Letter from Captain H. B. Deekes; July 14, 1864

Hd Qrs E O ^a/_o Cougl Dist Brookhaven Miss July 14 1864

Major—

I have the Honor to make the following statement in reference to Capt Pierces Company as well as others raised in my Dist and [?] in which Capt Pierce has Conducted himselfin this and adjo=ering Counties; Capt. Pierce was ordered to report to Camp of instru ctions in February last by Lt Younkin their E O at this place, he went to Gov Clark and obtained authority to raise a Company of State troops He got together a few deserters from other Commands and went to impressing horses without authority and committing others depredations upon private property which he has Continued to do [?] to the prevent times I thin his authority to raise s [?] &c Company was revoked by the Department Commander which Co was them [?] he took what few means he last [and?] [?]

left my Dist and attached him self to Major Peyton's Battallion in the 4th Dist which from the best information I Can gather is Compo-sed of four Nominal Companies of deserters and men between the ages of 18 & 45 years to evade ser=vice. Capt Peirce is between the ages of 28 & 45 yeast and Cannot evade Genl orders No. 8 hold his office in said Company. Lt Salmon ^[provost m]^ need an order to arrest C. O. Nelson as a deser=ter from Co"B" 22 Miss Regmt who is 1st Lt. in Capt Pierce's Co Lt & made a demand upon Cap Pierce for Mr. Nelson & he (Pierce) promised to deliver Nelson to him, About two weeks afterwards Lt Salmon ask^ed^ Pierce about ^it^ and he told him Chas he had ordered him to his Command ^which he had not done^ and upon that same day : Lt Salmon went with a squad of men and assisted Mr. [?]. Enclosed find ^copy of^ an affidavit of Mrs. Sarah N? whose husband is in the army in refereince that empressment of his

horse and an order of Gov—Clarke for the arrest of those man. I am this moment informed by John Temple a neighbor of Mr. Neece's and a reliable gentleman ^that the horse^ in the the plan at Capt Peirce's and has been all the years. This fact he says Can be establisshed by a half dozen of witnesses I am informed by Mr Burns an old man who is pedling for a supp ort that Capt Pierce stoped his little wagon & tooK all of his [tobacco?] from ^him^ seven Quiris of paper for : [cohiol?] he did not pay him and went to his house & took all of his [?] and tobaccoe from [?] and that the [?] to his house afterwards for [more?] salt tub did not find any and loose his negro boy off to his Command &Kept him some time all of which he says he can establish by proof I mention these things in order that you may form some idea of the Kind of a man Capt pearce is I have heard an expression of Nearby [?] one with where I am acquainted ? chas

Community and the Community is [tenacious?] is their opinion stock he is a very unreliable ^and^ enough Man's He was under a very bad character before the [town?] & has been [growing?] ever ever since—. You will also find Copy of Authority under which he impressed salt from Mr. Hansborough of this ^place^ They say farther information I refer you to Capt W^m M Chamberlain Chf Provost Marshall Jackson Mis [?] I am informed has investigated his character For information in reference to Capt [team?] I refer you to letters of [?] Clk & 28th Capt Hudnall's Co is the only one that I have in my Dist and I Can do nothing it he is taken from me: I will order Capt Pierce to proceed with his Company to Enterprise but I have no idea he will go & Where is no Co in process of organiza tion n my Distsict but I will proceed to organize Companies as fast as Men of the proper age repoints

Maj Hudnall or I have the Hose in Major Citizens [?] to be your obt Servt,

Capt & E O B Deeker [?] Dist