1861 Mississippi gubernatorial election

none January 2025 January 2025 1861 Mississippi gubernatorial election presidential 1859 Mississippi gubernatorial election 1859 1863 Mississippi gubernatorial election 1863 no October 7, 1861 John J. Pettus (Mississippi governor).jpg John J. Pettus Democratic Party (United States) 30,169 87.14% Jacob_Thompson_-_Brady-Handy.jpg Jacob Thompson Democratic Party (United States) 3,556 10.27% 1861 Mississippi gubernatorial election results map by county.svg x250px County results Pettus: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90% #0d0596 >90% Thompson: #d3bc5f 50–60% #c8ab37 60–70% #786721 80–90% #808080 No vote Governor John J. Pettus Democratic Party (United States) Charles Clark Democratic Party (United States) The 1861 Mississippi gubernatorial election was held on October 7, 1861, to elect the governor of Mississippi. Incumbent Governor John J. Pettus, a Democrat, won against Democrat Jacob Thompson and moderate Democrat Madison McAfee.Glashan Roy R. https://archive.org/details/americangovernor0000glas/page/168/mode/2up American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978 Meckler Books Westport, CT 1979 168–169 Amid the start of the Civil War, Governor John J. Pettus faced internal party challenges and criticisms for military handling. Despite discontent and potential withdrawal, Pettus persisted with the campaign. Mobilization orders in September eased criticisms, leading to Pettus winning re-election in October with overwhelming support, securing victory in almost every county. General election By the time of the 1861 contest, Mississippi had officially seceded and was at war with the United States.Busbee Westley F. Mississippi: A History John Wiley and Sons 2015 1st 201–202 Pro-secessionist Governor John J. Pettus received the renomination from the Mississippi Democratic Party, however several newspapers throughout the state endorsed alternative candidates, like Democrat Jacob Thompson, moderate Democrat Madison McAfee, the state quartermaster-general, or Whig Samuel Benton. Pettus was also notified of a long-list of supporters for Madison McAfee campaign.Dubay 1975 113 Complaints were levied towards Pettus over mistreatment towards volunteer milita companies and slowness towards mobilizing for the war. Other volunteer units were dissatisfied with the places they were stationed and lack of ability to fight in the war. Nonetheless, the Confederate Army refused to take the surplus volunteers.Dubay 1975 113–114 Pettus in response wrote a public letter, appealing to the voters to investigate the complaints for themselves, though this only angered more Mississippians and generated a rebuke from the Jackson Weekly Mississippian. In August and September, criticisms towards Pettus and his military strategy were at their worst, with volunteer desertions and unfilled equipment requests.Dubay 1975 114 Pettus considered dropping out,Dubay 1975 114 however, Reuben Davis advised against doing so and personally stumped for the governor during his campaign as a candidate for the Confederate Congress.Dubay 1975 115 Pettus sent McAfee out of state to procure funds from the Confederate government. Noticing the tenuous situation he was in, McAfee withdrew from campaign and defended the governor, blaming himself equally for the military issues. McAfee was rewarded with a position in the executive mansion in 1863.Dubay 1975 115 Finally, in September, mobilization orders arrived in Jackson for 10,000 men, with additional mobilization of companies in New Orleans.Dubay 1975 116 With the news of the mobilization orders, criticisms against the governor cleared. Pettus won reelection without significant opposition come October.Dubay 1975 116 Pettus won every county but four, beating his nearest opponent on a margin of ten to one.Dubay 1975 116 Results Mississippi gubernatorial election, 1861Dublin Michael J. United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1861-1911: The Official Results by State and County McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers 2010 9780786456468 1st 322 Democratic Party (United States) John J. Pettus (incumbent) 30,16930,169 was reported in the Mississippi election returns, however 30,467 is also reported without explanation. Additionally, based on country returns, the added total is 29,141. 87.14% Democratic Party (United States) Jacob Thompson 3,556 10.27% Democratic Party (United States) Madison McAfee 234 0.68% Scattering 662 1.91% 34,621 100.00 Democratic Party (United States) Notes References Works cited Dubay Robert W. https://books.google.com/books?id=JslRH5FIwZwC&q=thompson John Jones Pettus: Mississippi Fire-Eater University Press of Mississippi 1975 Oxford 978-1-61703-353-7 Category:Mississippi gubernatorial elections Gubernatorial Mississippi Category:1861 in Mississippi Category:October 1861 in the United States