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Mail
New Orleans 21 Oct 54

Col R.C. Ballard
Vicksburg Miss
Dr Sir The sample of 100 bales
Elcho were brought in yesterday evg & on examination
we are not at all surprised at the
discharge of your overseer, for it is about
as badly mixed in the bale as any we ever saw
Even in the same samples we find "Good Midg"
mixed with very "low ordinary" - so that all the advantage
of the good cotton is totally lost. We have
no doubt the storm did very great injury to the cotton
that was open - but we have seen none as
yet that shows the injury so plainly as the Elcho
crop & we cannot but conclude that it is as
much the result of neglect as any thing else,
& we are gratified to find that you have
discharged the "unfaithful steward." The Africa
news this morning has thrown a damper on our
cotton market which is very full to day & we fear
prices may droop a little. Please let us know
if our letters directed to Vicksburg reach you. We
send papers frequently. The weather is delightful
& the fever nearly gone.
Yr. Obt Sts
Cox, Gillis & Boge