Raynors HCA 2015-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/19/2015
A great very early war-date Confederate citizen's military committee petition, 1 1/2pp. 8vo., written by the citizen committee of Austin, Tunica County, Mississippi, April 22, 1861, addressed to the merchant firm of Bills & Jones, Bolivar, Tenn. The principle of Bills & Jones merchants was a friend of former United States President James Polk, John H. Bills (1800-1871) a prominent Tennessee merchant, plantation owner and Freemason. This letter calls for financial help in maintaining a locally raised militia unit to be used in the defense of their Mississippi River landing during the coming conflict, reads, in part: "A number of the citizens of our county have organized a cavalry company for purposes of Home Protection. Our exposed situation coupled with the threatened destruction of the Levee render a Military Organization, efficiently equipped and properly disciplined an imperative necessity. Owing to the limited pecuniary means of a large proportion of our Company. We are compelled to solicit assistance from non-resident land-holders. The few to whom applications have…been addressed…responded promptly and liberally…varying from one to five hundred dollars. Should our enterprise meet with your approbation…inform the undersigned…Committee…the amount for which we can draw upon you…". Signed and made official by committee members: O. Barbour, John A. Hardeman, W. H. D. Wendel and Andrew Miller. Folds, else near fine.
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