

I had a conversation with a man on yesterday
who told me he had an Interview with some of
them in the northern part of the County,
where they are very numerous, they were
from Gnl Braggs army, and swore they
would never go back to that army, but
if permited, would go to some other branch
of the army, now it is clear some concession
must made to them now or they will stay
out of the army, and become so bold in outrage
that a large number of soldery will be required
to keep them from devastating the country.
Would it not be the best course for you to
bring the facts to the notice of the President.