| Hd Qrs Dept Ala Miss & E. La. |
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Selma Novr 6/64 |
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Maj. Genl J. M Withers |
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Comdg Ala Reserve Forces |
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Montgomery Ala |
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Genl. |
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I herewith hand you for your information copies of Gen
Orders # 134 & 137 from these Hd Qrs relative to crediting upon
individual impressment quotas all negroes voluntarily hired to Rail
Roads, Steamboats and other necessary Government work, these orders men
??ned by me after consulting with the Genl Comdg Mil Dis of the West
upon the importance of getting the RR beyond Blue Mountain some more
expeditiously manned than that of impressment as large a number of
negroes as possible, necessarily was great then and is no equally as
pressing elsewhere, the plan contemplated in the inclosures has been
found to work admirably. |
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On yesterday I learned with surprise that some officers of
the Bureau of Conscription were about to take a number of neroes that
had been hired to the Blue Mountain RR under the quantity promised in my
order referred to. I immediately directed Brig Genl Henry to interfere
with his authority and protect the RR Co in the possession of the
negroes. I regret the Officers of the Bureau of Conscription were not
directed to advise me of the nature of their orders before
attempting to execute them within my Dept as that advise would have
prevented an apparent or real confusion, or conflict of authorities. I
am today in receipt of copy of the instructions fro Bureau of
Conscription at Richmond relative to the subject of impressing negroes,
and will be glad to know from you what is intended shall be same with
the negroes impressed under those intentions. Will the 2500 apportioned
to Ala be kept in Ala on public works, such as RR, steamboats,
fortifications &c. |
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There are enough negroes in Ala belonging to persons who
have never furnished negroes for the various government works to
get all the instructions referred to require from the State without
disturbing those persons who have patriotically come forward at all
times and furnished their negroes to the Government whenever they were
needed. Unless some wise decisions are made by your Officers in
reference to this part of the subject, their operations under the
"instructions" will work very unjustly and be a most terrible hardship
to that portion of the citizens of Ala who are the most patriotic and
least able to bear the oppression. |
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I respectfully request that you will write me fully on the
above subject furnishing me with all the information you have as to the
rights and intentions of the Govt in reference to it in order that the
whole matter may be promptly regulated and left in the hands of one set
of officers. |
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??? Respy Genl Your Obt Sevt |
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R Taylor |
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Lt Genl |