Mobile Advertiser & Register
June 9, 1861
Page 2
To His Excellency
Governor Moore.
-------
With entire
respect for your Excellency, personally, and for the exalted position which
occupy as the chief magistrate of the State of Alabama, I deem it my duty to
the cause which we all have at heart to call your attention to the necessities
of our local defenses; and while doing so to suggest to your Excellency, one
who in the estimation of this community is eminently qualified from his
experience in battle, his acknowledged courage, his manly character, to rally
around him the fighting element of this section of the country.
I cannot for a
moment longer refrain mentioning the name of Capt. James Hagan of this city,
formerly an officer in the U. S.
Army in Mexico
as a gentleman eminently qualified for the appointment of Brigadier General, a
post, which it is understood you will fill before leaving the city.
May I ask your
Excellency what qualities are most required in leaders, and at the same time assure
you, that devotion to the cause of the South, exalted courage, experience in
leadership, and robust health form some of the reasons why this gentleman
should be selected by your Excellency to organize, embody and lead our forces
against the enemy, should he make a descent on our shores.
I hope your
Excellency will not permit nepotism or redtapeism to have a place in your
counsels. Enquire of every gentleman you
may meet, who is the proper man to command, recollecting that he who can
command his own intellect in danger is the proper leader of soldiers.
Very
respectfully, X.Y.Z.
[From same issue, separate but related story]
The communications
of “X. Y. Z.” will attract attention.
The suggestion in the last paragraph as to the manner in which
appointments should be made is undoubtedly correct. The gentleman so warmly commended by our
correspondent, saw service in the Mexican war, and received very marked
complements for his military qualities from Capt. Jack Hayes.
