Letter from Mississippi Governor Charles Clark to Secretary of War James Seddon; May 30, 1864

Macon, Missi, May 30 1864.

Hon Jas A Seddon, Secretary of War—Richmond Va—

Dear Sir—

I have the honor to enclose for your Considerations, 1^st a letter of Mrs E E Lee to Col. H C Robinson, formerly Col of the 5^th Missi Regt State Troops; Second—The petition of Mrs Lee, sustained and corroborated by many Citizens of Kemper County, and the Endorsem-ent of Col Robinson Therein, together with the Endorsements of Lt Genl Polk, Maj Genl Lee, and the Provost Marshall—

We [offer?] from the certificate of Col. Robinson (his late commander) that A J Lee the man referred to, was Captured and paroled at Vicksburg in July last, and his arrest as to transcript, and his assignm-ent to a Regt in the field is a gross mismanagement to which ^is a cause for clear violation of his parole^ to which I beg your Earliest attention—& paroled prisoner, not declared exchanged, cannot should not be forced to violate his parole, and The parties engaged in This Criminal order against The rights of a Citizen arrested ^should meet^ The severest punishment.

I respectfully ask for this case your immed-iate attention, and [an?] order directing sol-dier to be returned to his home.

I Am, Sir, Very Respectfully etc, etc Governor of Missi

Copy of letter to Sect of War

Macon, Missi, May 30 1864.

Hon James A Seddon, Secretary of War—Richmond Va—

Dear Sir—

I have the honor to enclose for your Considerations, 1^st a letter of Mrs E E Lee to Col. H C Robinson, formerly Col of the 5^th Missi Regt State Troops; Second—The petition of Mrs Lee, sustained and corroborated by many Citizens of Kemper County, and the Endorsem-ent of Col Robinson Therein, together with the Endorsements of Lt Genl Polk, Maj Genl Lee, and the Provost Marshall—

We [offer?] from the certificate of Col. Robinson, his late commander, that A J Lee was Captured and paroled at Vicksburg last July, and his arrest as to transcript, and his assignm-ent to a Regiment in the field is a [complete?] violation of his parole to which I beg your Earliest attention—& paroled prisoner, not declared exchanged, should not be forced to violate his parole, and The parties engaged in so Criminal an offence against The rights of a Citizen should meet with The severest punishment.

I respectfully ask therefore, for this case your immed-iate attention, and an order directing Mr Lee to be returned to his home.

I Am, Sir, Very Respectfully &c, &c Cha^s Clark Governor of Missi

716

C. Clark Macon Miss

2 enclosures A.G. 4 [Enc?]

Refer to regimental commander of 40^th Missi Regiment for inquiry—and report By order

J A Campbell [asw?] 10 June 64

Returned July 26 by [?] 10/64 [unclear]

Sir, referred thro the Comdg General Dept Ala.,Miss. & E. La. to the comdy officer 40th Miss Vols. in accordance with the endorsement of the Sec'y of War.

By order A. [?] G.

Jno. Withers, AAG A. A. G. A. & I. G. O. June 17/64 [?]

Respy. returned to the Governor of Mississippi. It does not appear that this soldier has been assigned to the 40^th Ala. Regiment.

By order A & I General, Sam^l W Mellon A & I G. C July 30/64 A. A. Genl.