Thursday, September 25, 2025

William L. Marcy to Colonel Jefferson Davis, July 16, 1847

(From Mississippi Free Trader, Aug. 4, 1847.)

War Department, July 16, 1847.

Sir: I am directed by the President to inform you, in reply to your letter of the 26th ultimo, that he will accept of such a Battalion of Riflemen as you suggest, to serve during the war, to be raised in the State of Mississippi. You indicate the employment of them under Major General Taylor, but it is probable that the more active operations will be with the column under the command of Maj. Gen. Scott, and their services may be required in connection with that column. Presuming that they will prefer the most active service, and that a different destination from that mentioned by you will not impede the raising of it, I shall send forthwith a request to the Governor to aid in the organization thereof.

In regard to your suggestion that the Battalion should be mounted, I would remark that the mounted force already called out is deemed to be sufficient for the service which may be required of that description of force, and it is not now proposed to add to their number.

Very respectfully, your obd't serv't,
W. L. Marcy, Sec'y of War.
Col. Jefferson Davis,
        Warrenton, Mississippi.

SOURCE: Dunbar Rowland, Editor, Jefferson Davis, Constitutionalist: His Letters, Papers and Speeches, Volume 1, pp. 88-9

No comments: