Letter from F.S. Blount in Mobile, Alabama, to Governor Thomas H. Watts in Montgomery, Alabama
Item
Identifier
Q0000142555_Q0000142558
Title
Letter from F.S. Blount in Mobile, Alabama, to Governor Thomas H. Watts in Montgomery, Alabama
Rights
https://adhc.lib.ua.edu/cwrga/admin/item/add#
Type
Text
Creator
Colonel Frederick Spaight Blount
Date
1864-01-27
Description
In the letter, F.S. Blount tells of his attempt to pass the Governor's letter to General Polk and Governor Clarke, their willingness to give aid, and of attempts to assess Sherman's Campaign in Mississippi. He speaks of General Maury's plan to resist impressing enslaved labor as they were needed for production of food provisions.
Format
PDF
Language
English
Place
Mobile, AL
Publisher
Alabama Digital History Archives
Contributor
Marc McAlister, Josh Nover
Rights Holder
This material may be protected under U. S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code) which governs the making of photocopies or reproductions of copyrighted materials. You may use the digitized material for private study, scholarship, or research. Though ADAH has physical ownership of the material in its collections, in some cases we may not own the copyright to the material. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in our collections.
Relation
Civil War and Reconstruction Governors of Alabama
transcription
His Excellency Thos. H. Watts Esq Montgomery
Mobile January 29th 1864
My dear Sir
I reached home last night after a fatiguing trip to Jackson in search of Genl Polk and Govr. Clarke._The Governor I found and delivered your letter—after reading it, he expressed his willingness to aid in any manner in his power to carry into effect any order which might be made by Genl Polk on the Subject. _He told me that Genl Polk had left about an hour previously for Canton where he was to review the troops stationed there—but that he would not reach there until next day—As there was no rail road to Canton I attempted to procure a private conveyance to [relay?] on some twelve miles to the end of the Rail Road leading to Canton—and failed to procure one in the city._Finding myself failed in the project next morning very early telegraphed my business to Genl Polk at Canton and afterwards called to see Govr. Clark who then told me that the Genl was at Louisville, in an entirely different direction watching the movement of the enemy, but would be at Canton on the next day, where my dispatch would reach him._The next morning we left for Meridian, and while on the [way?], the Govr. told me that Genl Polk came back to Jackson late the night before, as he had then been just informed. It was too late to go back, and moreover I thought I could accomplish my object by seeing Col. Jack, Genl Polk's Adjt Genl & Chief of Staff. I called on him immediately on reaching Meridian, and we both went to see the Governor, who reiterated his willingness to aid Genl Polk on making the assessment—but at the same, and for the first time, interpolated the idea that General Maury, instead of calling upon the planters to get their negroes from them at the time they most needed them for commencing their crops, should make the soldiers do all this labor —that it properly belonged to the Army—that he had the works at Corinth built by the soldiers— and the producing class of the country should be interfered with as little as possible. He intimated very strongly his intention of arguing this source of the supply of labor very strongly upon Genl. Polk, inasmuch as he thought the people of Mississippi should devote their labor to the production of food, and at no time could slaves be so illy spared from home as now. I however made arrangement, with Col. Jack for forwarding by carrier your letter, and an explanatory one from me to Genl Polk [without?] attempting to reply to the views of Governor._So soon as I have information from the Chief of Staff, I will return to Meridian and adjust the system of impressment now in operation in this state._ There was intelligence in Jackson that Sherman's Army had reached Vicksburg, numbering 15,000 men—that the garrison at Vicksburg previously existed of 3 white and 5 negro regiments._That a large [?] of the enemy were crossing the Big Black, moving in three divisions and crossing at three different points._The surmises were various as to the object of the expedition._Some persons supposed that they were intended to move up in the rear of Grenada to meet at that point with a column coming down from Memphis and the troops from Corinth—the object being to protect Memphis—cut off Forrest—and by a rapid movement ensure entire possession of North Mississippi and North Alabama—cutting off all communication with Tennessee._Another idea was that the troops were designed to aid in the reduction of Mobile, and to advance by the rail roads on Meridian—which being taken—would with Jackson be depots of supplies for the army, from Vicksburg the [?]—and to cooperating with the army landing at Pascagoula, cut off all communication between Mississippi and Mobile—Demopolis & Selma would then come in for a show of Yankee Civility._These are however, mere surmises— and as Genl Polk is at Jackson, the presumption is that he will watch, and endeavor to counteract their movements._It seems that the supplies at Chattanooga had failed—the Mississippi and Ohio rivers being closed by the ice, and the Yankees withdrew their troops to escape starvation—and give them employment in a warmer latitude._ I will make the inquiries suggested by you, and so soon as I get a little over the accumulation of business in my office, caused by my absence, will write you._ I enclose the Hundred dollars you were so kind enough to loan me for the public service._ Very Truly yours F.S. Blount
F.S. Blount Jany 27/64
Copy Genl Riggs no ans
Mobile January 29th 1864
My dear Sir
I reached home last night after a fatiguing trip to Jackson in search of Genl Polk and Govr. Clarke._The Governor I found and delivered your letter—after reading it, he expressed his willingness to aid in any manner in his power to carry into effect any order which might be made by Genl Polk on the Subject. _He told me that Genl Polk had left about an hour previously for Canton where he was to review the troops stationed there—but that he would not reach there until next day—As there was no rail road to Canton I attempted to procure a private conveyance to [relay?] on some twelve miles to the end of the Rail Road leading to Canton—and failed to procure one in the city._Finding myself failed in the project next morning very early telegraphed my business to Genl Polk at Canton and afterwards called to see Govr. Clark who then told me that the Genl was at Louisville, in an entirely different direction watching the movement of the enemy, but would be at Canton on the next day, where my dispatch would reach him._The next morning we left for Meridian, and while on the [way?], the Govr. told me that Genl Polk came back to Jackson late the night before, as he had then been just informed. It was too late to go back, and moreover I thought I could accomplish my object by seeing Col. Jack, Genl Polk's Adjt Genl & Chief of Staff. I called on him immediately on reaching Meridian, and we both went to see the Governor, who reiterated his willingness to aid Genl Polk on making the assessment—but at the same, and for the first time, interpolated the idea that General Maury, instead of calling upon the planters to get their negroes from them at the time they most needed them for commencing their crops, should make the soldiers do all this labor —that it properly belonged to the Army—that he had the works at Corinth built by the soldiers— and the producing class of the country should be interfered with as little as possible. He intimated very strongly his intention of arguing this source of the supply of labor very strongly upon Genl. Polk, inasmuch as he thought the people of Mississippi should devote their labor to the production of food, and at no time could slaves be so illy spared from home as now. I however made arrangement, with Col. Jack for forwarding by carrier your letter, and an explanatory one from me to Genl Polk [without?] attempting to reply to the views of Governor._So soon as I have information from the Chief of Staff, I will return to Meridian and adjust the system of impressment now in operation in this state._ There was intelligence in Jackson that Sherman's Army had reached Vicksburg, numbering 15,000 men—that the garrison at Vicksburg previously existed of 3 white and 5 negro regiments._That a large [?] of the enemy were crossing the Big Black, moving in three divisions and crossing at three different points._The surmises were various as to the object of the expedition._Some persons supposed that they were intended to move up in the rear of Grenada to meet at that point with a column coming down from Memphis and the troops from Corinth—the object being to protect Memphis—cut off Forrest—and by a rapid movement ensure entire possession of North Mississippi and North Alabama—cutting off all communication with Tennessee._Another idea was that the troops were designed to aid in the reduction of Mobile, and to advance by the rail roads on Meridian—which being taken—would with Jackson be depots of supplies for the army, from Vicksburg the [?]—and to cooperating with the army landing at Pascagoula, cut off all communication between Mississippi and Mobile—Demopolis & Selma would then come in for a show of Yankee Civility._These are however, mere surmises— and as Genl Polk is at Jackson, the presumption is that he will watch, and endeavor to counteract their movements._It seems that the supplies at Chattanooga had failed—the Mississippi and Ohio rivers being closed by the ice, and the Yankees withdrew their troops to escape starvation—and give them employment in a warmer latitude._ I will make the inquiries suggested by you, and so soon as I get a little over the accumulation of business in my office, caused by my absence, will write you._ I enclose the Hundred dollars you were so kind enough to loan me for the public service._ Very Truly yours F.S. Blount
F.S. Blount Jany 27/64
Copy Genl Riggs no ans