American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1861-08-03

recognition of their rights - esEizsns, t1oase
on distant tented fields, Dast baud te~sn
closer TO State, Of whseh they are prsas1
and will be an act % sample Justice tFusa
Mississippi 10 her brave sonss Who have
gone at her call 10 tho~e distant nsid~s :
peril their lives for her hensr and ssi<sy-
In regard 10 arms and military stores
have TO report that about slxteeR the1san1
stand of arms for infantry and cavalry hsss
been brought 10 tie State during my as-stsA1a-
istration. This number has NOT. BY theAar
sands. supplied the demand Of volunteers
willing and anxious 20 receive thean, sssi a.
the efforts heretofore made by she Military
Board and myself have f4iied IL procure =
sufficient number, and 70 supply tae detielea-
cy we are now collecting the rltes sad cocole-
barreled shot guns throughout the State
TO be used until better can be procored
Ten companies Of cavalry and ten Il artIlie-
ry have been organized and viii soon d
armed and equipped ready for tie ael@
This deficiency of arms has been a source q
much regret 70 the people, and 10 none acre
than myself 1t would have been otherwise.
if the appropriation Of one hundred ard
fifty thousand dollars which in yoGr wisdom
YOU made at the last regular session, bad
been available before the breaking cut Of tie
war rendered II impossible TO invest IL II
arms. Less than one-thlrd Of il was reeeiv-
ed from the taxes then being collected and
paid in the following June
Large advances have been made BY the
State for the Confederate Government IN
tents. camp eQuipage and Communication
money for clothing for the Mississippi vol
unteers ordered into the Confederate SER
vice, and Col. NJ. MeAfee, QGarter-Msster
General has been directed TO proceed 70
Richmond and receive these advances aud
invest them in heavy winter goods, shoes.
&c, that we may be sure Of proper outfit
for such of our troops As may spend the
winter in the field.
The Sea Coast being considered the most
assailable portion of the territory Of this
State and most likely TO be annoyed by the
enemy, an agreement has been entered into
with the Governors of Louisiana and Ala
bama by which Mississippi bears an equal
portion of the expense ofmanning and arming
small steamers, (suited to the shallow waters
of the Lakes and Sounds to keep the enc
my's gun boats from our shores | have also
ordered one company of field artillery and
four companies of Mississippi Volunteers 10
the Coast, to act in conjunction with the
Confederate troops commanded by Gen
Twiggs.
/ have ordered into Camps of Instruction
the four Brigades, raising of which was pro-
Vldeu Tor Dy the convention, tue camps 10
be formed some time in August. | have
thought it best not TO call the companies
into these camps in the Spring months, as il
would materially injure those who cultivate
farms, to have them away for two months,
and suffer their crops TO be lost, and for
further reason that il would have exhausted
all the means at the disposal of the Military
Board.
/ have thus burriedly and briefly at
tempted to give the Legislature some idea of
the present position of the military affairs Of
the State.
Victory has so far crowned the efforts Of
our armies. The God, who loves justice and
defends the right, seems TO have inspired
the Confederate Generals with wisdom and
our troops with valor. But while rejoicing
over our victories we are called 10 shed
tears over the fallen brave, who have water
ed the tree of liberty with their patriotic
blood. Mississippi viii remember and honor
their names. May the God of justice give
success to our arms and safety TO our sous.
JOHN j. PETTUS.