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Brother-in- Law of U.S. Grant - John Dent Writes F

Autograph Letter Signed, "John C. Dent" brother-in-law of U.S. Grant, 4p. quarto, Columbia Jail, South Carolina, October 10, 1864, addressed to Govenor Bonham, and reads " You must excuse the liberty of addressing you on a subject that is of such vital importance to me & one that I wish fully explained to you, & those that detain me a prisoner, in your midst. I have understood the charges they hold against me, are finding on my person a paper designating me a Government Lessee and also a paper showing taht I had been discharged from United States service for being over age. Both of these papers they are mistaken in. I most positively state to you that I am not nor never have been a Government Lessee in any shape or manner or a soldier in teh service of the U. States since the war with Mexico. And I have sent to Judge R. Ould Agt. of Exchange at Richmond my affidavit proper authenticated to that effect. That I never done any thing detrimental to the interest of the Confederacy but have invariably done all I could for the promotion of the Confederate cause have particularly looked after the interest of its citizens in Mississippi and Louisiana. Prevented strangers & others from taking their stock negroes 7 by reporting the matter to Genl. McPherson (stationed then at Vicksburg) and getting cack such orders as would prevent it...I do think that if I ahd been allowed to remain on the plantation that it would have proved advantageous to its citizens and their property, & no detriment to the Confederate cause. Our family are all with but two exceptions, strong Southern Sympathizers and many now & have been since the begining of the war in the Confederate army, battling for its cause...Genl. Grant being my brother in law I could not avoid as he married my sister some sixteen or eighteen yeas ago, however, I have a brother in law in Genl. Sterling Prices command Dr. Joseph T. Scott Medical Director...This plantation on which I was captured we rented from the Receiver appointed by the courts of Miss....we had only fifty-two negroes...So you see Govnr. for four days stay on this plantation I have lost all my stock & everything that I had on it worth over eight thousand dollars in Greenbacks....if you think my cause sufficient to use your influence & Col. Christop Hampton with President Davis for my release and allow me to return to my home from where I have been nearly sixteen months..." VG.

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