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Meridian June 24, 1864
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| Maj. Genl. S. D. Lee |
| Comdg Dept. Ala. Miss & E. La |
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| General, |
| For my own justification, as
well, as I trust for your satisfaction, I send you the letter of
Messrs Merwin, Mims, Theobald, Rutherford & Tolson, five of the
most respectable & intelligent citizens of Enterprise, expressive
of their opinion as to the character & intention of the letter I
thoughtlessly in a moment of excitement, addressed to Genl Crocker,
Comdg the Yankee Army, then occupying Enterprise. I would not thus
trouble you General, did I not highly value, and desire to retain your
good opinion -- and I hope if any thing you have heard against me has
made an unfavorable impression on your mind, that the letter written
by these gentlemen will effectively remove it. |
| As an act of justice, if not
of friendship, to which I have no claim, I hope if the subject should
be mentioned in your presence to my disparagement, that you will on
the authority of this letter state the facts, & silence the
slander, the better to enable you to do this, I have sent you a copy
of the letter in my vindication, which you will please retain for
reference, should it be required. |
| Very respectfully yr ot svt |
| M. Emanuel {President,
Southern (of Mississippi) RR} |
| (Please return the original letter.) |
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