A letter from from Samuel Ruffin in Pushmataha, Alabama, to Thomas H. Watts in Montgomery, Alabama
Item
Identifier
Q0000144225_Q0000144226
Title
A letter from from Samuel Ruffin in Pushmataha, Alabama, to Thomas H. Watts in Montgomery, Alabama
Rights
text
Type
text
Creator
Samuel ruffing
Date
1864-04-10
Description
In the letter, Samuel Ruffin explains that, in the course of the Army retreating across the Tombigbee River, cavalry officers are impressing horses and mules for service. Ruffin threatens to arrest the first people that engage in impressment without authority.
Format
Correspondence; Letter
Language
English
Place
Pushmataha (Ala.)
Contributor
Jack Anzalone and Shawn Tate
transcription
Pushmataha
Choctaw Co Ala
Apl. 10/64
To the
Governor of the State of Ala
Dr Sir,
When our army was
retreating across the Tombigbee
many persons, in my opinion
<u>improperly</u> authorized by Brig-
adiers Cols and Captains were working
through this county pressing horses
and mules for Cavalry service
seriously endangering the produc
-tion of the county. I wrote to Genl
Polk on the subject and he prom
ised to reply to my inquiries--
he has not done so. I wish to know
<u>who</u> has a right to order impress
ments. I cannot learn from
Choctaw Co Ala
Apl. 10/64
To the
Governor of the State of Ala
Dr Sir,
When our army was
retreating across the Tombigbee
many persons, in my opinion
<u>improperly</u> authorized by Brig-
adiers Cols and Captains were working
through this county pressing horses
and mules for Cavalry service
seriously endangering the produc
-tion of the county. I wrote to Genl
Polk on the subject and he prom
ised to reply to my inquiries--
he has not done so. I wish to know
<u>who</u> has a right to order impress
ments. I cannot learn from
any source within my reach
the laws on this subject. I can
not learn by <u>whose</u> authority
impressments are to be made. If
every Col and Captain of Cavalry has
this authority there will be no
end to their oppression. With the
lights[?] before me -- I shall arrest
the first persons I find engaged
in the triumph, without authority
of the Commander of the Department
and take them to Head Quarters.
I shall arrest them as being
<u>improperly absent from their
commands</u>.
Respectfully
Saml Ruffin
[??] Commndg
Reserves
Saml Ruffin
[??] Commndg
Reserves
Sml Ruffing
Comdt Choctaw
Pushmataha-
the laws on this subject. I can
not learn by <u>whose</u> authority
impressments are to be made. If
every Col and Captain of Cavalry has
this authority there will be no
end to their oppression. With the
lights[?] before me -- I shall arrest
the first persons I find engaged
in the triumph, without authority
of the Commander of the Department
and take them to Head Quarters.
I shall arrest them as being
<u>improperly absent from their
commands</u>.
Respectfully
Saml Ruffin
[??] Commndg
Reserves
Saml Ruffin
[??] Commndg
Reserves
Sml Ruffing
Comdt Choctaw
Pushmataha-