Letter from L. D. Burton to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; May 12, 1864

Richmond Miss May 12" 64

Hon Charles Clark Macon Miss

Dear Sir

Lest you may have fears, as to the manner, the Sheriff of this County is discharging his duty, I write you, he has made some deputies, in addition to the one he originally had, and in his appointment to my certain Knowledge, he has appointed the proper men, in this, one appointed, is a discharged Soldier, & is superintending three farms. This is Mr. R. A. Estes, on other, a man who is a Mechanic, Mr J. E. Nicholson an other, one, who has a Tannery, a farm & a splendid pack of Negro Dogs, Mr. J. M. Armstrong. These gentlemen are the very men for the place, honest high minded men, who will & do delight in enforcing the Civil as well as the military Law of this State. The Sheriff tells me (and I believe It) that it will take a number of deputies. Contiguous as we are to the Tory & Federal lines, it will require a Considerable Compay, to take Thieves & Robers & Deserters. They are now all engaged in arresting those Characters. It is regarded as the best policy, you could have adopted, for we have suffered our share from such men. We think in short time, we will not have a Thief Rober Deserter nor Tory in this Count, &these men will not only sustain the Law. whilst not engaged at that, they are in their farms or workshops. We therefore hope, that you will not have them interfeard with, by the Conscript Officers.

Weather, we have the most remarkable weather, why, Frost fell here on last night, heavy rains every few days, butwill not with standing, wheat is fine, other crops backward

Respectfully

F, D, Burton