| Lake City, Fla. |
| June 15, 1864 |
| |
| His Excellency John Milton |
| Governor of Florida, Tallahassee |
| |
| I am this moment in receipt
of your several communications covering copies of letters from Judge
Dawkins to yourself and your reply thereto on the subject of the
unfortunate conflict of authority about to arise between the
officers and agents of the Confederate Government and those of the
State of Florida, growing out of the taking up of the iron from the
Florida Railroad by the former. I regret exceedingly that there
should be even any appearance of conflict between the State and
Confederate Governments at this time, and assure you I shall use my
utmost power consistent with the orders and instructions I may have
or receive from superior authority to arrest so deplorable an event.
I concur with you entirely in the belief that when the facts are all
before the State court the matter can be adjusted without infringing
at all upon its dignity or disregarding its orders. Under this
belief and with this hope I have written to Col. C. C. Yonge, C. S.
attorney, requesting him to appear in the case and represent
Lieutenant Fairbanks and myself, that we may not appear in a false
light by suffering a default to be entered. In this connection I beg
leave to call your attention to a copy of the order which the
sheriff refers to in his return to the process of attachment issued
and attempted to be executed upon Lieutenant Fairbanks. You will see
by its terms that the sheriff has misapprehended them and its whole
tenor. So far from disregarding the authority-legitimate authority
of the State--it invokes its aid and sustains Lieutenant Fairbanks
in the legitimate discharge of his duties against vexatious
intermeddlers or those pretending to have authority to thwart him. |
| |
| HEADQUARTERS
MILITARY DISTRICT OF
FLORIDA |
| Lake
City
, May 24,
1864 |
| |
| Officers
and others throughout this district acting under military authority
will furnish Lieut. J. M. Fairbanks, Engineer Bureau, every facility
for expeditious travel throughout the district and within our
military lines. Being engaged in a most important work, having for
its object the defense and protection of this portion of the
Confederacy, no impediment must be thrown in the way of his success.
He must he forwarded and assisted in every legitimate way that may
be in the military power, and if necessary must be protected from
arrest or interference by any one, in the proper discharge of his
duties. The work he is engaged on is a military necessity, which
cannot be omitted without disastrous consequences to the cause in
general and to the people of
Florida
in particular. It is therefore hoped that the civil authorities of
the State will heartily co-operate with Lieutenant Fairbanks, and
will not permit themselves to be made the instruments of impeding or
delaying him in this important work. |
| PATTON
ANDERSON |
| Major-General,
Commanding |
| |
|
Pledging you my cordial and sincere support in every attempt
to avert any disagreeable conflict between the civil or military
authorities of the State and Confederate Governments, and thanking
you for the hearty co operation which you have at all times given me
in the administration of the military affairs of the district, |
| I am, Governor, very respectfully, your
obedient servant, |
| Patton Anderson |
| Major-General |
|