Letter from Mississippi Governor Charles Clark to General Leonidas Polk; May 12, 1864

[seal]

Executive Office Macon Miss. May 12 '64

Gen^l

I have the honor to receive your Communication of 30^th last—

In reply I state that I de-sire to send from points most convenient in this state cotton in the amount not exceeding twenty five hundred bales, to New Orleans & other places in the Confederate States now in possession of the curency to be exchanged for medicines, clo-thing & other supplies now needed^ for being fully necessary^ by the soldiers & their destiture familes of this state, & such ar-ticles as are necessary also for the manufacturing of clothing. Such as needles & cotton cards &woolen cards & c I expect to & desire to operate mainly through New Orleans in such manner that the Cotton will be sent & headed to a foreign port, & by papers coming [?] al-legiance to the United States

I respectfully ask you to send to me copies of an order to the Confederate troops in your depart=ment to permit such cotton as I may [?] by my permits [?] to pass the lines without molestation & such goods as may be brought into the state f in for the use of the state in the hands of any one I may designate I will take care that the per-mits are not abused, and shall cause all such [?] or expentation whether passed by your troops is not to be specially reported, and you especially informed—that any attempted abuse of the privalege by any party may be detected—

I go to Jackson on Saturday ^next^ before I expect to meet my agent who is to making arrange-ments to operate through New Orleans, in conjunction with the Consul there of any European powers—the cotton to be shipped to Europe—I shall make some

Sacrifice the effect it in the way but do not desire to con-fine myself wholly to that port but desire the permits to any point for the purposes in-dicated—The supplies needed are so ^under [?] & so^ Immediately demanded that I hope you will favor me with an answer so that the Courier who carries [?] may meet me with your reply ^its reply^ on Saturday Night at Meri-dian—

I am General With Great Respect Yout Obt Srvt

Cha^s Clark Gov of Miss—

Lt. Genl L. Polk— Comdg &c Demopolis Ala—

Letter to Gen Polk May 11 '64

Shipment of Cotton