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AM21-043, August 1, 1865

 Accession — Box: 6 SAFE

Form of Material

Official copy of a telegram from Secretary of War E.M. Stanton providing guidance to Gen. Slocum regarding "the Jackson case," which had created a schism between Mississippi Provisional Gov. William Sharkey and Henry Slocum.

Dates

  • August 1, 1865

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Noncirculating; available for research.

Biographical / Historical

Following the Confederacy's defeat, government rule throughout the South was confused as provisional governments, military commands, and the Freedman's Bureau all vied for authority. Lawlessness was rampant.

In Mississippi, tensions came to a head quickly. Governor Sharkey was adamantly opposed to army authority over civilians. When the army arrested a planter, Joseph Jackson, for killing a freedman based on only one slave's accusation, Sharkey directed Judge Daniel Merwin to issue a writ of habeas corpus securing Jackson's release. General Slocum then arrested Judge Merwin. This telegram was sent to Slocum in the midst of this confusion.

Extent

1 Item

Language of Materials

From the Unprocessed Collection: English

Abstract

An innocuous telegram documenting President Andrew Johnson's deliberations regarding the path Reconstruction would soon take throughout the South.

Provenance

Purchased with Culpepper funds

Date of Receipt: February 2021

Repository Details

Part of the Historical Manuscripts and Photographs Repository

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