Wednesday, January 28, 2026

A. McWillie and others to Jefferson Davis, July 16, 1847

(From Vicksburg Sentinel, September 29, 1847.)
Buena Vista, Mexico,        
July 16th, 1847.

Genl. Jefferson Davis—Sir: — As you will doubtless have learned before this reaches you, the office of Colonel of the 2nd Mississippi Rifles will be vacated on the 1st of September next, by the resignation of Col. Reuben Davis.

Feeling a deep interest in the selection of his successor, the officers held a meeting on last evening to ascertain, if possible, who was the choice of the regiment.

Knowing and appreciating the high reputation you have acquired as commander of the 1st Mississippi Regiment, there was on the part of the meeting a unanimous expression of opinion in your favor, and the undersigned were appointed a committee to ascertain the preference of the whole regiment, to communicate with you upon the subject, and to know if you would accept the command if tendered to you. We have made such enquiry among the men, and we are happy to be able to state, that you are the unanimous choice of the whole regiment. We therefore request that you will communicate to us at the earliest practicable period, what your views are upon the subject, so that we may communicate the same to the regiment. Permit us to indulge the hope personally that it may not be incompatible with your wishes and interests to assume the command, and that we may soon have the pleasure of greeting you as our leader.

We have the honor to be,
                                           Very respectfully,
        Your ob't serv'ts,

A. McWILLIE,        
Capt. 2nd Miss. Rifles,

E. DOWSING,        
1st Lieut. 2nd Miss. Rifles,

F. AMYX,        
1st Lieut. 2nd Miss. Rifles,

A. J. TRUSSEL        ,
2nd Lieut. 2nd Miss. Rifles.

SOURCE: Dunbar Rowland, Editor, Jefferson Davis, Constitutionalist: His Letters, Papers and Speeches, Volume 1, pp. 98-9

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