A xerox copy of this letter was found in the folder of information on the Choctawhatchie Rangers in the Alabama Archives.  The orginal document is supposed to be in the papers of Governor Shorter.

The spelling, punctuation etc. is true to the letter.
Compiled by Helen Bartlett and Tonia Porter, March 1998.
To Contact compiler e-mail at  toniab@knology.net,

This letter was sent from Captain Bush of the Choctawhatchie Rangers to the Govenor of Alabama, John Gill Shorter concerning the duties of the Choctawhatchie Rangers.
 

Geneva Ala
January 23 day 1863
 

    To his Excelency Govenor Shorter my Dear Sir I avail myself of this opportunity of wrighting you a few lines to Let you no the State of afairs in this country; you no that we are Right on the Line of Florida and that it is now one of the Greatest Dens for Tories and Deserters from our Army in the world and a Cording to your Proclamation I have Raised  a company of 76 men and we have organized elected our officers and made our report to HP Watson Adj'nt General of the Alabama Militia but have got no answer or Orders from him
So I now appeal to you and wish you to give me Such Instructions as you may think proper; In forming the company we are deficient in guns and we have but very Little Ammuntion though we have some and there is a many deserters from our Army that have just got over the Florida Line and has taken up there quarters in the swamps and says that they defy any company from Alabama to take them
So there is some of our company that thinks we have no Right to gow out of this state to arrest them or to break up thier campes so I want information on that point there is Several Men that has run away from other partes and have Settled there that ought to be conscripts and they are let a loose so I want to no what to do with them at a word I want you to right to me and give me all the information you can as to what our duty is and any orders that you may think proper to give shall be promptly carried out so I will wait until I can heer from you I do hope that you will send us the 30 guns and ammunition and some instructions about our provisions which we and our scouts concur in those requests and I am sir your most obedient servant
 
 
 

                        John Gill Shorter                                                        William Bush Captain
                                                                                                       Choctawhatchie Rangers
 

PS
There is some men that has been prisoners and has been paroled that is lurking about and will not go back let me know what to do with them also
                                        WB