Shorter_correspondence_RSG00689_Q145250_Q145648

18 16 Executive Department, Montgomery, Ala. Dec^r 27^th 1861

B. C. Flannagan, Esq^r [check] Sir, I have before me, your favour of the 21^st inst. in relation to your son and young Mr Abell.

I fully appreciate their laudable motives, and your anxiety in their behalf - but I regret the absence - on my part - of much power to further their wishes.

Probably - an application to the Confederate Government - through some friend in Richmond, might meet a favorable response; in which case, any aid I can give them will be most cheerfully accorded by, Sir, Yours, Very Respectfully (Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter = Executive Department, Montgomery, Ala. Dec^r 31^st 1861 Mr H. F. Smith, [check] Sir, Your letter of the 26^th inst just rec^d Keep an a/c of your expenses - they will be paid by the State - or - if you need any money before leaving, State the amount - and how it should be sent, and it will be remitted. Let me know the number of packages; over what roads - and to what point you wish to take them - So that transportation may be provided before you leave Very Resp'y Jn^o Gill Shorter, by (Signed) Ja^s S. Albright, Private Sec^y - Executive Department, Montgomery, Ala. Jan^y 3^d 1862 Mr. C. E. Brame, [check] Greensboro, Ala. Sir, In reply to your esteemed favour of Dec^r 26^th, I have to say that I will pay $35- a-piece for 100 newor uninjured Enfield rifles - with Sabre-bayonets. This is the price they are reported to bring in the Confederacy - under the blockade. I will pay the above-price for the arms - boxed and delivered here - or in Mobile. If you raise a Company of 12 months' your Command will be ordered to Kentucky. Gen^l Bragg will not accept troops - on the Coast - except for the War. If you can procure the arms - on the terms above - mentioned and will raise your Company - & report ready for marching orders by first of February - I will accept you, and allow your men the use of the arms. Respectfully Yours (Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter =

17 19

Executive Department Montgomery, Ala. Jan 24^th 1862

Tho^s M. Peters. Rich^d O. Pickett, and others, [check] Gentlemen, I am in rec't of your recommendation of Mr Z. [?] Freeman for the position of military agent to procure arms - clothing - &c for Volunteers - under an Act of the last Session of the Legislature.

The Act- referred - to is wholly unavailable at present for the reason that the $180.000 appropriation by it are not in the Treasury. All expenditures from the Treasury, are being made out of balances of former appropriations - and it would be useless to appoint agents before the money appropriated shall have been realized by the Treasury. Very Respt,^y (Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter = Executive Department Montgomery, Ala. Jan 24^th 1862

Hon Wm M. Smith, Selma, Ala. [check] Sir, Your favour of 28^th Ult. to the State Treasurer, has been referred to this office for attention. I am happy to say that I approve and endorse all you say. The difficulty of obtaining Engraving &c. is well-known to us.

Your proposition to pay, into the State- Treasury, $50,000 - from-time-to-time, in exchange for State Bonds will be agreeable to us; and Currency will be received from your Bank - in view of the fact, that you propose to take - at least $300,000 of the Bonds - which will be advantageous to the State.

I leave- to-day- for Mobile, on business connected with the Military Defense. Respectfully Yours, (Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter = Executive Department Montgomery, Ala. Jan 11^th 1862

Hon. Richard O. Pickett [check] Sir, Your letter of the 1st Inst., resigning the office of Adjutant & Inspector Gen^l A. M. alas received in due time. Under the facts and circumstances, stated in your letter - I fully concur with you as to the propriety of your resignation; but regret that I shall be deprived of the presence and assistance of a gentleman so competent to render such efficient aid in the organization of the Militia. Your resignation is accepted. Very respectfully, Your Ob^t Ser'^t (Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter =

Executive Department Montgomery, Ala. Jan'^y 13^th 1862 Hon. J. P. Benjamin [check] Secretary of War: Sir, I have recently, visited the Forts and Encampments of our Troops - at, and near Mobile, and deem- it my duty, to the People of Alabama, to report to your Department - the great need of munitions - for the defense of our Coast _ both guns - for the fortifications - and small-arms for the land- Forces. I hope to be able to specify - at an early day - the description and number of guns needed for the Forts. The Land-forcesthere - are now wanting several thousand muskets or Rifles

I beg to hand you - enclosed - a letter from the Hon^l P. Hamilton - chairman of the Executive Committee of Safety - for the City of Mobile - in reference to certain arms in Havanna, and to call your attention to the suggestions contained in it. and, respectfully, to ask your compliance with the same.

In our opinion, I am sorry to say that, in view of the increasing armaments & numbers of the Enemy in the Gulf - and his threatening attitude towards our Coast, we are, perhaps, as unprepared - by want of guns and arms - for his reception as any point in the Confederacy.

I hope I may be pardoned for reminding the Department, of the many thousand arms which Alabama promptly contributed - and sent into distant States, in the hands of her own Volunteers, for the common defense - and for further advising that, under the recent requisition of General A. S. Johnston, we have forwarded over two Regiments of armed troops to Tennessee & Kentucky. We make no boast of these achievements - on the contrary we - profoundly regret that we had it not in our power to do far more than has been accomplished. While, however the Enemy is now seriously threatening our own soil, which has, thus far, spared the pollution of his foot-print, & in view of our own destitution - by reason of a surrender of our arms for the defense of other - prior-exposed-localities I am sure you will - most favorably - consider the sincere and urgent appeal I here make.

I have the means with which to procure additional arms, and am making contracts for their manufacture within the State; but the emergency is now so pressing, that we are unwilling to await the delays of delivery - months hence, and have no other alternative - but to appeal to your Department to afford us prompt & timely relief -

Awaiting- I trust your early & favorable response - I am, with high regard, Your ob.^t Ser'^t. (Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter =

19 21

Executive Department Montgomery, Ala. Jan 13^th 1862 Hon. H. P. Watson [check] Dear Sir, The office of Adjutant and Inspector General, of the Alabama Militia, has been vacated by the resignation of Hon. R. O. Pickett. In view of the duty devolved upon me to, thoroughly, organize the Militia of the State, for the Defense of the State and Country - and the valuable aid which your experience will enable you to render the state in its Military Department, I have ventured to tender you the enclosed Commission to the office of Adjutant and Inspector -General of the Alabama militia; and I earnestly request that it may be agreeable to you- to accept the same. With high regards, I am Your Ob^t Ser^t (Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter. = Executive Department Montgomery, Ala. Jan 13^th /62 Mr. A. Burness, [check] Lessee of Penitentiary, Wetumpka, Ala. Sir Necessary absence from the Capitol has prevented an earlier reply to your letter of the 6th inst,

As- under Sect - 3705 of the Code of Alabama - the Executive, in his discretion, may order a deduction of two months from each year of imprisonment, when the Board of Inspectors have reported the conduct of the Convict as unexceptionable, during the time of his imprisonment; and as, in my judgement, such an exercise of Executive clemency will have a wholesome influence over the conduct of the prisoners, I hereby authorize you - without special instructions, to allow the deduction - in all cases - except those prohibited by the latter clause of Sec. 3705 of the Code. Very Resp^y Yr- Ob^t Ser^t (Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter.

= Start Here Executive Department Montgomery, Ala. Jan 13^th 1862. To/ Dr^s James C. Harris - M. G. Moore - Tho^s W. Mason, [check] Wetumpka, Ala. Gentlemen; Under the Act of the General Assembly - of 9^th Dec^r 1861 Dr Tho^s W. Mason, Physician to the Penitentiary, has reported, to this Department, the enclosed list of persons in the StatePrison suffering from Insanity in its various forms.

The Law in this event - makes it my duty to appoint three Physicians - of skill & experience - of whom the Physician of the Penitentiary shall be one - to examine the persons reported to be insane, and to report the result of such examination to this office.

In pursuance of the Law - I have appointed you - and each on of you - to constitute a Board of Examiners; and have to request that you will visit the Prisoners mentioned, and examine - and report their Several Conditions as to insanity - to this Department. Very Resp^y- Yr ob^t Ser'^t. (Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter. =

22 20 Executive Department Montgomery, Ala. Jan 13^th 1862 Mr. Tho^s E. M^cNeil Dalton, Geo [check] Sir, An unexpected summons to Mobile and our Gulf-Coast has prevented an earlier reply to your two communications - proposing the establishment of an armory in the State of Alabama for the manufacture of small-arms.

After due reflection, I have concluded to submit to you, the following qualifications to the propositions made by you. 1. The arms shall be manufactured at an armory in this State, which shall be permanently located in Alabama, and which shall not be removed beyond the State nor abandoned - on pain of forfeiture to the State - 2. No other arms shall be made at the Armory until the State shall have received full - payment - in arms - as stipulated in the Contract; and the State shall have the right - in perpetuity - to purchase - or order the manufacture of - arms, in preference to all other Contractors, & at fair market prices, at the Armory. 3. The advances shall be made in amounts, to be mutually fixed - and in State-Bonds - having years to run - at 8 pr. ct. interest per annum with interest-coupons attached - payable semi-annually, and shall be received at par value, and paid-for- in the character and description of arm - and at the price mentioned by you - you, of course, crediting the Statein settlements - with the amount of Bond advanced at par value - with 8 pr. ct. interest pr. annum, from the date of the advances. 4. The advances and interest to be secured by personal security - within the State of Alabama (to be approved by the Governor of the State) and by mortgage - or deed of Trust on the lands & buildings to be occupied - and on the machinery - tools - and materials, to be supplied for the establishment. 5. The delivery of the arms to be made at the State - armory - at the Capitol.

If you accept these qualifications to your propositions, I am disposed to contract with you, to the amount of $250,000, as provided in the appropriation made by our Gen^l Assembly. You will please notify me - at your earliest convenience, or come down, & confer further, on the subject. Your ob'^t Serv'^t (Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter. = Mobile, Jan^y 10^th 1862. Maj. Gen. Tho^s W. M^cCoy, [check] Sir, I hand you - herewith - Military Order - No. 1. to which I call your immediate - and earnest attention. The public defense against the invasion now threatening our soil, is a matter of primary importance Orders - special - have been directed, by me - To Brig^r Gen^l Butler, for the organization of his Brigade, more stringent than those herewith communicated, to be extended - by you to the 22^d Brigade. The reasons for this departure are sufficient to justify the same.

Regretting that it has not been in my power to call upon you - in return for your polite attentions, I am Respectfully Yours, (Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter =