N. Wickliffe to Beriah Magoffin

KYR-0001-018-0019.xml

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Accession Number

KYR-0001-018-0019

Document Genre

Correspondence

Repository

Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives

Collection

Office of the Governor, Beriah Magoffin: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Military Appointments, 1859-1862

Item Location

MG6-96 to MG6-97

Place of Creation

San Francisco, San Francisco County, California

Date of Creation

11 June 1861

Dates Mentioned

1861-06-11

1861-07-01

N. Wickliffe to Beriah Magoffin, 11 June 1861, Office of the Governor, Beriah Magoffin: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Military Appointments, 1859-1862, MG6-96 to MG6-97, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort, KY. Accessed via the Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition, discovery.civilwargovernors.org/document/KYR-0001-018-0019, (accessed November 4, 2025).

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Sanfrancisco California
June 11^th 1861
Sir:

I have just resigned my position as an officer in the United States Army. I am impelled to this course for the reason that that army is being concentrated and used for the subjugation of the Southorer people who have my entire sympathy.

I believe it is proper for me, here, to add that the time has come to pass when Southern blood is sufficient to attaint officers of the Army; and unless they subscribe to new oaths, join bond in denouncing their late comrades of the south (who were the best men of the Army) as traitors, and invoke a war of extermination on their own people, and Kindred, suspicion and proscription are put upon them.

I am unable at this distance to understand the exact position that Kentucky occupies in the great struggle between the
two sections, but I cannot believe that she can or will remain long a neutral spectator.

If six years service in the army of the United States, will have given me any experience that will make my services acceptable, in a military capacity to my Nature State, that service will be far more gratifying to me than any in which I could be engaged.

I shall leave this coast immediately, and endeaver to reach Kentucky in Twenty five days, the, as thesere is a strict watch placed over the lines of travel by the Federal Government, I may be unavoidably delayed.

I have the honor to be Sir, very respectfully
Your Obedient Servant
N. Wickliffe
late 1^st Lieutenant
9^th U. S. Infantry

To his Excellency
Beriah M^cGoffin
Govener of Kentucky

U. S. Army
N. Wickliffe

Filed July 1, 1861

Lieut N. Wickliffe-

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