Jackson Miss                                      

April 4^th/1863   

                     

Genl S Cooper

            Adj't & Ins. Genl

                                   

Sir

            I respectfully beg leave to make the following statement of my military history:               I was appointed 1^st Lt & Adj't by the President on the 22^nd of November 1861 and ordered to report to Col Jno D Martin Com'd'g Regt. I served with this Reg't until the 30^th of April 1862, at which time it was disbanded by order of Maj Genl Breckinridge. The order disbanding the regiment, directed the Field and Staff officers to report to Genl Beauregard then Com'd'g Dept. By Genl Beauregard Col Martin was assigned duty at Meridian Miss as Com'der of the Post and I was directed to report to him for duty. I remained at this Post until the 16^th of Aug^st/62 when Col Martin was placed in command of a Brigade by Genl Price and I was assigned to duty by Col Martin as A.I.G. In this capacity I served until the battle of Corinth Oct 3^d in which Col Martin was killed. Col Witherspoon his / successor placed me on duty as A.A.G. in which capacity I remained until the 10^th of Nov 1862, when Col Witherspoon was releived from duty as a Brigade Commander by Brig Genl Hebert, who brought with him his staff. I was consequently releived from duty and directed to report to Maj Genl D. H. Maury. I was assigned various duties until January 63 when I was assigned duty as A.I.G. of Genl Moore's Brigade during the absence of his Inspector. On this duty I remained until the 25^th of March 63 when I was releived (his staff officer having returned) and again ordered to report to Maj Genl Maury. Genl Maury then directed me to report to Lt Genl Pemberton Com'd'g Dep't.

 

Lt Genl Pemberton considered the validity of my commission doubtful, & has declined to recognize me as an officer. I respectfully desire to know if I am legally a Lieutenant in the Service? Allow me to state further that Col Martin was given a commission to raise a War Reg't. He had three companies enlisted for the War, the remainder for twelve months. The Field & Staff officers were nominated by Col Martin & appointed by the Secty of War. / Six states were represented in the Reg't and after the passage of the Conscript Act it was illegal to obtain either recruits or conscripts. On this ground the regimental organization was broken up and the companies ordered to reg'ts from their respective states.

 

The Reg't was first known as the 1^st Miss. Valley, afterwards as the 25^th Miss. & then as the "2^nd Confederate".

 

The Field and Staff officers were retained in the service by order of Genl Beauregard.

 

The Lt Col resigned afterwards on account of wounds received at the Battle of Shiloh. The major is now Commander of the Post at Meridian Miss and desires that I be assigned to duty with him

 

            I have been under orders up to the present time and the validity of my commission has never before been questioned.                                  

 

I am Sir

Very Respectfully

Yr Obdt Srvt

D. S. Donelson

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