<title type="main">N. Wickliffe to Beriah Magoffin Edition created from new transcripts of this manuscript. Initial upload of this work's facsimile images and metadata to FromThePage for editing Kentucky Historical Society Digital Collections Administrator of the CWGK Migration transcription project on FromThePage Kentucky Historical Society Digital Collections Kentucky Historical Society Digital Collections made 3 edits between June 22, 2025 and June 22, 2025. Dynamic TEI export from FromThePage (version 22.10)

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 November 11, 2025 Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives Office of the Governor, Beriah Magoffin: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Military Appointments, 1859-1862 KYR-0001-018-0019 MG6-96 to MG6-97

San Francisco, San Francisco County, California San Francisco, San Francisco County, California 1861-06-11 Correspondence English Version 1 of page "4": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "4": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 0 of page "3": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 1 of page "2": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "2": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 1 of page "1": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "1": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile.
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Sanfrancisco California June 11th 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

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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 1st Lieutenant 9th U. S. Infantry

To his Excellency Beriah McGoffin Govener of Kentucky

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U. S. Army N. Wickliffe

Filed July 1, 1861

Lieut N. Wickliffe-