The boys of Company D may well have been prevented from rejoining their commands because of the presence of Federal troops.
07 14 1863 [Tuesday]
BRANDON, MISS., July 14, 1863.
President JEFFERSON DAVIS:
I earnestly recommend that I be allowed to furlough this army for thirty days. If authorized, it can be brought together at the expiration of that period; otherwise it cannot. I shall await your answer here.
J. C. PEMBERTON (OR 24/3/1002)
RICHMOND, July 14, 1863.
(Received July 15.)
Lieut. Gen. J. C. PEMBERTON:
A dispatch from General Johnston of yesterday informs me that you recommend that a furlough of thirty days be given to the troops in your command, to avoid the necessity of placing them in a paroled camp. We are waiting to receive by telegraph a list of troops, the number of each grade, and expect to effect their immediate exchange, so as to give all who are fit for duty an opportunity to serve their country in this hour of its sorest need, and asking from them only such devotion and gallantry as they have heretofore displayed. I hopefully pray for their better fortune on another field.
JEFFERSON DAVIS (OR 24/3/1002)
HEADQUARTERS, Jackson, Miss., July 14, 1863.
Lieutenant-General PEMBERTON, Commanding, &c.:
SIR: An order was sent to you to-day to the effect that you were to keep your troops south of the railroad, and proceed by the shortest road to Enterprise. General Johnston directs that you do not allow your troops to come in contact with the railroad at any point, and not allow them to go by Brandon.
This change of direction is in consequence of the communication made by General Stevenson this morning in your presence.
By command of General Johnston:
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
BENJ. S. EWELL,
Assistant Adjutant-GeneraL (OR 24/3/1002)
07 16 1863 [Thursday]
RICHMOND, July 16, 1863. (Received July 17.)
General PEMBERTON, Brandon:
Yours of 14th and 15th received. Had mine of 14th reached you? Do the men insist on leaving when service is offered, or is it to avoid a camp for paroled prisoners? Withdraw your troops to Demopolis, and give further information to aid in decision. A part of your troops could not go home now if furloughed, and you have not suggested any discrimination. They can all realize the pressing nature of our condition, and the importance of thirty days to the future of our country. Yourself and the general officers, whose names were sent on, have been discharged from their‚ parole. Enter at once on duty.
JEFFERSON DAVIS (OR 24/3/1006)
07 17 1863 [Friday]
LAKE STATION, July 17, 1863.
President JEFFERSON DAVIS:
Your telegram of 16th received on the road; that [of] 14th had not been received when I telegraphed on 15th. The men, misled by many officers, insist on going home. I have no arms to prevent. It is not to avoid a camp for paroled prisoners, but a determination to see their families. I have done everything in my power to keep them together, but in vain. Nearly all troops from Trans-Mississippi and from State of Mississippi have already deserted. Georgians, Alabamians, and Tennesseans will also go when they draw near their homes. About 1,600 Missourians will go at once anywhere you wish. I assure you I deplore the necessity of furloughing at this critical period; but it is a necessity. A furlough granted will bring back nine-tenths of the men, who will not otherwise return. General Johnston is falling back. I am marching to Enterprise; will await your orders there, rejoiced to enter at once on duty.
J. C. PEMBERTON (OR 24/3/1010)
RICHMOND, July 17, [1863.]
General PEMBERTON, Lake Station:
I have indicated my wish that the troops should be promptly in service. Unless Grant is checked, the means of supporting an army in your department will be destroyed. The men who are near their homes could visit them, and reach the rendezvous nearly as soon as the main force. Exceptional cases might have leave for time according to circumstances. You repeat opinion as to necessity for furloughs, and I cannot know as well as yourself how near it is unavoidable; can, therefore, only ask of you to keep the main purpose in view, and use your discretion.
Twelve thousand arms were sent to General Johnston for militia; they could not have been issued. Five thousand are at Selma, and more will be sent.
JEFFERSON DAVIS (OR 24/3/1010)
JULY 17, 1863.
President JEFFERSON DAVIS, Richmond, Va.:
Telegram of 17th received en route to Enterprise. With all my desire to keep my army in the field for immediate service, it is impossible to do so. The Missouri troops, say 1,600, are all that can be brought into service now, if immediately exchanged. Stevenson's division, and Alabama and Tennessee troops of other divisions, are still pretty well in hand. Having left it to my discretion, I shall furlough the army for thirty days. I feel confident, in so doing, I will bring your troops again together at any point you may designate in a very few days at furthest beyond the limits of their furloughs; in very less time than it can be accomplished by any other course of procedure. Please inform me as soon as possible if I have control of the whole matter. If so, I will make immediate arrangements for an established camp at once at Demopolis, and visit you in Richmond when my arrangements are completed. Unless you can give me active service, which I prefer, Major-General Stevenson, next in command, is fully competent to take my place. I have already informed you that General Johnston is falling back. You are aware that every mile Grant advances weakens him and strengthens Johnston. I name Brig. Gen. S. D. Lee for immediate promotion, and assignment to command to cavalry in this Department. In my opinion, nothing will so effectually check Grant as this appointment.
J. C. PEMBERTON (OR 24/3/1010/1)
07 18 1863 [Saturday]
Gen. Pemberton from his headquarters Paroled Prisoners, On the March issued the following Circular Order:
“I. The President has Entrusted to my discretion the granting of furloughs to the army.
Never did the Country require the Services of her defenders more than at this time. It was the President’s most anxious desire that this army which has distinguished itself by a galantry and endurance of hard life as almost without parallel in defence of the most important point in the Confederacy should be kept together & by an immediate Exchange meet and defeat the Enemy upon equal field. Many of you have been long absent from your homes & I fully Sympathize with you in your desire to See those you best love. The President has yielded to my application and your are permitted to visit your homes for the longest period the country can possible dispense with your Service. Some of you will remain at home a longer and some a less time.
I give Each & all of you who desire it a Leave of absence of Thirty days from the date of the promulgation of this order. I confidentially hope that not one man of the Army of Vicksburg will be found absent from his post at the Expiration of this period.
HEADQUARTERS PAROLED PRISONERS, July 18, 1863.
Maj. Gen. U.S. GRANT, Commanding U.S. Forces:
GENERAL: 1 find it necessary again to communicate through you with General Smith, and, in pursuance of engagement, I send by the hands of Maj. H. M. Mathews an open letter to his address. I hope you will afford him every facility in going to and returning from Vicksburg.
I am, &c.,
J. C. PEMBERTON.
HDQRS. PAROLED PRISONERS, On the March, July 18, 1863.
Maj. Gen. MARTIN L. SMITH:
You are authorized to grant leaves of absence for thirty days from the date of the receipt of this communication to all paroled officers and soldiers now in Vicksburg. To invalids such furloughs not exceeding sixty days, or, in extreme cases, ninety days, on the proper surgeon's certificate. In all cases the parties concerned to report in person at Demopolis, Ala., unless some other point shall hereafter be designated by the War Department. At the expiration of their respective leaves of absence, you will request of the commanding general of the United States forces at Vicksburg such facilities as may be necessary (employing paroled prisoners) in the Trans-Mississippi Department. I feel authorized to direct this, having received the assurance of Maj. Gen. U.S. Grant that passports granted by me to the paroled prisoners at Vicksburg will be recognized by him, unless special military reasons intervene to prevent it. It is very important that I receive the roll of paroled prisoners. If not already sent by General [T. H.] Taylor, send it by special courier through flag of truce.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. C. PEMBERTON (OR 24/3/1014)
CIRCULAR ORDERS.] HEADQUARTERS PAROLED PRISONERS,
On the March, July 18, 1863.
I. The President has intrusted to my discretion the granting of furloughs to this army. Never did the country require the services of her defenders more than at this time. It was the President's most anxious desire that this army, which has distinguished itself by a gallantry and endurance of hardships almost without parallel, in defense of the most important point in the Confederacy, should be kept together, and by an immediate exchange meet and defeat the enemy upon equal field. Many of you have been long absent from your homes, and I fully sympathize with you in your natural desire to see those you best love. The President has yielded to my application, and you are permitted to visit your homes for the longest period the country can possibly dispense with your services. Some of you will remain at home a longer and some a less time. I give each and all of you who desire it a leave of absence of thirty days from the date of the promulgation of this order. I confidently hope that not one man of the Army of Vicksburg will be found absent from his post at the expiration of the period.
II. All regimental and company officers will take immediate measures to notify the rank and file of the commands to which they respectively belong of the full purport and intent of this order, and regimental commanders are authorized to publish in the newspapers of the districts in which their commands have been respectively raised or organized this order, as also such notices as they may deem necessary and fitting to bring the men together, and to conduct them as far as possible to Demopolis, Ala., where they [will] again receive arms and equipments to meet our enemy.
III. Within the time limited, all companies or organizations, under a commissioned officer, who shall report themselves at recognized railroad depots, not in possession of the enemy, but in actual operation, shall be transported to Demopolis free of expense to themselves, and when officers or men not belonging to the particular organizations with which they move, but to others of the Army of Vicksburg, shall, for local convenience, join these organizations, they shall be entitled to transportation as if they belonged to the command with which they moved.
IV. Such enlisted men as should prefer to receive the allowance authorized by Congress when not accepting furloughs, and who shall not already have received furloughs, shall be paid the same, upon the certificate of the proper regimental commanders to that effect.
J. C. PEMBERTON (OR 24/3/1015)
RICHMOND, VA., July 20, 1863.
Lieutenant-General PEMBERTON:
Your dispatch to the President, of the 19th instant, received. Your statement leaves no choice; thirty days cannot be needed for those who are within two or three days of their homes; ten days is surely as much as, in the present condition of the country, any soldier should claim for attention to his private affairs. Confiding in your discretion and anxious desire to keep as many as possible in service, and to bring others back to duty at the earliest practicable period, you are left according to your judgment, under the limitation above suggested, to give furloughs as proposed by yourself. You will report as promptly as possible the result of your action and the companies or regiments which may agree to continue in service.
Report by telegraph.
S. COOPER.
RICHMOND, VA., July 20, 1863.
Lieutenant-General PEMBERTON:
Your dispatches of 15th and 19th received. The Adjutant-General will give you the proper orders in relation to furloughing, and you are entitled, under the cartel, to go on duty, but the enemy's commissioners deny this, and the correspondence will be sent you, as it affects you and other officers similarly situated. The gallant Missourians have my cordial thanks. Their patriotism will be remembered. I hope others will emulate their heroism and follow their example.
JEFFERSON DAVIS (OR 24/3/1018/9)
07 21 1863 [Tuesday]
ENTERPRISE, July 21, 1863.
Maj. [HENRY] C. DAVIS, Demopolis, Ala.:
Stop all paroled prisoners until further orders; camp and ration them.
J. C. PEMBERTON. (OR 24/3/1021)
“We walked to Enterprise the distance of 175 miles sick tired and hungry” (Sligher TCWQ)] - -
We had to walk 200 miles before we could get on a railroad, had a tough time. (166)
07 22 1863 [Wednesday]
At eight o’clock Vaughn’s Brigade rolled out for Mobile. All our boys got to Enterprise except some sick who had to take their time on the march. We received our orders to take the train at ten o’clock. Accordingly we got on the train but did not leave Enterprise that night. (Stamper)
Men of the 39th Tenn. Infantry were furloughed at Enterprise, Miss. (M268 Roll 275)
After the surrender of Vicksburg, Miss., Pemberton’s army was paroled and at Enterprise, Miss., the troops were furnished a thirty days furlough and instructed to report at the end of that time at such places as the commanding General had designated. (SHSP, V. 11, 188, pp. 433, Capt. W. L. Ritter Third Maryland Battery)