Samuel Cooper to Edmund P. Turner, July 22, 1863

Capt. EDMUND P. TURNER, Assistant Adjutant-General : Having heard that Col. John S. Ford, commanding conscripts, has made a request on the general commanding this district for authority to employ a certain force to aid him in enforcing the enrollment of conscripts and the securing of deserters, I feel it my duty to state that, from information daily received by me, some such step is absolutely necessary.

Should this step be delayed much longer, I fear very serious consequences will grow out of it. There is also a very large amount of public property of’a most valuable character needing protection. :

I will most cheerfully render every assistance in my power to bring about a prompt execution of the law, both against deserters and shirking conscripts.

very respectfully,