Incomplete letter from Captain A. Q. Withers to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; October 28, 1864

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Oct 28^th 1864 In Camp near Holly Springs Mis

Govr Charles Clark

My Dear Sir

In justice to myself and this community I feel urged to lay before you Some facts, that our conditions may to Some extent be alleviated through you & if necessary to appeal to the President C. S. or Secretary of War. I have now about 100 men 85 of whom are, between the ages 45 & 50 years the remainder from boys from 17 to 18. Consequently Reserves. I have assigned to me for Conscription the Counties of Desoto Marshall & Tippah & to enforce all orders pertaining the Service in this department, from Col J. C. Davis the Comnd Reserve Corps 1^st district or this department, this branch of the Service was brought into requistion by Congress to increase our Army by Sending into Service the able bodied material engaged in the lighter _duties of the Service & the reserve Corps to fill their places. We are of course liable to be taken into any portion of State and leave unprotected this Section of the State that has to my judgment of all others been the most neglected, here we are unprotected in close proximity[page torn] to [page torn] Memphis & the Charleston R. R. subjec[page torn]er in Some portions y[page torn] of cou[page torn]r no idea you are awar[page torn] of [page torn]ings as they exist they m[page torn] be Sur[page torn] where once grew Cotto[page torn] & Several[page torn] cultivation let me lay [page torn] before y[page torn]ay be an extreme one bu[page torn] I know [page torn]anks have been upon m[page torn] Say 20 [page torn] was their ruling motto. I was a[page torn]tute of comforts they conse[torn page]-ed my [page torn]pping me of every thing movable taking off mules & horses to the number of 45 head all my cattle & Sheep killing my hogs consuming & burning up my meat. The burning up Gin House with 40 bales Seed cotton the burning of 1200 bbls corn in one day every House on our Plantation which left me withut any means of Subsistance this occured last

in Septr 63 on the 22^ond March last one Col Hurst (vile devil) came to my Home and burnt up my House with every article in it Self and family left with only what was on our persons not a change of clothing, not a pound of meat a few bushels of corn & wheat they also burnt every out House except a few Negroe Cabins & ^to^ cap the climax of their distruction drove off 48 negroes all [yrss?] the last one. They had at other times taken from me 28 mostly men it is true a few left on their own accord, thus you see my condition I have never received a dollar from the Confederacy nor a Soldier gave the 1^st year of the war every dollar on hand to our Soldiers & have contributed liberally to our destitute families. I had burnt up 365 bales of cotton by our government & had the ballance burnt by the Yanks have Sold Sime. The war commenced 5 bales & then only from necessity. nearly every Value-able paper & $2500.00 in Confed & State money was burnt in my House. you can See from this Statement what I have passed through & I only name it to Show you the condition of the country for there are many in my condition & when a people is Subjected to these raids & do not Suffer it is an evidence they are alienated from us & recieve protection at the Enemys hands= My command and true [page torn] there be among us that Shurk the Service because of gain & their [page torn] when we are away what protection w[page torn]r in the midst of Traitors, To aid [page torn] discripti-on Thieves. who encour[page torn] Say nothing of their own propensities [page torn] this border Section of the State. one [page torn] rascals of every discription, what [page torn] strain, our wives & children left to [page torn]r on the negroes & yankeys, Mar[page torn] & pass in to the Enemy, imparting in[page torn] and be taken away, and the chanses are now good for it, what will become of the Loyal citizens & families under Such a State of things for I no ^know no^ one else can Capture these characters if you ^do^ they desert & go again to trading & Stealing this has been the case & will continue. Therefore the men only that I am now getting up are true & loyal but will they not become disaffected when they see their

Families left Solely to the protection of those who have already Shown themselves to be our Worst Enemies. I wish to remain with at least my Command to give what protection I can if I get the privilige I can raise in a short time a Battallon or Regiment. Then our families wants may to Some extent be met three fourths of my men are in my condition, it become a grave question this 1^st law of nature. I have thus given you a detailed account that you may lend your aid to us.

As before enmumerated I have been reduced from affluance to want & penury. I have a large family one Son at 14 years old my eldest having been in the Service ^Since^ the War commenced 5 daughters all dependent on me for Support. My Second proposition is that I may be appointed your agent to controll the cotton trade ^to^ Memphis which I have understood to exist to Some extent not that I will go into the city, but that I can get responsible ^parties^ in M & adjacent to Sell buy & deliver to me & I to you or your order. This course is bound to be done for Should the Enemy find out the direct parties they will Suffer & [?] & goods Confiscated. I have many true friends in the city & one of my Old Firm Gates & Wood the other is living a few miles out through them the business could & would be conducted in Memphis while I could attend to transportation to & from Memphis. I bring Satis-fied I [page torn] River, by my getting an agency [page torn] and at the Same time under s[page torn]l warrented in Saying that I [page torn] than any other person bec[page torn]-use of m[page torn] the foregoing Subjects & let[page torn] me ins[page torn] is ruined people protected as far a [page torn]

What[page torn] counciled togather in our Milita[page torn]ting what a rugged [?] [page torn] have ev[page torn] to the Capital, Jackson[page torn] & the Social glass at the Boman but War Cruel War has Sealed me povertys Son. The cleoman devils may take from us costly goods but princ-iples never,. excuse the length & haste of this communication please address me Holly Springs Miss [gap] I am your Obdt Servt [gap] A. Q. Withers

Governor Charles C[page torn] Macon Miss

From

A. Q. Withers capt of a co. of State Troops—

Asks that his co. may not be moved from its present range & also asks that a permit be given him to send cotton thro the lines

[page torn] 6^th ins^t.