Z 0066.000
QUITMAN (JOHN A.) AND FAMILY PAPERS
1812 - 1860
Correspondence, papers, and records of John Anthony Quitman (b. Sept. 1,
1798–d. 17 July 1858), a resident of Natchez and a planter, lawyer, soldier,
and Mississippi political leader. He served in the Mississippi House of
Representatives, 1828; as judge of the Mississippi Superior Court of Chancery,
1828–1834; as a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1832; as a state
senator, 1835; as governor of Mississippi, Dec. 3, 1835–Jan. 7, 1836, and
Jan. 10, 1850–Feb. 3, 1851; as grand master of the Grand Lodge of Mississippi,
1826–1838, and 1845–1846; as brigadier general of volunteers, July 1, 1846–May
14, 1847; as major general of volunteers, May 14, 1847–July 20, 1848; as
civil and military governor of Mexico City, Sept. 14–Nov. 1, 1847; as a
member of the United States House of Representatives, Mar. 4, 1856–July
17, 1858.
The correspondence and papers are divided into three chronological files:
"Correspondence and Papers," "Military Papers," and "Copies of Papers."
The file of "Correspondence and Papers" contains 1,357 pieces in 83 folders.
The bulk of the material from 1812 to 1846 consists primarily of bills,
receipts, notes and other business and legal papers. One letter dated May
21, 1846, written to Generals Houston and Rush, advises them of his desire
to enter active military service in the event of war with Mexico. The letters
for the period from Jan. 1848, to Mar. 1850, deal mainly with state and
national politics. From Mar. 1850, to July 1855, the papers relate primarily
to filibustering. After July, 1855, the papers are similar to those found
in the files of a congressman of the period. The papers in this file are
divided by dates as follows:
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undated, 107 pieces
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1812, 1 piece
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1821–27, 11 pieces
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1830–39, 44 pieces
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1840–49, 327 pieces
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1850–59, 866 pieces
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1860, 1 piece
The file of "Military Papers" contains 984 pieces in 59 folders and covers
the period from Jan. 8, 1846, to Dec. 31, 1847. Quitman commanded the Second
Brigade of the First Field Division of Volunteers and later that division
in the armies of Maj. Gen. Zachary Taylor and Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott
in the Mexican War. The file contains maps, circulars, general orders,
special orders, requisitions, casualty reports, guard reports, returns,
receipts, accounts, and correspondence pertaining to these organizations
and such subordinate units as the First Regiment of Alabama Volunteers,
the First Regiment of Georgia Volunteers, the First Regiment of Mississippi
Riflemen, the First New York Regiment of Volunteers, the First Regiment
of Pennsylvania Volunteers, the Second Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers,
the First Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers.
The file of "Copies of Papers" is composed of 189 typewritten copies
of military papers in 10 folders and covers the period from July 2, 1846,
to Oct. 25, 1847. The volumes are as follows:
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Springfield Plantation Account Book, Dec. 14, 1841–Dec. 1, 1853, pp. 127,
20 cm. by 31.5 cm., which is filled principally with daily entries pertaining
to a ferry run in connection with Springfield Plantation in Adams County,
owned by John A. Quitman, and also contains inventories of supplies and
livestock, lists of slaves, records of sales of wood to steamboats and
information on other matters concerning the management of the plantation
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Order Book of John A. Quitman, Aug. 20, 1846–Oct. 25, 1847, pp. 96, 25.5
cm. by 40 cm., which contains Orders Nos. 1–4, Aug. 20–Sept. 4, 1846, and
Special Orders Nos. 1–3, Aug. 28–Sept. 3, 1846, of the Third Brigade of
the Second Division of Volunteers; Orders Nos. 1–47, Sept. 4, 1846–May
3, 1847, and Special Orders Nos. 1–29, Sept. 3, 1846–Apr. 27, 1847, of
the Second Brigade of the First Field Division of Volunteers; and Orders
Nos. 1–28, May 5–Sept. 27, 1847, and Special Orders No. 1, May 16 and July
23, 1847, of the First Field Division of Volunteers
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"Notes Taken from Newspapers and Manuscripts on John A. Quitman and His
Interest in Filibustering Expeditions, September 4, 1849–December 13, 1854"
(typewritten), pp. 337. See also Z 0156.000.
Box List
Oversize letters, maps, and military records
