Bastrop July 17th 1861
Wm Byrd
Adjt. Gen.
Austin
Tex
Sir:
Having been solicited by a great many citizens, both of those that have
enlisted for Va. and those who expect to defend our rights at home, to proceed
immediately to Richmond, with the view of having the twenty companies armed by
the Confederacy, thereby retaining all the arms which we have for our own
protection, I have finally concluded to offer my services in that capacity. And
at your instance will proceed within six hours after receiving information to
that end to Richmond. And being already in the service of the Confederacy as
Chaplain, I can there remain without further expense or travel until the
companies come forward.
The request of citizens to this end is in view of my personal acquaintance
with the Secretary of War whom I have known from boyhood.
If you see fit to send me the order, send me a statement of our condition in
reference to our arms officially signed that I may use it as an argument of our
necessity.
If in your judgement the mission be unnecessary be aprised that I do not
desire to go, Nor should I have written this communication tendering my services
had I not feared that I would not be acting in good faith to the State of Texas.
But if I can be of any service to my country in this hour of peril both my heart
& my hand shall be devoted.
Your Obt. Svt.
Nicholas A. Davis
Wm Byrd
Adjt. Gen.
Austin
Tex.
Reverend Nicholas A. Davis would become the
Chaplain of the Fourth Texas Infantry from 1861 to 1863.
Source: Texas State Archives and Library
Transcribed by: David Golimowski