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THE GIFT OF
Wm JUyC^t^^
K<\3%3A^ A^/.^/m...
«?iasr'
THE
WAR OF THE REBELLION:
A COMPILATION OF THE
OFFICIAL RECORDS
UNION AND CONFEDERATE ARMIES.
PUBLISHED UXDEU THE DIUKCTION OF
The Hou. ELIHU ROOT, Secretary of "War,
BY
BRIG. GEN. FRED C. AINSWORTH,
CUIKF OF THE RlXORD AXD PENSION' OFFICE, WaH DEPAUTMENT,
AND
MR. JOSEPH W. KIRKLEY.
SEKIES IV— VOLUME III.
Section 1
WASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 1900.
f
s^^^
A , V^i.^'l.M-^
PREFACE
The work of preparing the records of the war for public use was begun, under the resolution of Congress of May 19, 1864, by Col. E. D. Townsend, assistant adjutant-general, U. S. -Army (then in charge of the Adjutant-General's Office, and subsequently the Adjutant- General), who caused copies to be made of reports of battles on file in his ofiBce and steps to be taken to collect missing records.
Under the provisions of joint resolution of July 27, 1866, Hon. Peter H. "Watson was appointed to supervise the preparation of the records and to formulate a plan for their publication, but he performed no service under this appointment, which expired July 27, 1868, by limi- tation. This resolution having also repealed the former one, the project was suspended for the time being.
The first decisive step taken was the act of June 23, 1874, providing the necessary means "to enable the Secretary of War to begin the publication of the Official Kecords of the War of the Rebellion, both of the Union and Confederate Armies," and directing him " to have copied for the Public Printer all reports, letters, telegrams, and gen- eral orders, not heretofore copied or printed, and properly arranged in chronological order." Appropriations have been made from time to time for continuing such preparation. Under this act the prelimi- nary work was resiimed by General Townsend.
Subsequently, under meager appropriations, it was prosecuted in a somewhat desultory manner by various subordinates of the War Department until December 14, 1877, when the Secretary of War, perceiving that the undertaking needed the undivided attention of a single head, detailed Capt. Robert N. Scott, Third U. S. Artillery (subsequently major and lieutenant-colonel same regiment), to take charge of the office.
The act of June 23, 1874, enlarged upon the first scheme of publi- cation. On this more comprehensive basis it was determined that the volumes should include not only the battle reports, correspondence, etc., in possession of the War Department, but also "all official docu- ments that can be obtained by the compiler, and that appear to be of any historical value." Colonel Scott systematized the work, and, upon his recommendation, the Secretary of War approved the follow- ing order of publication :
The first series will embrace the formal reports, both Union and Confederate, of the first seiztires of United States property in the Southern States, and of all military operations in the field, with the correspondence, orders, and returns relating specially thereto, and, as proposed, is to be accompanied by an Atlas.
HI
IV PREFACE.
In this series the reports will be arranged according to the campaigns and sev- eral theaters of operations (in the chronological order of events) , and the Union reports of any event will, as a rule, be immediately followed by the Confederate accounts. The correspondence, etc., not embraced in the " reports "' proper will follow (first Union and next Confederate) in chronological order.
The second series will contain the correspondence, orders, reports, and returns, Union and Confederate, relating to prisoners of war, and (so far as the military authorities were concerned) to state or political prisoners.
The third series will contain the correspondence, orders, reports, and returns of the Union authorities (embracing their correspondence with the Confederate offi- cials) not relating specially to the subjects of the first and second series. It will set forth the annual and special reports of the Secretary of War, of the Greneral- in-Chief , and of the chiefs of the several staff corps and departments ; the calls for troops, and the correspondence between the National and the several State authorities.
The fourth series will exhibit the correspondence, orders, reports, and returns of the Confederate authorities, similar to that indicated for the Union officials, as of the third series, but excluding the correspondence between the Union and Confederate authorities given in that series.
The first volume of the records was issued in the earlj- fall of 1880. The act approved June 16, 1880, provided "for the pi-intingand bind- ing, under direction of the Secretary of War, of 10,000 copies of a com- pilation of the Ofticial Records (Union and Confederate) of the War of the Rebellion, so far as tlie same may be ready for publication, during the fiscal year; " and that "of said number 7,000 copies shall be for the use of the House of Representatives, 2,000 copies for the use of the Senate, and 1,000 copies for the iise of the Executive Departments." Under tliis act Colonel Scott proceeded to j)ublish the first five volumes of the records.*
*A11 subsequent volumes have been distributed under the act approved Aug^ust 7. 1882, which provides that :
" The volumes of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion shall be dis- tributed as follows : One thousand copies to the Executive Departments, as now provided by law. One thousand copies for distribution by the Secretary of War among officers of the Army and contributors to the work. Eight thousand three hundred copies shall be sent by the Secretary of War to such libraries, organiza- tions, and individuals as may be designated by the Senators, Representatives, and Delegates of the Forty-seventh Congress. Each Senator shall designate not exceed- ing twenty-six, and each Representative and Delegate not exceeding twenty-one, of such addresses, and the volumes shall be sent thereto from time to time as they are published, until the publication is completed. Senators, Representatives, and Dele- gates shall inform the Secretary of War in each case how many volumes of those heretofore published they have forwarded to such addresses. The remaining copies of the eleven thousand to be published, and all sets that may not be ordered to be distributed as provided herein, shall be sold by the Secretai-y of War for cost of publication with ten per cent, added thereto, and the proceeds of such sale shall be covered into the Treasury. If two or more, sets of said volumes are ordered to the same address, the Secretary of War shall inform the Senators, Representatives, or Delegates who have designated the same, who thereupon may designate other libraries, organizations, or individuals. The Secretary of War shall report to the first session of the Forty -eighth Congress what volumes of the series heretofore published have not been furnished to such libraries, organizations, and individuals. He shall also inform distributees at whose instance the volumes are sent."
PREFACE. V
Colonel Scott died March 5,-1887. At his death some twenty-six books only had been issued, but he had compiled a large amount of matter for forthcoming volumes ; consequently his name as compiler was retained in all thie books up to and including Vol. XXXVI, although his successors had added largely to his compilations from new material found after his demise.
The Secretary of War, May 7, 1887, assigned Lieut. Col. H. M. Lazelle, Twenty-third U. S. Infantrj^ to duty as the successor of Colonel Scott. He had continued in charge about two years, when, in the act approved March 2, 1889, it was pi'ovided —
That hereafter the preparation and publication of said records shall be conducted, under the Secretary of War, by a board of three persons, one of whom shall be an officer of the Army, and two civilian experts, to be appointed by the Secretary of War, thecompensation of said civilian experts to be fixed by the Secretary of War.
The Secretary of War appointed Maj. George B. Davis, judge-advo- cate, U. S. Army, as the militarj' member, and Leslie J. Perry, of Kan- sas, and Joseph W. Kirkley, of Maryland, as the civilian expert mem- bers of said board. The board assumed direction of the publication at the commencement of the fiscal year 1889, its first work beginning with Serial No. 36 of Vol. XXIV.
Julj^ 1, 1895, bj' direction of the Secretary of War, Maj. George W. Davis, Eleventh U. S. Infantry (subsequently lieutenant-colonel Four- teenth U. S. Infantry), relieved Maj. George B. Davis as the military member and i^resident of the Board of Publication. Subsequently Col. Fred C. Ainsworth, Chief of the Record and Pension Office, War Department, was appointed the militarj' member and president of the board, relieving Lieut. Col. George W. Davis June 1, 1898.
December 1, 1898, under the provision of the sundry civil act of Julj' 1, 1898, relative to the War Records Office, the Board of Publi- cation was dissolved, Avhereupon, bj' direction of the Secretarj' of War, the continuance of the work, beginning with Vol. VI, Series II, devolved on Colonel (now Brigadier-General) Ainsworth.
By operation of law (contained in "An act making appropriations for the legislative, executive, and judicial expenses of the Govern- ment for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1900," approvecT February 24, 1899), the War Records Office was merged into the Record and Pen- sion Office, July 1, 1899, and since that date the work of publication has been conducted under the supervision of the chief of that office.
Each volume includes a copious index, and for the further conven- ience of investigators there will be, in addition, a separate general index to the entire set.
Nothing is printed in these volumes except duly authenticated con- temporaneous records of the war. The scope of the compiler's work is to decide upon and arrange the matter to be published ; to correct and verify the orthography of the papers used, and, wherever deemed necessary, to add a foot-note of explanation.
CONTENTS.
Page. Correspondence, Orders, etc.. from January 1, 1864, to the end 1-1194
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THE
WAR OF THE REBELLION
A COMPILATION OF THE OFFICIAL RECORDS
OK THK
UNION AND CONFEDERATE ARMIES.
ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS
TO
SERIES IV— VOLUME III.
(To be inserted, in the volume. For explanation see Creneral Index volume. Serial No. 130, page XXVIII.)
PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF
The Hon. ELIHT7 BOOT, Secretary of War,
BY
BRIG. GEN. FRED C. AINSWORTH, Chief of the Kecokd and Pe.\sion Office, War Depakt,ment,
AND
MR. JOSEPH W. KIRKLEY.
Rlr. JOHN S. inOODElf, Indezer.
WASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
1902.
ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS.
TEXT,
Page 37. Seddon to McCulloh, date, for 1864 read 1865.
Page 8S3. In t foot-note strike out Papers referred to not found as indosures and not oiherxvise identified. But see, and insert after t See.
Page 931. Add to foot-note Probably Northrop to Moses, p. 828.
Page 1 124. Message of Davis, date, for March 6 read March 4.
Page 1 177. Paragraph II, General Orders, No. 18, for Paragraph IX read Para- graph XL
INDEX.
Insert aU words and figures in italics and strike out all in [t)racketsj.
Bragg, Braxton. Correspondence: Campbell [Canibell], P. Ca?npbell [Canibell], Parker. Oiambh'ss,John K.. ij-;, 11S9. Chnnibliss, John K., jr., [137, 1189]. Davis, Jefferson. Correspondence: Hudson, T.y. Ferguson, William Cx., y26 [720]. Ford, S. [h.] H. French. S. Bassett. Correspondence; [Allen, A, M., 90.] [Cummings, J. F., 117.]
[Subsistence Department, C. S. A.. 89. 533. 535- 653. 1 136.] Mentioned, [21,91. 115. 291, 73S. 7S1, 7S2. 899-901]. ! French, Seth B. |
Cot rcspottdeucc: Allen. A. .1/.. <jo. Cummings. J. F.. Jij. Subsisfencr Department. C. S. A.. S9, sjj, ^js,
Mentioned, 21, yi. 11$. 2^1. jj8, y8i. 7S2. 6^i/-i^oi.
Higgason, Reuben [J.] A. Hudson, Thomas J. Iverson, Alfred (Hon.).
Mentioned, [310]. Iverson. Alfred {Brig. Gen.). ^10. Johnson [Johnston], James. McKay. James, j'r. {Asst. Q. M.). Mobile Advertiser and Register, mo [Register and
Advertiser, 11 10]. Ravesies, Paul [F.]. [Southwestern Kentucky, Department of.
Enforcement of conscription acts, 749. J Virginia Troops (C.)- Cavalry— Battalions:
[13th Reserves. 11R2.] Infantry— Battalions: /;/// Reserves. 11S2. Western Kentucky. Department of, F.nforcement of conscription acts, J49,
SERIES lAT^.-VOL. III.
CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, REPORTS, AND RETURNS OF THE CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES FROM JANUARY 1, 1864, TO THE END.
[January 2, 1864. — For Forrest to Cooper, in relation to raising troops in West Tennessee, see Series I, Vol. XXXII, Part II, p. 512.]
[January 2, 1864. — For memorial signed by General Cleburne and others, in relation to freeing the slaves and enlisting them as soldiers, with resulting correspondence, see Series I, Vol. Lll, Part II, pp. 586, 593, 594, 596, 598, 606, 608.]
General Orders, | Adjt. and Insp. General's Office,
No. 1. ) Bichmond, January 4, ISSJf.
I. If immediately after the death of an officer there be no family connection or legal representative present to whom the officer charged by the Ninety-fourth Article of War with securing his effects may deliver them, he will turn them over, under the provisions of para- graph III, General Orders, No. 67, 1863, to the quartermaster of the regiment or post, as the circumstances may indicate to be proper.
II. Surgeons or assistant surgeons in charge of hospitals will, upon the death of a soldier in hospital, furnish the Second Auditor of the Treasury a statement from their rolls showing the last payment pre- ceding his death made to such soldier.
By order:
S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General.
Confederate States of America, War Department,
Richmond, Va., January Jt, 186^. The President of the Confederate States:
Sir: ITie letter of His Excellency Governor Brown,* transmitting to you the resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of Georgia, declaring —
That believing it to be the constitutional right of all soldiers who went from Gteorgia through the agency of the State to elect their regimental, battalion, and
* See Vol. II, this series, p. 1062.
fl) 1 R R — SERIES IV, VOL III
2 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.
company ofBcers, we request our Representatives in Congress, as a proper appre- ciation of the patriotic devotion, patience, and toil of our gallant soldiers in this sanguinary struggle for independence, to use their zealous efforts to procure, at the earliest practicable day, such a change in existing Confederate laws as shall secure the right of all regiments, battalions, and companies in the Confederate service from this State to elect all their regimental, battalion, and company officers,
has been referred by you to this Department, and has been respect- fully considered. This claim was presented by His Excellency to this Department in several communications, which are submitted, together with the response of the Department to the claim as made by him.
His Excellency does not deny that the action of this Department has been in accordance with the legislation of Congress, and this Department has not considered it to be its duty to vindicate to him at large that legislation as being in accordance with the Constitution. It is proper, however, for it to say that it did not entertain doubt on the subject, and had no scruple in conforming its administration to the will of Congress.
Very respectfully,
JAMES A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War.
Confederate States of America, War Department,
Richmond, Va., January 4, 1864. His Excellency Z. B. Vance,
Governor of North Carolina, Raleigh, N. C: Sir: Your letter of the 29th ultimo, with the resolutions of the Leg- islature of North Carolina relative to impressments in that State, has been received.* The Department has taken the utmost care, by its general orders and by its instructions in Avriting and otherwise, to mitigate as far as practicable the evils consequent upon the execution of the law relative to impressment. These orders provide that neces- sary supplies which any person may have for the consumption of himself, his family, employes, slaves, or to carry on his ordinary mechanical, manufacturing, or agricultural employments, shall not be impressed, and until further orders, which will not be given unless under imperative exigencies for the supply of the Army, not to impress necessaries of subsistence to man owned by producers in transitu to market, or after arrival at market, unless retained an unreasonable time from sale to consumer. The seventh section of the act of Congress of 26th of March last, which has been published as a part of the instructions, requires that the supplies to be exempt as family supplies shall be ascertained by appraisers, and that the judg- ment of the appraisers is to be conclusive on the impressing officer. Each citizen claiming to hold the property impressed for his family sup- ply is entitled to claim the benefit of an appraisement and to designate one of the appraisers who shall act with an appraiser to be appointed by the impressing officer, and who is entitled to aid in the selection of an umpire in case of their disagreement. The Department has enjoined upon the Commissary Department that the power intrusted to it should be employed with discrimination and care, and that all the directions of the act of Congress and of this Department for the execution of the act should be scrupulously fulflUed. This Depart- ment is constantly employed in correcting irregularities in the execu-
*See Vol. II, this series, p. 1066.
CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES. 3
tion of these regulations, and the eleventh section of the act furnished a remedy to every citizen aggrieved. In the report from this Depart- ment which has been submitted to Congress, a copy of which is sent to Your Excellency with this letter, you will find a statement of the difficulties under which the Government labors in providing for the subsistence of the Army, and how much of the evils complained of is the result of inexorable necessity.* The Department has heretofore, and will in the future exert itself to confine these evils within the exact limits of that necessity.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War.
General Orders, | Adjt. and Insp. General's Office,
No. 2. \ Richmond, January 5, 186Jf.
For the information of all concerned, and to correct prevalent mis- apprehension, it is announced that there exists no mandatory provis- ion of law securing to enrolled conscripts the right to choose in what company or regiment they will serve. They cannot be assigned to companies from other States, and in general their wishes are to be consulted as to the choice of companies, where no considerations for the good of the service intervene to prevent compliance. Assign- ments once made by commandants of conscripts in good faith, in the exercise of their discretion, will not be considered as fit subjects for complaints.
By order:
S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General.
AN ACT to continue in force an act entitled "An act to provide for the compen- sation of certain persons therein named," approved May the first, eighteen hnndred and sixty-three.
The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact. That the act entitled "An act to provide for the compensation of certain persons therein named, " approved May the first, eighteen hundred and sixty-three, which, by its own limitation, wouM expire on the first of January, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, be, and the same is hereby, continued in force until the first of Januaiy, eighteen hun- dred and sixty-five.
Approved January ti, 1804.
Executive Department of Alabama,
Montgomery, January 6, 186^. Hon. James A. Seddon,
Secretary of War : Sir : Unless the planting interest in the South can be carried on successfully the armies of the Confederacy cannot be supported. Without iron the planting interests cannot be profitably carried on.
* See Vol. II, this series, p. 990,
4 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.
Alabama has an immense quantity of iron ore, and many of her peo- ple are making iron, but all or neai'ly all have contracts with the Confederate Government to deliver all they make to the Government authorities. The consequence is that the planters, even in the best iron regions of the State, cannot get enough iron to make and repair their agricultural implements. Now, sir, the object of this communi- cation is to ask that the contractors be authorized to sell to planters some of the iron they make. I have numbers of letters showing the necessity for such instructions to your contractors and agents. It is useless to enlarge on a subject which must be fully appreciated at a glance by the Secretary of War. Will you grant this right ? I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,
T. H. WATTS, Governor of Alabama.
Confederate States of America, War Department,
Richmond, January 6, 186Jf. Governor Vance :
I regret to learn that because of an interest of your State in the steamer Don, objection is made to its conforming to the regulation about taking out Government cotton. The necessities of the Govern- ment really require adherence to this regulation, and I earnestly hope that you will not encourage or allow in your name the infringement of it.
J. A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War.
Richmond House, Richmond, January 6, 1864-. His Excellency Jefferson Davis,
President Confederate States of America : Dear Sir: I beg leave to call your attention to a weak point in the enemy's lines to which j^our mind may not have been directed. I allude to the Irish element in the Northern population. A resident of twenty years in Philadelphia, seventeen of which I was a wholesale bookseller, publisher, &c. , and having quite a number of that class in my employment in binding, printing-ofiice, and store, coupled with the fact that my parents were natives of Ireland, naturally created in my mind a sympathy for them, more especially as they were, about the time of my going to Philadelphia, objects of bittei''and most intense peraecution by an ignorant band of bigots. The interest I felt and manifested for them soon gave me quite an extensive acquaintance among them. I merely mention this fact to show you that my esti- mate of their character and knowledge of their views upon our ques- tion is not based upon superficial information. As soon as civil war seemed inevitable I began the tedious task of selling out and collect- ing, in order that I might hasten to this my native place. The regu- lar routine of business broken up, I had much leisure time, which I used to the best advantage for the furtherance of our cause. Partlj;^ from the calls of business, together with a desire to see and converse with the Irish operatives in the coal mines of Pennsylvania, I visited during the summer of 1861 the counties of Lehigh, Carbon, Schuylkill, Berks, &c. I asserted that the native American and Know-Nothing were identical with the Black Rejniblican party. I reminded them
CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES. 5
that the former had burned their churches in 1844 ; the Know-Nothing party had proscribed every man who had a Mc or an O to his name during the winter of 1857 and 1858, driving many thousands of fami- lies into starvation during the continuance of that short, but certainly most severe financial storm which i-aged throughout the North at that period. Failing to accomplish their full purpose at each of these times by reason of the steady opposition of the South, and especially Vir- ginia, where Know-Nothingism met its death, they changed their name and tactics, and by a loud outcry for the negro, for whom they had no real sympathy, but used him as a weapon against both the Irish and the South — their chief aim and object being to free the negro as far as they could, bring him North, put him in competition with the white labor, believing that they would work cheaper than the Irish, and, above all, they would not be permitted to vote. The effect of these short conversations, I can assure you, were most happy, and what added point to my argument was that many of these men had been driven from places of public employment during the winter of 1857 and 1858 by the Know-Nothing party, which was then in power in the select and common councils of Philadelphia. After the first battle of Manassas, T. F. Meagher came to Philadelphia to drum up recruits for his Irish Brigade. He made a capital speech; I feared a telling one. I worked night and day to neutralize his speech. His treat- ment of the Irish girl who aided him in making his escape from Aus- tralia, and his subsequent marriage with a Yankee girl, was an admi- rable argument against him, which I failed not to use on every occasion. The result was he obtained hut few recruits in Philadelphia — not more than a corporal's guard. I mention these circumstances to show you that the great body of Irish at the North feel a deep interest in our success, more especially in Pennsylvania, where they have been sub- jected to bitter persecution. Although I am an elder in the Presby- terian Church, yet I had conversations with quite a number of Roman Catholic priests at the North, all of whom, with one exception, expressed the utmost confidence and sympathy in our success. Pri- vate letters which I received from James A. McMaster, editor of the Fx'eeman's Journal, allude to the efforts which the North were making most cunningly to identify the South with these objectionable par- ties; a fact that I had noticed such artists, with those who had any knowledge of the subject, would awake only a feeling of indignation and contempt; but we know there are many Irish (those but recently arrived) who would believe the statement; and I have no doubt that the burning of the convent at Charlestown, Mass., by a mob has ere this been located at Charleston, S. C. . "
I owe you an apology for thus troubling you with this communica- tion, but I do it from the best motiA'es for our good. The views generally met the cordial approval of Hon. James A. Bayard, of Delaware, and Hon. Charles Brown, of Philadelphia, with the latter of whom I had frequent interviews before I left, March, 1862. In j'our judgment you may see some plan by which this party might be strengthened and encouraged by some complimentary allusion to the Irish in our Confederacy.
Begging pardon for the liberty I take, I remain, dear sir, yours, very respectfully,
S. C. HAYES, C. 8. Register's Office.
After writing the above my attention was attracted by a letter from Mr. Smith O'Brien in the Sentinel, which I concluded to read before I
COkRESPONDENCE, ETC.
b this, thinking possibly that the same suggestions I make might it your eye in a more agreeable form. I see nothing, however, in lett«r or the editorial but additional evidence to my mind that we ht now to have the very beat writers in the Confederacy engaged er as editors or regular contributors to the press. I have seen the
effects flowing from the editorial attacks upon Mr. Benjamin in Richmond papers. Mr. Chase, I have no doubt, had much cause to ak the Richmond editors for applying the name Jew as a term of temptuous reproach to our Secretary of State, for large subscrip- 1 to his 7.30 stock was made immediately by this very class at the th, some of whom remarked to me in the streets of Philadelphia, iiritanism is worse at the South than in New England." Hon. les A. Bayard, of Delaware, in a conversation I had with him in Feb- ty, 1862, remarked that if President Davis could obtain the cordial port of all the papers of the South, which he richly deserved, the
would close in six months, but that the silly attacks in the Rich- id press tended to prolong the struggle, as it gave point to the litionists, who claim that there is a large Union element at the th. I feel very great hesitation in sending this to you, but I think m certainly do no harm, except it be adding additional trouble to
in reading it. Yours, very respectfully,
S. C. HAYES, Register's Office, Richmond House.
eneral Bragg for consideration.
[First indorsement.]
J. D.
[Second indorsement.]
Hdqrs. Armies ov the C'onfederate States,
August 22, 186^. Respectfully returned to His Excellency the President, his paper contains suggestions which I deem valuable and practi- le. The employment of some judicious person to operate on this s of people through our own press and that of the North would no bt be attended with good results. In this connection I suggest the iting in English, German, and French a large number of the snt general orders inviting foreigners in the Federal ranks to come IS and offering them protection. With care many of these papers Id be introduced into the enemy's lines.
BRAXl^ON BRAGG.
[Tbird indorsement.]
August 24, 1864. scretarj' of War for consideration and conference.
J. D.
Confederate States op Amekica, War Department,
Richmond, Va., January 6, 1861. I. C. J. McRae, ^
Burlington Hotel, London, England: [R: Hon. J. E. Ward, of Georgia, has submitted to the Department is suggested by certain capitalists in London, who are large holders otton bonds, to which he has sought my approval. The plan con- plates in substance that the bondholders subscribe 10 per cent, of
CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES. 7
the amount held by them, to be appropriated to the purchase or con- struction of steamers, which are to be turned over to the Confederate Government on condition that, being sailed at the expense of the Gov- ernment, they shall be employed in transporting cotton to England, which shall there be sold and the proceeds applied, one-fourth to the payment of the cost of the steamers ; one-fourth to be applied to keep- ing up the number of steamers, and the residue to the payment of the bonds held by the subscribers to the fund. The Government running the boats is to have the control and use of them for return cargoes. These are the leading features.
There are some stipulations of minor character to the approval of Messrs. De Vaux «fc Co., the parties selected as the consignees of the cotton and the agents of the subscribers, which would require modifi- cation, as the dignity of the Government would require such matters to be left to its own control and good faith. The general scheme, as you will perceive, is addressed rather to the discretion of the Secretary of the Treasury, who must determine the time and mode of discharg- ing the cotton bonds, than to myself, from whom only an expression of opinion has been sought by Mr. Ward. I have no hesitation in saying that such a plan would be beneficial, in my judgment, and I deem it probable you have received, or will receive, from the Secretary of the Treasury some expression of like general approval. It would, of course, be even more acceptable if some portion of the proceeds of the cotton sent out in these vessels could be appropriated to the more immediate and pressing necessities of the Government; but as the vessels would be furnished without expense to us, and an adequate return for the charge of running them would be afforded by the return cargo, and as, moreover, the whole proceeds of the cotton would in one form or another inure to the benefit of the Government, it does not appear to me that the point could in equity be insisted on. You will, of course, endeavor to obtain it if practicable.
On another point, however, there should be a clear understanding, and that is, that while the Government will use all reasonable efforts to supply the cotton to these vessels promptly and regularly, if, through deficiency of transportation or otherwise it should be unable to provide at our port;S the cotton which it has the means of sending out directly for its immediate necessities, and likewise the cotton required for these steamers, preference will be given to the export of the former. The reasonableness of this, it is expected, will be seen and acquiesced in. These are at best but opinions expressed in a matter not strictly subject to my direction, but only collaterally connected with the busi- ness which has been thrown on this Department. They ■W^ill, of course, not be regarded by you as instructions. So far as I am concerned, the matter is cheerfully left to your discretion, acting under the more direct instructions, whatever they may be, which may be given by the Secretary of the Treasury.
Very respectfulh\ your obedient servant,
JAMES A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War.
Special Orders, ) Adjt. and Insp. General's Office,
No. 5. \ JanvMry 7, 1864.
******* XV. Paragraph XVIII, Special Orders, No. 298, and paragraph XVIII, Special Orders, No. 300, Adjutant and Inspector General's
8 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.
Office, December 1 [IG and 18], 1863, are amended so as to retain tem- porarily on duty in the conscript service the officers and men hitherto under the orders of Brigadier-General Pillow in the States of Ten- nessee, Alabama, and Mississippi who have not already been relieved.* They wiU receive orders from Col. John S. Preston, chief of Bureau of Conscription.
XVI. Brigadier-General Pillow is allowed such time as may be necessary to adjust the unsettled matters jjcrtaining to his late duties before reporting to the general commanding the Army of Tennessee. *******
JNO. WITHERS,
Assistant Adjutant-Oeneral.
Headquakters Chalmers' Cavalry,
Near Como, January 7, 1864. Hon. Charles Clark,
Governor of Mississippi :
Dear Sir: I hear of several persons here who profess to have authority from you to raise regiments for service of the State of Mis- sissippi, and they claim the right to enlist conscripts in their com- mand. Col. John R. Dickins, Col. William Nesbitt, and Capt. Williamson Hunt are the parties alluded to. I know Colonel Dickins well, and know him to be a good soldier and most excellent officer, and would be most pleased to see him in command of a regiment if he could obtain it legally; but so long as I am in command here, with the law and orders now before me, I cannot permit any more con- scripts to enter the State service; and as I do not wish any misunder- standing or bad feeling to grow up between you and myself, I address you on the subject direct. General Pemberton established a line running through Panola, Oxford, and Fuller, and authorized the enlistment of conscripts into State companies north of that line, to be retained during the term for which the State troops were enlisted, unless sooner called for by Confederate authorities. General Pillow, by order issued September 6, 1863, abolished that line and forbid the enlistment of any more conscripts in any new commands, whether State or Confederate. General Johnston issued an order directing that General Pillow's orders should be obeyed in all matters concerning con- scripts; and Major-General Lee issued an order some time about September 16, 1863, directing that no addition should be allowed to the rolls of State troops then in service. You arc aware that the conscript law does not permit any such enlistments, and I hope, therefore, you will instruct your officers not to enlist any conscripts in their commands, or attempt to do so.
Capt. Williamson Hunt imposed upon Governor Pettus with a muster-roll of a company which he never could assemble in camp, and I refused to recognize the little squad that he had as a company, and some of the men entered the Confederate service. Hunt now claims these men under orders from you. I have not seen his orders, but could not allow any such order to be enforced if he has it with- out instructions from the Secretary of War. There are some othei companies here — Captain Floyd, Captain Perry, and others — who claim sometimes to belong to Mississippi State service and some- times to one Colonel Collins, authorized by the Secretary of War to
* See Series I, Vol. XXXI, Part III, pp. 836, 844.
CONFEUERATE AUTHORITIES. 9
raise a regiment within tiie enemy's lines. The men and officers all formerly belonged to Colonel Blythe's old regiment, the term of service of which, according to the representation of both men and oflficers, was for twelve months. That term of enlistment has long since expired, and no authority has ever been granted to them to re-en- list in State service. There are some good men among these com- panies, but the great majority are simply seeking some hiding-place from conscription, and never will do any service as cavalry, or while they remain so close to their homes, and the best interest of the serv- ice requires that they should be conscripted and put in the infantry. You are an old soldier, and I know appreciate the necessity for disci- pline, and it would require but a few days of personal inspection to satisfy you that these State companies have done more harm than good. I do not include in this remark Colonel McGuirk's regiment — that has done good service — but both he and his officers have long since been convinced that the regiment would be more effective if it were regularly in Confederate service, where they would be subject to the same courts-martial and the same rules and regulations in all respects as Confederate troops.
I am, sir, with sentiments of regard, your obedient servant,
JAS. R. CHALMERS, Brigadier-General, Provisional Army, C. S.
[iDiloraemeDt ]
Headquarters, Jackson, Miss., January 19, 1864. Respectfully forwarded with the remark that I consider it to the interest of our cause that definite instructions be given the State offi- cers relative to conscripts, as there are many men in North Mississippi liable to conscription and claiming exemption as belonging to State organizations.
S. D. LEE,
Major- General.
Southern Division, Mississippi Central Railroad,
Canton, January 7, 186^. Lieut. Gen. L. Polk, C. S. Army.
Dear Sir: In addition to what I have written over my private sig- nature, I have to state officially that this road is almost destitute of materials and tools for repairs and for operating the road. Nearly all we possessed was destroyed in August last by the Federal troops. We must have steel axes, shovels, files, <fcc., or soon discontinue our trains. In fact, I may be compelled to stop our trains north of the Yalobusha River within a week for want of axes, or materials to make them of, to cut fuel. We are equally in want of shovels to keep our track in running order. I cannot obtain them, or have not been able to do so after many trials, within the Confederacy. I can procure from within the Federal lines if I can obtain means of payment. To procure these means I must send out cotton or purchase Federal cur- rency, giving $10 of our currency for $1 of theirs. By purchasing greenbacks I discredit and depreciate Confederate notes, and still I am compelled to obtain a supply of the articles referred to or discon- tinue the running of our trains very soon. It is for the authorities to determine if our road is useful and necessary to the Government.
10 CORKESPONDENCE, ETC.
Our business is almost entirely confined to Government transporta- tion. Will you grant me permission to send out cotton to purchase necessary railroad supplies ? Yours, respectfully,
W. GOODMAN,
President.
[ First indorHemeDt. )
Headquarters, Meridian, January 21, 186^. Respectfully forwarded for reference to the Honorable Secretary of War.
I can see no sound reason why we should not use our cotton to pur- chase supplies we cannot get otherwise. We have reached a point, in my opinion, at which the hazard of greater evils than any which may follow from selling cotton are threatening us.
L. POLK, Lieutenant- General.
[Second indorsement.]
February 2, 18G4. May be considered when law regulating i^.xports is to be adjusted.
J. A. S., Secretary.
State of North Carolina, Executive Department,
Raleigh, N. C, January 7, I864. Hon. J. A. Seddon:
Deak Sir: Your dispatch of the 6th, asking me not to object to making the steamer Don conform to the regulations of the Confeder- ate authorities in regard to transporting Government cotton, requires a more detailed reply than I can transmit by telegraph.
I have now at Bermuda and on the way there eight or ten cargoes of supplies of the very first importance to the Army and the people, consisting chiefly of some 40,000 blankets, 40,000 pair of shoes, large quantities of array cloth and leather, 112,000 pair of cotton cards, machinery and findings to refit twenty-six of our principal cotton and woolen factories, dyestuflfs, lubricating oils, &c., in addition to which I have made large purchases of bacon. Knowing that one steamer could not bring these cargoes in before spring, at which time I anticipate the closing of the port, if not sooner, and that the risk was increasing daily, I sold one-half of the State's'steamer Advance, and purchased of Messrs. Collie & Co. one-fourth interest in four steamers — the Don and the Hansa, and two others now building — for the purpose of hurrying these supplies in. The terms give the State one-fourth the outward cargo and the whole of the inward, nothing being carried for speculation whatever. The Hansa, which recently left Wilmington, not having coal enough to take her to Bermuda, where my freight is, was instructed to load at Nassau with Confeder- ate bacon, so determined was I that the whole capacity of these steamers should be employed for the public good. In return for this Messrs. Collie & Co. did expect they would be relieved from the bur- den of giving one-third of their outward capacity to the Confederate Government, and I did also. Should one-third be given to the Con- federacy and one-fourth to the State outward, and to the latter the whole of the return cargo, I submit that it would amount to a prohi-
CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES. 11
bitioti of the business. Neither would it comport with justice or sound policy.
It is a little remarkable to me that the entire importing operations of this State, -which have been so successful and so beneficial to the cause, seems to have met with little else than downright opposition rather than encouragement from the Confederate Government. In its very inception Mr. Mason, our commissioner in England, laid the strong hand on my agents, and positively forbade them putting a bond on the market for five months after they landed in England. Then came vexatious and irritating quarantine delays at Wilmington (enforced by the military, not the civil authorities), though our for- eign depot was, at great cost and inconvenience, made at Bermuda instead of Nassau to avoid this. Then seizures of my coal at Wil- mington occurred, and the denial of facilities to get it from the mines, &c. It was not until after my decided remonstrance to you in Novem- ber that I met with anything else than an evident hostility in the operations of my steamers. And now, if the regulations in regard to private blockade-runners are enforced, I think it highly probable that this line will be stopped entirely, as the profits will scarcely justify the risks. A great deal of this, I am aware, is attributable to the want of discretion on the part of subordinate oflBcers, as well as the want of foresight displayed in the opposition of every industrial interest of the country by army ofiBeers, yet I have had it to contend with.
After this statement I leave it with you to say whether the regula- tions referred to shall be enforced. If they are, 1 shall certainly countermand the sailing of the two other steamers now expected, and would suggest for the benefit of the Department that it would be much better to purchase than to seize an interest in the property of strangers who are engaged in bringing in indispensable supplies through a most vigorous and dangerous blockade. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Z. B. VANCE.
[Januaby 7, 1864. — For Polk to Watts, in relation to the raising of State troops to support the Confederate forces in the defense of Alabama, see Series I, Vol. XXXII, Part II, p. 529.]
[January 8, 1864. — For Davis to Vance, in relation to^peace nego- tiations with the enemy, see Series I, Vol. LI, Part II, p. 808.]
General Orders, ) Adjt. and Insp. General's Office,
No. 3. i Richmond, January 9, I864.
I. The following acts of Congress and regulations are published for the information of all persons concerned therein :
ACTS.
A2f ACT to prevent tbe enliBtiuent or enroUraent of substitutes iu the uiilitary service of the
Confederate States.
The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That no person liable to military service shall hereafter be permitted or allowed to furnish a sub- stitute for such service, nor shall any substitute be received, enlisted or enrolled in the military service of the Confederate States.
Approved December 28, 1863.
12 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.
AX ACT to put an eud to the c\ciii|itioii fioiii military Bervice of tliose who have heretofore
furniBhiM) rtubstitutes.
"Whereas, in the present circumstances of the country, it requires the aid of all who are able to bear arms : [Therefore,]
The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That no person shall be exempted from military service by reason of his having furnished a sub- stitute ; but this act shall not be so construed as to aflfect persons who, though not liable to render military service, have, nevertheless, furnished substitutes.
Approved January 5, 1864.
II. Persons rendered liable to military service by operation of the preceding acts are placed on the same footing with all others hitherto held liable by acts of Congress.
III. Persons herein rendered liable to military service are required to report as volunteers or conscripts without delay to the enrolling officers; and all who delay beyond the 1st day of February, 1864, will be considered as having renounced the privilege of volunteering, and held for assignment according to law.
IV. Enrolling officers will proceed as rapidly as practicable in the enrollment of persons herein made liable to military service. Previous to enrollment as conscripts all such persons will be allowed to volun- teer in companies in service on the 16th of Api-il, 1862; provided the company chosen does not at the time of volunteering reach the max- imum number allowed; and upon such company being selected the volunteer will receive from the enrolling officer a certificate to the effect that he has so volunteered; and no volunteer will be received into any company except on such certificate. Persons who fail to make their selection at the time of enrollment will be assigned according to existing regulations.
V. Persons who report to the enrolling officers will be enrolled and may be allowed a furlough of ten days before reporting to the camp of instruction.
VI. All persons, whether volunteers or conscripts under this order, will pass through the camp of instruction of the State to which they belong, and be forwarded thence to the companies which are selected or to which they may be assigned.
VII. The Bureau of Conscription is charged with adopting proper regulations for the enforcement of this order.
VIII. All exemptions heretofore granted are subject to revision under instructions from the Bureau of Conscription, and if found to be improper or unauthorized by law will be revoked.
By order:
S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector Oeneral.
Richmond, Va., January 9, 18GJ^.
His Excellency Joseph E. Brown,
Governor of Georgia:
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge yours of the 20th iiltimo, transmitting a copy of resolutions passed by the General Assembly of Georgia, "expressing the determination to prosecute the present war with the utmost vigor and energy."* After nearly three years of war and its attendant calamities this reaffirmation by the people -of Georgia of the noble purpose which they announced at the commence- ment of the conflict is a cheering proof of their true appreciation of
*See Vol. II. r ■ iw, p. 1060.
CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES. 13
the importance of the struggle in which we are engaged, and of the spirit and resolution which alone can secure to us its successful issue. This high spirit and undaunted resolution have marked the conduct of the people of Georgia since the beginning of the war — have been illustrated on many battle-fields, and have found expression at every fireside throughout the State.
Very respectfully and truly, yours,
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Headquakters Georgia State Guard,
Atlanta, Janua/ry 9, I864. Hon. James A. Seddon,
Secretary of War, Richmond, Va.:
Sir: The importance of providing for the state of things that will arise the first of next month when the State Guard go out of service must be my apology for again calling your attention to the subject.
As you are aware, many of the men now in the State Guard will be liable to conscription under the late act of Congress and many others expect to be made so by the anticipated action of Congress. In this state of things I am strongly persuaded that a very respectable com- mand could be got out of these troops for the war if I could be authorized to organize new companies and regiments. If the author- ity could be granted immediately I would set to work and have the new organizations ready to take the place of the State Guard. The authority should be to organize companies and regiments from any of the troops now in the State Guard service.
I know that the policy of the Government is to fill up the ranks of the old regiments in the field, and in many respects it would be far better, but when you remember the character of those who have here- tofore had substitutes you will understand how reluctant they will be to go into the ranks of the old regiments. Our object should be to make the service as acceptable as possible to all our soldiers. Men make better soldiers and do all their duties far better when they feel content and satisfied than when forced against their will to serve with those with whom they feel no sympathy. My own opinion is that we would get more soldiers and better ones by allowing new organizations to be formed, but I do not put this application upon that ground. The old organizations should be filled up as far as possible, but there are many cases in which it would be better to allow new ones to be formed among those who are going for the first time into the regular service. Be this as it may, I am sure that the authority I now ask for affords the most certain and satisfactory mode of meeting the exigency that will arise on the expiration of the term of service of the Georgia State Guard on the 1st of February. The time is short and hence I ask that you answer by telegraph, as well as letter, if you grant the authority. I strongly recommend it. I am, with sentiments of sincere regard, very truly, yours, <fec.,
HOWELL COBB,
Mqjor-Oeneral, &c.
[First iiKlorneroent.]
January 16, 1864.
Respectfully submitted to the President.
The views of General Cobb differ from those I entertain, yet such
confidence is felt both in his judgment and patriotism that I prefer
14
COEEESPONUENCE, ETC.
submitting the matter to the consideration and decision of Your Excellency. It will be noted an early reply is requested.
' J. A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War.
[Second indoraement.]
The law forbids. A lecent resolution of Congress is on the point.
J. D.
[January 9, 1864. — For Polk to Cooper, in relation to raising troops in the enemy's lines, see Series I, Vol. XXXII, Part II, p. 540.]
General Orders, ) Adjt. and Insp. General's Office,
No. 4. j Bichmond, January 11, I864.
1. AK act autboriziag tbe tax in kind on bacon to be commuted by collection of salt pork as an
equivalent.
The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That assistant qaartennasters and other agents engaged in the collection of tax in kind may be authorized, under orders and regulations made by the Secretary of War, to demand and receive, in commutation for the tax in kind on bacon, an equivalent therefor in salt pork.
Approved December 28, 1863.
II. The foregoing act of Congress being now in force, the officers mentioned in the act are hereby authorized to demand and receive, in commutation for the tax in kind, an equivalent in salt pork. In esti- mating what shall be an equivalent reference shall be made, as far as practicable, to the schedule rates established by the appraisers appointed under the fifth section of the act of Congress relative to impressments. But the Quartermaster-General may direct a variation from those rates and settle others, in such localities as a variation may be deemed advisable, for the interest of the public service.
By order:
S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General.
Special Orders, ) Adjt. and Insp. General's Office,
No. 8. j Richmond, January 11, 1861^.
*******
XXVIII. Lieut. Col. R. Snowden Andrews, artillery. Provisional Army, C. S., will proceed to Europe and report to Col. T. S. Rhett as an associate in the duties which he has been ordered to perform.
By command of the Secretary of War:
JNO. WITHERS, Assistant Adjutant- General.
Executive Department,
Tallahassee, January 11, I864.. Hon. James A. Seddon,
Secretary of War, Richmond, Va.: Sir: I am informed by the judges of probate and county commis- sioners of several counties in the State that they cannot procure the
CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES. 15
corn necessary to support the soldiers' families. I am also informed that large amounts of corn have been collected as tithes at various depots which cannot be transported from the State before it will be seriously damaged, and that the amount is more than is suflcient to sustain the troops now in service in the State. Presuming the facts stated to be true, there are two reasons why I should be pleased to receive from Colonel Northrop an order upon his of&cers, at points in the State where it can be spared, to deliver to my order for the use of soldiers' families an aggregate of 10,000 or 12,000 bushels of com upon payment of the amount per bushel at which its value has been fixed by the commissioners of the State and Confederate States. It will prevent a loss to the Confederate Government and will save the families of soldiers from suffering. The question may be asked, Is there not corn in the State sufficient for the wants of the citizens besides that received as tithes? And if the Government shall need corn during the year, can it be obtained? I believe there is corn enough in parts of the State for the general supply, and if the Gov- ernment shall now spare the corn from the tithes, that hereafter a larger amount may be obtained from the farmers if needed. If it is asked why it is not purchased by the county commissioners from those who have it, the reply is that county commissioners have no legal right to impress, and therefore cannot purchase. I admit that this is an unhappy state of affairs, but it is beyond my control. My opinion is that if the soldiers' families were supplied as I propose, many who now hold and refuse to sell their corn would be glad to sell at less than prices now affixed, and if needed by the Confederate Govern- ment they would necessarily be compelled to sell to avoid impress- ments, and that the corn and subsistence received as tithes, which the Government has not the means of transporting, should be used to sustain the troops in service here and the families of soldiers that require assistance, and then if there shall be a need for more, those who have to spare should be made to do so unless they willingly sup- ply the demands of the Government. From personal observation lately made, I am enabled to state that there are immense quan- tities of provender, especially in Southwestern Georgia, awaiting transportation and being injured and lost to the Government for the want of means to transport it. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of bales of fodder have already been injured and useless. To remedy the evil, why should not the Government, by contract or impressment, take charge of the passenger trains a few weeks, remove the seats, and transport in them the provender and subsistence needed by our armies, which is being injured and lost for the want of* transporta- tion ? Recently I have received communications from General Perry's brigade, copies of which are inclosed. In a letter addressed to the President, dated October 5, 1863, I wrote, in consequence of General Lee's letter to me, as follows :
With regard to the return of General Perry's brigade and the recruiting of it as proposed, I would respectfully suggest, in compliance with the views of Gen- eral Lee for supplying the place of General Perry's brigade with other troops, that the First Regiment of Georgia Be^ars and the Sixty-fourth Georgia Regi- ment, now in this State, would constitute a larger force than General Perry's brigade, and if General Cobb had not been absent from the State when I received General Lee's letter I should have submitted to his consideration the propriety and necessity of the change.
The regiments were suggested because I believed them to be better drilled and better qualified to supply the place of General Perry's brigade than any other I could suggest. The Sixty-fourth Regiment
16 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.
has been ordered to Savannah, and I am informed the First Regiment has received orders to hold itself in readiness for immediate removal beyond the State. I would respectfully insist, in justice to the brigade and for the defense of the State, that General Perry's brigade should be ordered immediately to Marianna, in West Florida, if it is possible to spare it a few months from General Lee's command. The reasons why I designate Marianna are —
First. Because in the counties bordering on the Gulf, and especially in Washington County, there are many deserters and many persons who have fled from other States to avoid conscription. These per- sons have contaminated a large portion of the citizens, and constant communication is kept up with the enemy, who is massing forces on Santa Rosa Island, evidently with the purpose of making a raid in that portion of the State, which is comparatively defenseless. The sheriff of the county and others who are persons of influence have gone to the enemy, carrying with them their horses, <fcc., and will pilot them in any raid which may be attempted. I assert this to be true with a full knowledge of the facts. I entertain no doubt that unless preventive measures shall be promptly adopted that the por- tion of the State between the Apalachicola and Choctawhatchie Rivers will be desolated by the enemy during the winter. It is now threat- ened, and the freshet in the Apalachicola at this time would prevent re-enforcements from this portion of the State.
Second. I believe a greater number of recruits would be more promptly received to fill up the brigade, especially if newly organized companies should be assigned to the brigade.
I would, moreover, respectfully invite your attention to the accom- panying correspondence between Maj. P. W. White and myself. I see no propriety or justice in able-bodied men who are subject to con- scription being shielded from military service by being appointed agents to make impressments. Those who are subject should be conscripted. If impressing agents shall be necessary, let them be men not liable to military service or be detailed for the purpose. Young and able-bodied men should not be screened from military service by being employed in the Quartermaster's and Commissary Departments. Nothing but positive orders will bring them into serv- ice. The slightest discretion permitted to those who have appointed them will devise pretexts to retain them in service. Old men and disabled soldiers should perform these light duties, but no old man or disabled soldier will ever be deemed qualified by a quartermaster or commissary while he has a favorite which he desires to retain in his employment. In these departments radical chatfges can only be effected by positive orders and frequent and rigid inspections. The corruptions of office manifested by suddenly acquired wealth have generated a widespread desire for speculation and wealth which has overcome the obligations of patriotism and endanger the very exist- ence of the Confederate States. Notwithstanding the alleged depre- ciation of the currency, people of all ages and conditions seem wild in its accumulation, regardless of consequences and careless as to the result, though it lead to the destruction of their liberties.
I have frankly expressed to you the views I entertain from a sense of duty, and imder the unpalatable and sad conviction that the gen- eral tendency of our national affairs does not inspire confidence. The causes which destroy public confidence, the two chief impediments to our ability to compete with the enemy, are the corrupt practices exhibited in the Quartermaster's and Commissary Departments and
CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES. 17
the want of suitable regulations to put in service and keep there those able to fight. In almost every town and village are persons in uni- form under some pretense of public service, which the people perceive is never performed. This state of affairs has resulted chiefly from permitting new military organizations rather than sustaining those in service, and thus forcing the necessity for the seeming employment of officers who have lost their commands. Judging from their pro- ceedings as published, it seems to be the purpose of Congress to rem- edy these as well as other evils; but I apprehend their labor is too sweeping, and will result in the overthrow of existing social organi- zations resting upon the avocations of labor necessary to subsist the armies in the field, the Confederate and State Governments, and to save the country from famine and its fearful consequences.
While engaged in writing the foregoing views to submit to your consideration, additional companies of cavalry have arrived at this place. They are part of a battalion recently raised by Colonel Hood, of Georgia, upon the recommendation of Brigadier-General Coljb, and if I am correctly informed this battalion of seven companies is prac- tically without arms, as are other cavaliy commands in this State. The proportion of cavalry to infantry in this State seems to me to be exces- sive, and considering the demand for corn to subsist the people and armies, would it not be prudent, if an additional cavalry force is needed in Virginia, and it can be armed at Richmond, to order a cavalry regi- ment from this. State to Virginia, and thus enable General Lee to spare Brigadier-General Perry's brigade to return to Florida to meet threatened emergencies and to recruit ? I presume the Second Florida Cavalry Regiment, commanded by Col. Caraway Smith, exceeds in number the aggregate of Brigadier-General Perry's brigade. They have been in service here nearly two years, and are, I believe, well mounted and of good material. To assist in making any defense which may become necessary, the State is without arms, and for the reason that I have promptly and freely used the arms belonging to the State in equipping the troops in Confederate service. May I not confidently appeal to yoit to send by Mr. Wilson, the agent of the State, 1,000 stand of small-arms, muskets or rifles, with accouter- ments, ammunition, and caps, to be disposed of by me as shall become necessary in the defense of the State. Under existing circumstances , I can see no possible opportunity of maintaining the existing organi- zation of Perry's brigade unless it shall be ordered back to the State to recruit, as it is well known to the Department I have no means at my disposal to aid in maintaining the organization. I can*only make suggestions respectfully that the War Department may exercise a sound discretion under a sense of justice to the brigade and to the State.
1 have the honor to be, very respectfully,
JOHN MILTON,
Governor of Florida.
[FirRt induraement.]
January 20, 1864. Quartermaster-General (Colonel Smith) for consideration of the proposition about tithes, &c.
J A. S., Secretary.
2 R R — SERIES IV, VOL, IH
18 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.
[Second indoraement.]
Quartermaster-General's Office, Tax in Kind,
January 20, I864.
If the county authorities of the counties of Florida will apply to Maj. C. C. Yonge, controlling quartermaster of the State, at Talla- hassee, he will give them authority to purchase breadstuflfs from the depots of the tax in kind at commissioners' rates, such supplies being for the indigent. Major Yonge has full authority on the subject. The Commissary-General's Department is collecting in these counties only for the purpose of feeding cattle. Respectfully,
LARKIN SMITH, Assista n t Qua rtermaster- General.
[Third judorsement.]
Arms can be placed at the disposal of Governor Milton at Colum- bus, G'a.
J. 60RGAS.
[iDclosure No. 1.)
Office of the Chief Commissary,
Quincy, Fla., December 0, 1863. Ilis Excelleii<;y John Milton,
Governor of Florida : Governor: Having just received this morning a' copy of the act of the last Florida Legislature regulating the mode of executing the impressment acts of the Confederate Government by its officers in this State, I find that the fifth section of that act requires "each and every person authorized by Confederate authority or law of the Con- federate States to make impressments in this State shall notify the Governor thereof, so that the citizens of this State may be notified thereof by proclamation of the Governor as aforesaid." If Your Excellency requires this notice to be given by each and every person in my department individually, it will be from three to five weeks before they can be written to and their answers obtained so as to fur- nish Your Excellency their names. But if official notification from me of the names of those I have empowered to make impressments will satisfy the terms and requirements of the fifth section of said law, then I have the honor to inclose to Your Excellency a partial list of their names for immediate proclamation. If each person has individ- ually to notify Your Excellency of his power to impress, all of our surplus stores will be in danger of being purchased and taken out of the State before this can be done, and in all the cattle districts of this State (where we are collecting by detailed men nearly all of the cattle now supplied to our armies) our operations must be suspended until the notice be given by each impressing officer from the remotest regions of this State. Three-fourths of the beef-cattle are now fur- nished from Manatee and Brevard Counties, both very remote, and on account of poor mail service it requires from three to four weeks for a letter to go and answer to be returned. What is to be the fate of our armies, now almost solely dependent upon this State for meat, Heaven only knows. The danger from this source will be greatly less- ened if it be held sufficient for me to furnish you the names of my impressing officers. On the contrary, if each officer has himself to notify j'ou, the interval until this can be done will be one of great
CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES. 19
peril to the Army, unless my ofiacers shall be willing to take the respon- sibility and, in order to sustain the Army, run the risk and submit to the penalties of the law. Under authority from the Commissary-Gen- eral, Col. L. B. Northrop, I have conferred authority to impress upon the following oflBcers and persons, viz :
Isaac Widgeon, commissary agent First District of Florida; Maj. A. B. Noyes, commissary of subsistence, commissary Second District of Florida; Maj. J. P. Baldwin, commissary of subsistence, commis- sary Third District of Florida; Maj. A. G. Summer, commissary of subsistence, commissary Fourth District of Florida; Mr. James McKay, commissary agent Fifth District of Florida; Capt. J. D. Westcott, assistant commissary of subsistence; Capt. C. F. Stubbs, assistant commissary of subsistence; J. P. Coker, sub-agent of Mr. Isaac Widgeon; Joseph B. Roulhac, sub-agent of Mr. Isaac Widgeon; Hamilton G. Bryant, sub-agent of Mr. Isaac Widgeon; John J. White, sub-agent of Mr. Isaac Widgeon; S. B. Thomas, sub-agent of Maj. A. B. Noyes, commissary of subsistence; J. J. Polhill, sub-agent of Maj. A. B. Noyes, commissary of subsistence; John Denham, sub- agent of Maj. A. B. Noyes, commissary of subsistence; Arthur Macon, sub-agent of Maj. A. B. Noyes, commissary of subsistence; J. J. SneUing, sub-agent of Maj. A. B. Noyes, commissary of subsistence; Paul Canova, sub-agent of Maj. J. P. Baldwin, commissary of sub- sistence; William Allen, sub-agent of Maj. A. G. Summer, commis- sary of subsistence; E. D. House, sub-agent of Maj. A. G. Summer, commissary of subsistence; Capt. James McKay, assistant quarter- master, sub-agent of James McKay, Fifth District; M. S. Elkins, sub- agent of Maj. A. B. Noyes, commissary of subsistence.
In addition to the above I have the honor to report my own name as one authorized to make impressments of subsistence stores. There are others, whose names I will forward you as soon as practicable. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
P. W. WHITE, Major and Chief Commissary of Florida.
[Incloenre Ko. 2.]
Sylvania, Jackson County, December JS, 1863. Maj. P. W. White:
' SiB: Your letter of the 9th instant was handed to me by Mr. Gibson as I passed through Quincy en route for this place. Previously I had sent to the office of the Floridian and Journal for publication the act of the General Assembly referred to by you, accompanied by a proc- lamation upon the subject. The fifth section of the act provides that "each and every person authorized by Confederate authority or law of the Confederate States to make impressments in this State shall notify the Governor thereof, so that the citizens of this State may be notified thereof by the proclamation of the Governor." I do not believe that it was intended that the Governor should wait to be informed of all who were or might be authorized to make impress- ments before publishing the names of each and every one whom he should be properly assured were authorized ; nor am I inclined to con- strue the act strictly, so as to require from each and every person authorized his individual credentials. The assurance of a superior ofiicer may be sufficient for the purpose. Nor do I believe your apprehension that all surplus stores will be in danger of being pur- chased and taken out of the State, &c., well sustained. No person
20 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.
lias the consent of State authority to take cattle or other means of subsistence from the State without the knowledge and consent of the ofiBcers in command of the military district in this State. Moreover, I have too much confidence in the patriotism and intelligence of the citizens of Florida to believe that any respectable portion of them could be induced to sell to speculators cattle or any article of subsist- ence needed for the support of the armies in Confederate service, or that they will refuse to sell to officera in Confederate service (prop- erly authorized to purchase) all the means of subsistence they have not absolutely necessary to the support of their own, the soldiers' families, and unfortunate fellow-citizens dependent upon their good will for support. I hope, therefore, that there will be no necessity for impress- ments to be made, but if there should be, no obstacle will be interposed by State authority to prevent the legal and equitable enforcement of the act of Congress upon the subject; but I have maintained and shall adhere to the position, unless I shall be convinced that I am in error, that no citizen subject to conscription and physically able to perform military service can be exempted by your appointment of him as an agent to impress, and therefore that you cannot with legal pro- priety appoint such an agent. Of the fourteen persons named as sub-agents in your letter there are, if I mistake not, eleven or twelve of them who are not in military service, are subject to conscription, and are named as the sub-agents of the agents appointed by yourself.
Presuming Majs. A. B. Noyes, J. P. Baldwin, A. G. Summer, [Mr.] James McKay, Capt. J. D. Westcott, Capt. C. F. Stubbs, and Isaac Widgeon, and yourself to be authorized by your assurance of the fact, I will give the assurance by proclamation to the citizens of this State, and I shall do tliis the more cheerfully because I know or believe the gentle- men named to be either in Confederate military service or exempted by age from it. Until I shall be informed by the Secretary of War that it is proper that persons subject to conscription and physically able to perform military service can legally and properly be author- ized as sub-agents to impress, I shall decline to declare them so by proclamation. In a general order upon the subject General Bragg has made known his opinion that none but commissioned officers can legally make impressments, and complains of the demoralizing influ- ences produced by illegal impressments upon the Army, and it is not difficult to conjecture what may be the deleterious effect upon the Army if during their absence in military service their families shall be made to suffer by impressments unnecessarily or illegally made. Brave men had rather fight upon half rations gf bread, or even parched com, than to have their families deprived of the means of subsistence necessary to their support. But I entertain the hope, and I think reasonably, that the people of Florida would much rather live on bread than that the soldiers in service should be constrained to live without meat. Therefore I hope that personally and by those under your command you will appeal properly to the citizens of the State to supply the Army with beef, pork, bacon, molasses, sirup, sugar, &c. , and if you shall find them deaf to the appeal and disposed to sell to speculators, or unnecessarily to withhold from the armies the means of subsistence, against such person and all such persons, it is hoped, yon will proceed agreeably to the act of Congress regulating impressments to provide for the support of the armies.
I deem it unnecessary to reply to the portions of your communica- tion in whioh yon speak of your officers being willing to take the responsibility, and in order to sustain tiu! Army run the risks and
CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES. 21
submit to the penalties of tlie law, further than to express the hope that there will be no attempt to act in defiance of the law of the State. If there shall be, sufficient for the day will be the evil thereof. I have the honor to be, sir, respectfully,
JOHN MILTON,
Governor of Florida.
December 13, 1863. P. S. — Before an opportunity occurred to mail the foregoing reply to j'our letter I have received from Widgeon a copy of a communica- tion from Maj. S. B. French to you, dated the 9th of December, directing you to procure at once, by purchase or impressment, all the sorghum molasses that can be obtained. I presume Major French was ignorant of the late act of the General Assembly, and believe that there is not enough sorghum sugar in the State to be of very great service. I am as anxious as you can possibly be to have sub- sistence furnished to the Army, and therefore respectfully suggest that independent of procuring what molasses can be obtained you would confer with those whose duty it is to collect the tithes and inspire them with energy to co-operate with you to obtain and forward pork and bacon, as well as beef, as soon as it may be possible. In a few days an immense number of hogs will be slaughtered for bacon and pork; already some have been, and there are many farmers who will have large quantities of pork, bacon, and lard to spare, after paying the tithes and providing for the absolute necessary wants of the families of soldiers, their own families, and non-producers depend- ent upon them, who will cheerfully sell at Government prices for the use of the Army. I believe in this county 200,000 pounds of pork and bacon can be obtained. Respectfully,
JOHN MILTON,
Oovernor.
[IncloBare No. 3.]
Camp Perry's Brigade, December 26, 1863. His Excellency John Milton,
Governor of the State of Florida : Sir: An application asking that three Florida regiments be allowed ' to winter in Florida for the purpose of recruiting has just been returned, after having been strongly recommended by Generals Perry, Anderson, and Hill, by General Lee, with the indorsemeiit that in a correspondence with Your Excellency he had proposed the onlymethod by which the object of the application could be attained, viz, by send- ing other troops on to relieve us. We do not know upon whose shoulders to throw the blame, but it does appear that if our friends at home had earnestly wished the scheme to succeed they might have made some little effort to have those troops sent to take our places, thereby giving us a short time at least to recruit our ranks, which have been sadly thinned by the danger, hardships, and diseases to which we have been exposed for nearly two years. We do not wish to detract from the merit or gallantry of those troops yet remaining in the State, but think it just and right that they should be made to bear their part of the burden ; or in other words, that it should be more equally xiistributed. Our brigade once numbered over 3,000 men, but now little more than as many hundred remain. The Presi- dent has strongly recommended in his message to Congress that the
22 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.
smallest regiments be consolidated, as it would greatly decrease the expenses of the war. The Florida regiments being about the smallest in the Army of Northern Virginia will be the first to suffer in that way, and we (both officers and men) think if our civil authorities at home will not make the slightest effort to relieve us in our distress they hold the honor of the State as of little consequence, and we are poorly repaid for the sacrifices made and the danger gone through with since coming to Virginia. Great injustice has been done us as regards sending on conscripts to recruit our ranks. It is a well- known fact that the object of the conscript law was not to form new organizations (as is the case in Florida), but to fill up the ranks of the regiments already in the field as fast as they were reduced below the standard by the misfortunes of war. It is an equally well-known fact that not a single conscript has been sent to some of the regi- ments, and what is worse, the deserters have been allowed to join home organizations, which is surely encouraging to us, especially on the eve of consolidation.
We inclose you the indorsements of our generals upon the applica- tion to be sent to Florida this winter, and respectfully ask your co-operation in our endeavors to that effect. We know that your influence is justly felt and appreciated where it would benefit our undertaking should you think it proper to assist us in this move.
At a meeting of the officers of this brigade we, the undersigned, being appointed a committee to correspond with Your Excellency upon this subject, would be pleased to hear from you as soon as convenient.
We have the honor to be. Governor, your obedient servants, Benj. F. Davis, major Fifth Florida Regiment; Thos. E. Clarke, major Eighth Florida Regiment; David Lang, colonel Eighth Florida Regiment; B. Frank Whitner, captain, Eighth Florida Regiment, committee. C. A. Bryan, captain. Fifth Florida Regiment; J. L. Taylor, lieutenant, commanding Company K, Fifth Florida Regiment; J. M. Tolbert, Company D, Second Florida Regiment; N. B. Walker, Company I, Second Flor- ida Regiment; D. B. Taylor, aide-de-camp.
[First iudorsemeDt.]
Headquarters Perry's Brigade,
December 17, 186S. These applications are respectfully forwarded and recommended. The regiments composing this brigade originally numbered 3,271 ; of these there are now left barely enough for a battalion. From Gov- ernor Milton and other sources in Florida I learn that the regiments could be recruited were they allowed to winter there. I hope the application will be favorably considered.
E. A. PERRY, Brigadier-Oenernl, Commanding Brigade.
[SecoDd iDdorsement.]
December 18, 1863. Respectfully forwarded, urgently requesting that this or some other means be taken to restore the Florida Brigade to something like its original strength.
R. H. ANDERSON,
Major- Oeneral.
I
CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES. 23
[Tliinl indorsement]
Headquarters Third Army Corps,
December 19, 186S. Respectfully forwarded.
I believe this might be tried, and probably with advantage.
A. P. HILL, Lieutenant- Oeneral.
[Fonnh indorsement.]
Orange, December 2S, 1863.
Respectfully returned.
In a correspondence with His Excellency Governor Milton some time since General Lee stated that he would send this brigade or a part of it to Florida for the purpose indicated herein, provided a regi- ment would be sent here to supply its place. To this no response has been received. The interests of the service will not allow that the regiment be detached without an equivalent. All that can be done is to send suitable officers to co-operate with the officers of conscrip- tion in procuring recruits, as is done with other regiments similarly situated. If the recruits or conscripts are in the State, it is thought they can as well be obtained by sending for them as by sending the brigade there to recruit them.
By order:
W. H. TAYLOR, Assistant Adjutant- General.
[Fifth indorsement.]
Headquarters Perry's Brigade,
December 26, ISGS.
The above copies of indorsements are correct.
D. B. TAYLOR,
Acting Assistant Adjutant- Oeneral.
Confederate States of America, War Department,
Richmond, Va., January 11, 1861^. Governor Vance,
Raleigh, N. C: Your request anticipated. The Don went to sea on or before
the 9th.
J. A. SEDDi)N,
Secretary of War.
Confederate States of America, War Department,
Richmond, Va., January 12, isr,^.
His Excellency Z. B. Vance,
Governor of North Carolina, Raleigh, N. C:
Sir: On the receipt of your letter of the 31st ultimo, relating to the consumption of grain in North Carolina in the manufacture of whisky, I called upon the Surgeon-General to report whether he had any con- tract for the distillation of spirits in your State, and if so, the quan- tity of grain required and the necessity for the supply. I annex a copj' of his reply :
The Medical Department has no contract for alcoholic stimulant in the State of North CaroHna. The distillery ;tt Salisbury referred to by Governor Vance is
24 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.
owned by the Medical Department and is engaged in the manufacture of whisky and alcohol for the sole use of the sick and wounded of the Army. The distillery was purchased by this Department for the purpose of dispensing with the system of contracting for alcoholic stimulants, as it has been found tha.t a large quantity of whisky manufactured by contractors is of an inferior quality and their con- tracts were not in other respects faithfully carried out. It is als0fj)elieved that a large quantity of whisky made by contractors has been sold to private parties when it should have been delivered to the Government, thereby consuming more grain than was required to fill their contracts. Major Badham has been instructed to turn over grain to the medical purveyor in charge of the Government distillery at Salisbury in order to obviate the necessity of this department going into mar- ket to purchase, which would enhance the price paid for grain by the Quarter- master's Department, and the 30,000 bushels referred to in the within communi- cation is for a whole year's supply for the distillery. There is no distillery at Charlotte belonging to this department, nor am I aware that there is one there. The Attorney-General has decided that the Confederate Government has the express power "to support armies;" that any means may be used which are necessary and proper to obtain supplies for that support. Therefore a State has no power to interfere with the Confederate Government in the manufacture' or even contracting for such supplies. In conclusion, I would state that it is abso- lutely necessary for the comfort and welfare of the sick and wounded of our Army that the Government distillery at Salisbury should not be interfered with or the supply of grain cut off.
I may add to the above that on inquiry I learn that a greater cool- ness of temperature than for many months of the year prevails in the Southern States when corn is more abundant is essential to the ready and proper distillation of spirits, and that this circumstance prevented the easy solution of the difficulties presented by your remonstrance which I should have sought in the removal of the Government laboratory. I trust your objections will, under the circumstances, be withdrawn. Very truly, yours,
JAMES A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War.
[January 12, 1864. — For Murrah to Magruder, with reference to the status of Texas State troops, see Series I, Vol. LIU, p. 926.]
Circular ) Bureau of Conscription,
No. 1. f Richmond, January IS, 1864.
I. The attention of commandants of conscripts is specially called to General Orders, No. 3, Adjutant and Inspector General's Office, 1864, herewith printed.* By these general orders the acceptance of substitvites into the Armj' is forbidden, and all persons who have heretofore been exempted from mill tar j' service by reason of having furnished substitutes are rendered liable to such service.
II. Commandants will forthwith proceed with the enrollment of all persons who have been exempted by reason of having furnished sub- stitutes. A distinct roll will be kept of the persons thus enrolled, containing the name of the substitute, the date of the substitution, the company and regiment in which the substitution was made, and, as far as practicable, whether the substitute is still in service ; and if not, whether lost by desertion, discharge, or casualty. This roll will be forwarded with monthly reports.
III. Principals of substitutes are subject to the same regulations prescribed for other persons liable to military service; but the fact
*Seei.. 11.
CONFEDERATK AUTHORITIES. 25
of having furnished a substitute may be assumed as prima facie evidence that the principal has no other claim for exemption, and will therefore demand careful examination when new claims are presented
IV. To aid in detecting frauds in substitutions which have been committed by officers and others, commandants will endeavor to pro- cure all substitute papers, examine them, and if found to be irregular or supposed to be fraudulent, will forward them to the Bureau, with testimony and opinion.
V. Cases of fraudulent, irregular, and improper exemptions have been reported to the Bureau; certificates of exemption have been counterfeited, and it is feared officers are not free from liability to grave charges in granting exemptions.
Commandants will forthwith, by special inspections and otherwise, proceed to a rigid revision of all exemptions. By command of Col. J. S. Preston, superintendent:
C. B. DUFFIELD, Assistant Adjutant- General.. (To Commandants of Conscripts.)
CONFEDE'RATE STATES OF AMERICA, WAR DEPARTMENT,
f Richmond, Va., January IS, I864.
His Excellency J. E. Brown,
Governor of Georgia, MilledgevUle, Ga.: Sir: General Beauregard has of late on several occasions expressed serious apprehensions that the enemy were strengthening their land forces and contemplating an attack on the line of railroad, and in consequence has called for re-enforcements. Unable to spare them from other sources, it is deemed advisable to inquire of you whether the residue of the 15,000 men organized, as the Department has understood, under the call made upon you last summer, and not yet brought into service, could be commanded in whole or in part for aid to General Beauregard. They might, without leaving the State, if that be objectionable, be substituted for other troops at Savannah, or along the line within the limits of Georgia. General Cobb likewise writes that the term of service of the local forces under his com- mand will expire in February, and in such event it would be of great importance that either they should be continued in the service, or a portion of the 15,000 not employed as above should be prepared to take their places. Will you be so kind as to inform me what course you will feel at liberty to adopt under the circumstanees, so that a more formal call may, if necessary, be made upon you ?
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War.
Committee Room, Confederate Relations,
January IS, 186Jf. Hon. James A. Seddon,
Secretary of War:
Sir: Your communication* to me of the , inviting attention
of the Legislature to the poliej' of withdrawing all able-bodied male
* Not found.
26 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.
slaves from within the enemy's lines and without our own, liable to seizure by them through the intervention of our own forces, was referred to the Committee on Confederate Relations, and has received from them the attention its importance demands. They have con- sidered the subject in both the aspects in which you presented it, viz, the saving of the property of our citizens and the defeating of the enemy's design of recruiting a black force within the limits indicated, and have invited and obtained the expression of the views of a large number of the members of the house representing the counties more immediately interested as to the effects likely to be produced by the adoption of the policy suggested. They concur, I believe, without exception in believing it would be attended with very serious mischief and with very partial compensating good. They represent that within the enemy's lines the number of slaves left at their homes fit for mili- tary service is now very limited, forciblj'or voluntarily the great bulk of them of that description having already gone to the enemy; that the few remaining are retained generally by strong local or family attach- ments, but none by any motive which would not yield to the aversion they entertain to be forced away from their homes within our lines and employed on our public works; that they are so scattered that but a very small proportion could be captured, if any, by a military raiding party before they would fly to the woods or to the enemy, soon to be followed by their families, whose labor and assistance is now so invaluable to the loyal whites (chiefly females and children) still remaining in the enemy's lines, would be attended with the most deplorable consequences; that many of those citizens would be left in great extremity for support if they remained, or exposed to great loss and suffering if they removed, besides by coming farther into the interior increasing the existing pressure on our already over- taxed means of subsistence. The fear was also expressed by some of the gentlemen who favored the committee with their views that the loss of their still remaining slaves occasioned by such an intervention of the Government might lead, however unjustifiably, to alienating from our cause persons now friendly to it. The effects on the slaves in the interior of bringing amongst them, so far as the measure should prove successful, those who had become imbued by the enemy with ideas and habits but little consistent with the obedience and subordi- nation proper to their condition and necessary to the peace and safety of the whites, was strongly urged as dissuading from the adoption of the policy under consideration.
In respect to the consequences of such a measure as applied to the districts between our lines and those of the enemy, the gentlemen representing them thought the effects would be similar to those above presented. While in them a plan might be adopted, no doubt, attended with more success for getting possession of the slaves than in the other case, yet they believed large numbers would attempt, successfully, to escape to the enemy, while it would be the signal for the immediate stampede into the enemy's camps of all the slaves within their lines. There was no difference of opinion as to the gen- eral opposition of the owners to the plan, nor as to its resulting in a greater loss of slave property to the State than would ensue by leav- ing the owners to pursue the best means in their power to save them as exigencies might recommend. Not considering that the commu- nication received from you was intended so much to indicate a line of policy determined on as to invite a conference and comparison of views with those most interested in it in regard to its expediency, the
CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES. 27
committee have instructed me to lay before you the facts and views herein communicated for your consideration before adopting any conclusions or taking any definite action on the subject. They should probably say, however, that they so far feel the force of them as to be disinclined to recommend to the favor of the House the policy of a forcible withdrawal of the slaves from the quarters of the State embraced by your suggestion by the military intervention of the Con- federate Government. But they trust there will be found no room or occasion for any <;onflict to arise between the authorities, respect- ively, of the two governments, at least in the conclusions they shall arrive at. They are persuaded that the Confederate Government, even if not concurring entirely in the views above set forth, would yet readily refrain, in a matter of so much delicacy and so vitally affect- ing our citizens, unless from the clearest conviction of an overruling necessity, from exercising a power which any State might deem seriously objectionable and prejudicial to her most important interests.
Hoping to learn from your reply that the Confederate Government does not, in view of all the circumstances, propose to pursue the policy to which you invited the attention of the Legislature of Vir- ginia unless with their concurrence, I am, very respectfully,
WYNDHAM ROBERTSON,
Chairman.
[Januaet 13, 1864. — For Lee to Preston, in relation to the necessity for a strict execution of the conscript law in order to strengthen the armies in tfie field, see Series I, Vol. XXXIH, p. 1087.]
General Orders, ) Adjt. and Insp. General's Office,
No. 6. [ Richmond, January 14, 1864.
I. Whenever ordnance stores are lost or damaged in any brigade it will be the duty of each brigade or district commander, at the request of his ordnance officer, or of any officer accountable for ordnance stores, to appoint as often as necessary a board of survey, to consist of three officers, to assess the value of or damage to such stores.
II. The decision of this board, with the approval of the brigade or district commander, will be final; and it will be the duty of the brigade or district ordnance officer to notify the company commander to stop the amount on the muster-rolls when .privates are found chargeable; and when officers are found chargeable. Instead of report- ing to the Secretary of War as required by paragraph 921, General Regulations, he will notify the brigade quartermaster or the chief quartermaster of the district to have the nmount stopped at the next payment. Duplicate of such notification in the case of officers and privates to be sent to the Chief of Ordnance at Richmond, to be by liim transmitted to the Second Auditor of the Treasury.
III. The brigade or district ordnance officer will furnish the brigade inspector or other officer having charge of that duty with a statement of all stoppages made by the board of survey against officers and men, and the inspector will see that these stoppages are actually made.
IV. The same instructions will be adhered to in the artillery, where the officers in charge of the artillery of a corps or of a department will call the board of survi-;)-.
2g
CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.
V. Ordnance sergeants of regiments will remain habitually with their regiments and keep themselves constantly informed as to the positions of the brigade ordnance train.
VI. The use of the sword-bayonet having been generally disap- proved by boards of officers in the field, to whom the question of its usefulness was referred, its manufacture has been ordered to be dis- continued. The triangular bayonet will be substituted.
VII. Hospital funds within $5,000, accrued at general hospitals, may be transferred to other general hospitals on the oxder of the medical director or the Surgeon-General.
l>v order:
S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector Oenercd.
War Department, Richmond, Va., January H, 186Jf. Governor Z. B. VANCE,
Raleigh, N. C:
Your Excellency: I am duly in receipt of your letter of 7th instant. Before it came to hand I had directed that the following telegram be sent to the agent of the Department at Wilmington: " No reply yet from Governor Vance. The Secretary of War wishes you to arrange to let Don go out, leaving the question of ownership of one-third of the cargo to be determined after full conference with Governor Vance," and had received a reply as follows: "Suggestion in your telegram relative to Don anticipated. She has proceeded to sea." I am most anxious, in reference to the blockade trade, to do whatever will most subserve the use of the Army and people. After I found that the few steamers owned by the Government were inade- quate to carry out cotton to purchase supplies and munitions urgently needed, I sent an officer to Wilmington and Charleston to confer with owners of steamers and make the best arrangements possible to secure a portion of the carrying capacity of their steamers for the Government, and wrote at the same time to Generals Beauregard and Whiting, placing the necessities of the Government before them. Arrangements were then made whereby the several owners conceded at least one-third of their carrying capacity on payment of reasonable freights therefor. Under these arrangements the Don and Hansa have heretofore been loaded. I am aware that the owners and agents of this line (who are all foreigners, as I am advised) were prepared to make anj' concession as to inward freights to be relieved from carry- ing out any cotton for the Government, their sole interest lying in getting out of the country as much cotton as possible. Indeed, I have found no difficulty in securing as much freight room inward as I desire from the ports which the steamers run.
Under these circumstances I think you will agree with me. Gov- ernor, that the arrangements with Messrs. Collie & Co. , with which you propose to super.sede mine, are less advantageous to the country than those established by me. We are both laboring in the same cause and for the same end, and I will not willingly allow any con- flict with you through officers acting under my authority, and I feel that I may ask the same of you. Our wants for meat, lead, salt- peter, shoes, clothing, &c., are most urgent at this time, and every bale of cotton I could send out has been devoted to such purchases
CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES. 29
for the use of all the troops in the field. When I learned that you had purchased the steamer Advance I did not wait for an application, but at once directed the agent at Wilmington to exempt her from the requirements made of all other steamers. The Don and Hansa are upon a different footing. They are already engaged in carrying out one-third of cargo for account of the Government. The owners made overtures to you in oider to be relieved from what they regarded as an onerous obligation. When advised of these facts I do not think you will insist on thus relieving them by your contract from their engagements witli the Government, — engagements they were actively executing at the time you entered into contract with them.
If for special temporary purposes connected with your supplies at Bermuda you wish the exemption of the Hansa and Don foi- present trip, or indeed longer time, I shall give orders to meet your wishes. I am sure that you will agree with me that, as a general thing, it will be better for the Confederate Government to send out cotton to procure supplies for our armies than for the individual States to undertake the matter. Some States have no ports, others are within the occupa- tion of the enemy. The troops- from such States must be supplied by the Confederate Government only. If each State undertakes the export of cotton and the import of all supplies necessary, we shall have great jealousy among the troops from the different States and great embarrassment in questions connected with railroad transpor- tation. There can be no objection to a State exerting every effort for the comfort and well-being of its soldiers and people, but such efforts should be outside of and not interfere with those of the Confederate Government for the comfort and well-being of the whole Army and country.
I will, on this full representation of the considerations that control the Department, leave it entirely to your own judgment and patriotism to determine whether any and what allowance should be made the Government of the last cargoes of the Hansa and Don, but trust that upon their return you will consent to have them resume their place in carrying out one-third for the Government, and will so advise me on the receipt of this.
I ought, in addition, to intimate to you that General Whiting, from some correspondence he has seen with Mr. Andrea, has formed unfavorable opinions as to his interest in our cause and the purely selfish ends at which he is aiming.
I have the honor, sir, to remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, ^
JAMES A. SEEtoON,
Secretary of War.
Richmond, Va., January 15, 186 Jf. The Senate op the Confederate States of America:
I have received from your honorable body, through the hands of your secretary, a copy of the report and resolution adopted by you in executive session on the 9th instant.
The resolution is in the following words :
Resolved, That the Senate do advise and consent to the appointment of the military officers nominated in the four several messages of the President dated on the 8th instant, all of whom are from States west of the Mississippi River, for the reasons stated in the foregoing report; and that the action of the Senate herein is not to be construed as sanctioning or recognizing the right of the Executive, ni
30 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.
nominating olficers to the Senate, to fix the time at which they shall take rank anterior to the preceding session of Congress, or at any time during such session.
By the first four lines of the resolution I am informed that the Senate acknowledge the legality and concur in the propriety of my action in regard to these nominations, by their advising and consent- ing to the appointments as proposed. This is the whole action usually taken on nominations, and seems to exhaust the authority over appointments vested in the Senate by the Constitution.
The reservation, however, in the present instance, that the Senate isnot to be considered as sanctioning or recognizing the right of the Executive to do in the future what the Senate have approved of his doing in the cases before them, as explained in the report to which the resolution refers, imposes on me the necessity of this communication.
On referring to that report I confess to my surprise at finding myself apparently charged with a violation of the Constitution, although no foundation exists for the implication conveyed in the report. I feel sure, therefore, that neither the committee nor the Senate could have intended or sanctioned such a charge ; but I could not in justice to myself fail to call your attention to the language employed. It is as follows:
* * * The only difficulty presented to the committee is, that the date at which the officers nominated are to take rank is anterior to the last session of Congress.
The committee are of opinion that the Constitution contemplates that all offi- cers appointed in the recess of Congress shall only hold under such appointment to the close of the next session of Congress, and that they should be renominated, if it is intended to retain them in their offices, to the Senate at its first session after their appointment. This has not been done in this case.
The Senate cannot but agree with me that the plain inference from these passages is that the Constitution has been violated by my hav- ing appointed these officers during the recess and retained them in office without nominating them to the Senate at its next session. It has thus become incumbent on me (while satisfied that neither the committee nor the Senate could have intended to make such an accu- sation) to repel any inference that might hereafter be drawn from my silence on the subject, by stating that not only had no appointments of these officers been made prior to the nominations on which the Senate has just acted, but that the fact of the necessity for the appointments only reached the Executive since the commencement of your present session, by communication received last month from the Trans-Mississippi Department.
Upon the point suggested in the close of the resolution, that the Executive is without the right to make a nomination to a military grade, coupled with rank from a date prior to a former session of the Senate, it is not deemed proper to anticipate any future disagree- ment with the Senate by presenting the reasons for the opposite conclu- sion as being the only one consistent with the laws for the regulation of the Army, as well as with long-settled usage and the necessities of the service.
When the occasion shall arise I cannot doubt that the Senate will, notwithstanding this resolution, refuse to abandon its own constitu- tional power to act on nominations at its pleasure, according to the merits of each case and the good of the service. I am confirmed in this conclusion by observing that the resolution was passed without a call for the yeas and nays, and therefore with probably less than the usual consideration, as well as by the f urtherreflection that as Executive nominations which meet the disapproval of the Senate on any ground
CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES. 31
are always subject to rejection without assignment of reasons, experi- ence will show that no advantage can arise from the Senate's cur- tailing its own discretion in future cases by binding its own judgment in advance.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Atlanta, January 15, 186^. lion. James A. Seddon:
I am satisfied that I can raise a large and efficient force if the authority I have iisked for to organize troops for the war from State Guard is granted. Rest assured it is the best policy. It is important that I receive an answer at once.
HOWELL COBB,
Major- General.
Richmond, January 15, I864.. His Excellency Jefferson Davis,
Presidmt of the Confederate States, Richmond, Va.:
Sir: We beg leave, in view of the condition of the military service, as connected with the organization of our Kentucky troops, to make some suggestions which may render those troops more effective. At present they are dispersed in small bodies with the different armies in the west and southwest. The terms for service for which they engaged are drawing to a close. There does not exist amongst them any desire to abandon the cause in which they so heartily embarked; but there does exist a strong wish amongst the infantry to change the eliaracter of their service. It is an opinion, founded upon all the facts within our reach, that great benefit would result to the country by organizing these troops in a State organization, and In mounting them as far as it can be done. The following would be some of the results of such an organization :
First. It would gratify a natural desire existing among soldiers for a change, and would go far toward satisfying their craving to see their homes ; for next to the enjoyment of their own firesides would be the satisfaction of a camp home amongst their own exiled people.
Second. The concentration of the Kentuckians would be an induce- ment to call together at once from all parts of the Confederacy all stragglers and people from the State not yet attached to military organizations. It would also be an Inducement held out to Southern men yet remaining in Kentucky to enlist in the organization. The benefits resulting from such a concentration would, in our opinion, far outweigh the temptations held out to ind.ividuals to leave the ranks.
Third. The concentration of these troops in the vicinity of Ken- tucky in a position to act in concert with any general movement of our Western army would have a most beneficial result. We think by the opening of the spring campaign there could be assembled in East Tennessee, or such other position as may be deemed best, about 8,000 effective Kenttickians. Combining their movements with those of the main army, they could enter Kentucky. Most of them are veteran troops. Fighting as in fantry, they would be numerous enough and sufficientlj'^ effective to drive before them any cavalry force likely to be sent against them. Tlie result would be either that they would
32 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.
occupy the center of the State, collect supplies, and gather strength and interrupt the enemy's communications, or that heavy infantry detachments must be sent from the enemy's main army to drive them from the State. In the latter event it will prove a legitimate military diversion, when a small detachment will be enabled to occupy the attention of a large force of the enemy, and to that extent lighten the task of the main army.
Fourth. The political result of such an organization would be highly favorable. The hopes of the Southern sympathizers in the State still cling with great tenacity around the Kentucky organiza- tions. Dispersed as these organizations now are, their identity is almost lost. If assembled in one body they will be enabled to excite anew the hopes of our people, and we believe that the awakened interest of the men themselves and of the people in this organization would in the present political condition of Kentucky largely increase the strength of the force.
Fifth. The results of such an organization would, in our opinion, be most effective if the public interest admitted of our being asso- ciated vrith this force ; for it is probably not assuming too much to state that we may be enabled to combine in a great degree the military and political elements of the State which are favorable to the country. But while it is our own opinion that our services would be more effective with this than with any other organization which we can think of, we can but add that in this, as in all other matters con- nected with the defense of our country, we will cheerfully submit to any decision which your Excellency may make in reference to a sub- ject which appeals so strongly to our sympathies and to our patriotism. We have the honor to be, very respectfully. Your Excellency's obedient servants,
JOHN C. BRECKINRIDGE,
Major- General. S. B. BUCKNER,
Major- Oeneral, JNO. II. MORGAN,
Brigadier- General. JOS. 11. LEWIS,
Brigadier- General.
[FivBt indorsement.]
January 1(5, 1864. Secretary of War for consideration and remarks. " The proposition has two main features, viz, the assembling of the Kentucky troops into one corps, and the mounting of those troops when assembled. It js also indicated that they should be sent to Kentucky.
J. D.
[Second indorsement.]
Respectfully returned to the President.
I have had several conferences, as well with members from Ken- tucky as the generals signing this letter, on the subject presented. I find it diflScult to reconcile with my convictions as to the interest of the service to convert all the troops from Kentucky into mounted men. The infantry brigade, though much reduced, is among the most reliable in the service, and for the hot work before our armies of more value than three times this number ol' mounted men. It would be
CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES. 33
better, could reference be liad to the general service alone, that two- thirds of the cavab-y should be dismounted and converted into infan- try; but other considerations are urged earnestly, and among them, though presented with hesitancy and regret, is the conviction that without such concession to the feelings of the men desertion to a great extent is inevitable. This alone causes me to doubt. Perhaps, without yielding the one point of mounting the men, the organization of the Kentuckians into one corps, with headquarters in common and with a favorite leader at their head, might suffice to aroiise a State pride and give a prestige to the organization that might measurably satisfy and retain them in service. In conjunction with this, some latitude might be allowed the commander to allow temporary ex- changes of service to the different regiments. The hope should be held out to them, too, of returning to Kentucky, most speedily and permanently, by defeating the enemy before them. A partial raid would lose more than it gained in men.
.TAS. A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War.
[Tbird iDdorseiiient. ]
Aide-de-Camp:
Address letter to General Johnston, stating application and con- siderations offered, and request views on the question of assembling the Kentucky troops on border of Kentucky, and as another questioii the propriety of converting them into mounted troops.
J. D.
Confederate States of America, War Department,
January 16, 186Jf. (Teneral Howell Cobb,
Atlanta, Ga. : The matter is under consideration of the President.
J. A. SEDDON, Secretary of War.
State of South Carolina, Executive Department,
Columbia, January 16, 186Jf. Hon. James A. Seddon,
Secretary of War: Sir : I am directed by His Excellencj' the Governor to request you to furnish him with a copy of your order declaring that soldiers appointed to military academies cannot be discharged.
I have the honor to be, very respectf ullj', your obedient servant,
B. F. ARTHUR,
Private Secretary.
Confederate States of America,
Bureau of Conscription, Eichmond, Va., January 16, 186 Jf. Maj. J. C. Johnston,
Commandant of Conscripts, Bristol, Tenn.: Major: I am directed by the superintendent to write to yon and say that he directs that you will forthwith remove your camp of
3 R R — series IV, vol III
COERESPONDENCE, ETC.
triiction to some safe and convenient point in the neighborhood of iiitenant-General Longstreet's army. It is not advisable for you select a station immediately within or contiguous to the lines. On ching your station you will immediately proceed to active oper- ons in enrolling conscripts and arresting deserters. Until further lers you will have authority to enroll Tennessee and Kentucky iscripts. You will apply directly to Lieutenant-General Long- eet for such supporting force as you may deem necessary, and tort the same to this Bureau. You will also apply to General Long- eet for the use of such officers as you may think needful as enroU- : officers, asking him for their temporary assignment. Your [uisitions will be filled as early as practicable. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
THOMAS PINCKNEY, Acting Assistant Adjutant- General.
icuLAR ) Confederate States of America,
[ War Department, Bureau of Conscription, 'fo. 2. ) Richmond, Va., January 18, 1864-
n addition to the copy of special orders detailing disabled officers i soldiers, furnished for the information of the Bureau, comman- its will also forward to the Bureau a copy for reference to the com- nding officer of the command to which such officers or soldiers ong.
""rom the omission to forward such copies additional labor is posed on the Bureau, which its clerical force is insufficient to exe- « and which properly belongs to the office from which the order is aed. Jy command of Col. John S. Preston, superintendent:
C. B. DUFFIELD, Assistant Adjutant- General. To Commandants of Conscripts. )
Confederate States of America, War Department,
Richmond, Va., January 18, 186^. 5 Excellency Thomas H. Watts,
Governor of Alabama, Montgomery, Ala.: )IR : Your letter of the 6th instant, earnestly requesting that Gov- iment iron contractors in Alabama be authorized to^ell to planters ae of their iron to make and repair agricultural implements, was erred to the chief of the Niter and Mining Bureau for considera- n and remarks. I have the honor to invite your attention to the lowing copy of his reply :
■he Government supplies in Alabama will permit the diversion of a consider- e quantity of cast iron for agricultural purposes, but very little rolled iron. I loss of the Tennessee rolling-mills and the virtual suspension of the Etowah Is have thrown all the requisitions from the Army of Tennessee for wagon- I and horseshoe iron upon the two Alabama mills controlled by the Bureau. 3se requisitions can be met with grreat diflBculty, and only by drawing largely in the Navy. Major Hunt has been instructed to call upon the Q-ovemor of ,bama, explain the poverty of our resources, and to urge a concert action from State authorities in starting additional rolling-mills.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War.
CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES. 35
[Januaby 18, 1864.— For Smith to Murrah, in regard to the organi- zation of a force for the protection of the Indian frontier of Texas see Series I, Vol. XXXIV, Part II, p. 886.] '
AN ACT to provide for holding elections for Representatives in the Conjiress of the Confederate States from the State of Missonri.
The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That elections for Representatives in the Congress of the Confederate States for the State of Missouri may be held as follows, until the Legislature of said State shall otherwise direct: That each voter shall be allowed to vote one ticket, containing the name of one person for each one of the seven Congressional districts of said State, and the persons receiv- ing the highest number of votes for the Representative districts, shall be commissioned as Representatives by the Governor of said State.
Sec. 2. Such election shall be held upon the first Monday in May next, and upon the same day of each second year thereafter during the war.
Sec. 3. Such elections shall be held by the officers authorized, or persons appointed or provided by the laws of said State for the pur- pose of holding such elections, and shall be conducted according to the mode prescribed by the laws of said State, except so far as the same are modified by this act.
Sec. 4. In such elections, any citizen of the Confederate States who shall be qualified to vote for a member of the most numerous branch of the State Legislature of said State, shall be entitled to vote at the place or places in said State, at which he would be entitled to vote in an election for such member of said Legislature.
Sec. 5. But in case such citizen shall be in the military service of the Confederate States, or in case he shall be driven from his home by the occupation of his country by the public enemy, or by the movements of the enemy's troops, or in case the election cannot be held at the usual places of holding the same, by reason of such occu- pation or movements, then such citizen shall be allowed to vote at any place of voting in said State, or in the camps of the Army, as herein- after provided.
Sec. 6. Such elections for Representatives, when held in the camps of the Army, shall be conducted as follows: In every army corps, division, or command, the colonel of each regiment, or other officer in command of any less body on detached ser%'ice, shall appoint two judges and three clerks to open and hold such election, who shall hold the same and make out the poll books and returns, under the same rules and regulations, as far as practicable, as if the same were opened and held at the usual places of holding the same in said State, and shall allow all persons entitled to vote therein.
Sec. 7. The returns of such elections in camps shall be forwarded by the several commanding officers, appointing the judges and clerks as aforesaid, to the highest officer in grade, and the senior of the grade from said State, for which the same is held in the encampment or Army, in which the same is held, whose duty it shall be, at once, to forward the same to the Governor of the State, or the same may be, if more convenient, forwarded by such commanding officer directly to the Governor.
Sec. 8. In case the exigencies of the public service prevent the holding of the elections in any camp under this act, at the time pro- vided by law, the same may be held at any time within ten days after
6 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.
lie preventing cause may cease ; the time for holding the same to be xed by the officer authorized to appoint the judges and clerks.
Sec. 9. Such officer shall be authorized to administer the proper aths to the judges and clerks, or they may administer the same to ach other.
Sec. 10. Every person concerned in holding such election shall take n oath to support the Constitution of the Confederate States, and 0 discharge his duty, in holding such election, faithfully and impar- ially.
Approved January 19, 1864.
Circular ) Confederate States op America,
/• Bureau of Conscription,
No. 3. ) Richmond, Va., January 19, 186 Jf.
In view of the great increase of special applications for exemption jul the facilities with which signatures are obtained, it has become ecessary to prescribe regulations for proceeding in such cases to pre- ent the allowance of exemption in cases specially presented and sup- orted by many signers, with some show of testimony, but without eal merit. The officers of conscription will therefore be governed ly the following instructions :
I. Every application should be sworn to by the applicant and veri- ed by the affidavits of at least two respectable citizens who are per- onally acquainted with the facts testified to by them.
II. Applications so verified should be carefully, particularly, and Igilantly investigated by the local enrolling officers, and a report of lie facts, with their opinion in approval or disapproval, forwarded hrough the proper official channel, with the application, to the com- landant.
III. The investigation should not be confined to an examination of he papers alone, or into the truth of the statements therein made, lut sliould be directed with a view of ascertaining all the facts and cir- umstances of the case, and the exact condition of the parties with elation thereto, that an intelligent opinion on its merits may be ormed. For this purpose inquiries should be instituted of persons inconnected with the application. The report should be somewhat in ietail, setting forth seriatim the facts developed in the investigation, :iving briefly the reasons for the opinion expressed, and instead of »eing put in the form of an indorsement will be mside on a sepai-ate heet of paper.
IV. In expressing his own opinion of approval the commandant rill state whether he recommends permanent or temporary exemp- ion; and if temporary, for what length of time.
V. No application will be considered unless investigated in accord- ,nce with these instructions.
By command of Col. John S. Preston, superintendent :
C. B. DUFFIELD, Assistant Adjutant- General.
(To Commandants of Conscripts.)
confederate authorities. 37
Executive Department of Alabama,
Montgomery, Jamuary 19, I864.. Hon. Jambs A. Seddon,
Secretary of War: Sir: I have seen Maj. J. J. Walker, acting commissary of subsist- ence for the State, and he has explained in a satisfactory manner what his agents in the different counties of the State are doing, and the object of the census of property being taken. Wliile these com- plaints of the illegal conduct of agents were being made, a little explanation by sensible of&cers would have avoided aU the difficulty. The impressment of private property is always odious and ought to be avoided whenever possible. It is a better policy for the Government to pay double price than to make impressments. If we fail to achieve our independence in this contest the failure will arise from breaking down the spirits of the people by acts of tyranny by our own officers. The impressment of property only aggravates the price and creates opposition to the Government and our cause. The practical oper- ation of the impressment system has been disastrous.
So far as Major Walker himself is concerned, I should never fear anything from his acts that was wrong. He is a man of fine com- mon sense and of high character, and he takes pains to perform the most onerous duties in such a manner as to retain the good will of all with whom he has to do, but many of the impressing officers care neither for God nor man.
The object of this letter was simply to say that Major Walker's explanation was entirely satisfactory. Very respectfully,
T. H. WATTS, Governor of Alabama.
Confederate States of America, War Department,
Bichmond, Va., January 19, 186 J^.
R. S. McCuLLOH, Esq. :
Sir : In granting you a passport to go beyond the limits of the Con- federate States, you are authorized, under an act to organize bodies for the capture and destruction of the enemy's property by land and sea, approved 17th of February, 1864, to engage in the destruction of the enemy's property on the high seas or the rivers, lakes, and har- bors in the United States or the Confederate States of America, or on the territory of either or both of them. You will be governed, how- ever, by the laws of nations, destroying only army and navy supplies and such other property as may be directly serviceable to the enemy in waging war against the Confederate States of America. Passenger vessels will be exempt from injury at your hands. You are also authorized to instruct and organize outside the limits of the Con- federate States a company of men, not to exceed twenty in number, to act under your orders in the performance of the service in which yon are hereby empowered to engage, taking strict care to observe the laws and rights of neutrals. You will forward a muster-roll of the company to this Department. Your services will be rendered without pay or other compensation than the percentage of loss or injury caused by you to the enemy's property, to be awarded by the board of officers appointed for tliat purpose by this Department to
58 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.
ionvene in the city of Richmond, Va. , the said compensation in no iase to exceed 50 per centum of the loss or injury inflicted. Respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War.
Richmond, January 21, 1864. xovernor Z. B. VANCE,
Raleigh, N. C:
Sir : I am informed that the authorities of the State of North Caro- ina hold a large quantity of woolen goods, partly imported, beyond vhat can possibly be needed for some time to come to meet the wants pf the troops from that State. As all the manufacturing resources of he State have been devoted to the service of the soldiers therefrom, md the State besides has enjoyed, through its enterprise, unusual acilities for drawing supplies from abroad, it occurs to me that there Qay be on hand an excess of other necessary articles, such as shoes ind blankets, that can be spared for awhile to aid the service at arge during the stress of the winter months. At all events, I venture o bring the matter to your attention, confident that your public pirit will lead you to do whatever you can to aid the troops of the ;!onfederacy.
Just at this time we are greatly in want of woolen goods and cloth heavy) of any description and blankets ; shoes, too, would be accept- ,ble. The recent heavy losses experienced by this department in ounection with the blockade has restricted somewhat its resources, >nd if you can advance for awhile any of the supplies referred to hey will be acceptable, and I will come under an obligation to return he same early in the spring, when the pressure now upon me shall in >art have passed by.
A. R. LAWTON,
Quartermaster- General.
Hdqrs. Dept. of South Carolina, Georgia, and Fla.,
Charleston, S. C, January 21, 1864. Jeneral A. C. Garlington,
Adjt. and Insp. Gen. , State of South Carolina, Columbia, S. C. :
General : The letter of His Excellency Governor Bonham, of the 9th instant,* to the commanding general, now at Savannah, com- Qunicating a copy of his letter of the 17th ultimo f to the War department, has been received and I deem it in place to acquaint you Fith the position of these headquarters in the absence of any orders rom superior authority in the premises.
The troops in question having been called out for six months' serv- ce, it is construed, are in that service from the time they assembled it their homes and quit their usual private avocations for military luty. It is presumed the War Department supposed they would be ailed out on the 1st day of August, and hence specified that day as he beginning of their term of enrollment. As you are aware, how- ver, the call from these headquarters was not issued for a month ater, because it had been urged on the commanding general as of the itmost importance that these men should not be withdrawn from the
* Not foiind. t See Vol. II, this series, p. 1058.
CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES. 39
agricultural districts until they had secured their harvests, and he was induced in that way to postpone the call to the last possible moment, leaving the men meantime at their homes, engaged on their farms, or other occupations from which they had only been detached, as is understood, one day to organize and elect company officers early in July and another subsequently, 31st July, to elect field officers.
In view of these facta the commanding general has not felt author- ized to discharge these troops until he shall be officially apprised of the views of the War Department, for which he asked on the 12th of December, 1863.
Especially does he not feel warranted to act without orders, since he was expressly notified by telegraph from the Adjutant and Inspector General on the 5th of October, 1863, that he had "no right to dis- charge the six-months' regiments * * * without authority from that office."
Be assured these headquarters have every wish to discharge these troops whensoever it may be authoritatively done, and it is hoped orders of the War Department will soon be made known.
The Governor does not say in his letter that he has received an answer to his to the Honorable Secretary of War, but it is presumed he has not from the context of his communication to the commanding general.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
THOMAS JORDAN,
Chief of Staff.
Confederate States of America, War Department,
Richmond, Va., Jamiary 21, 188 J^. His Excellency M. L. Bonham,
Governor of South Carolina, Columbia, S. C: Sir : I have received your letter of the l'6th instant requesting me to furnish you with a copy of my order declaring that soldiers appointed to military academies cannot be discharged.
In reply I have the honor to say that the Department has uniformly declined to grant discharges in such cases, on the ground that the best school of instruction, as well as the most honorable service, is now in the field. I am very reluctant to deprive the youth of the country of the opportunity of mental improvement, but all consider- ations of private advantage must now yield to the paramount duty of defending the countrj'.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War.
AN ACT appropriating one hundred thousand dollars for the use and benefit of
the Cherokee Nation.
Whereas, by the forty-fifth article of the treaty between the Con- federate States of America and the Cherokee Nation, the said Con- federate States promised to collect and pay over to the Cherokee Nation the annual interest upon the several sums of money invested by said nation in stocks of certain States of the Confederate States; and whereas, by reason of the war with the United States, it is impracticable to make such collection; and whereas, there is good
to CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.
eason to believe that the citizens of said nation are greatly in need if the money thus due them: Therefore,
The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact. That he sum of one hundred thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby, ppropriated out of any money in the Treasury, not otherwise ,ppropriated, for the use and benefit of the Cherokee Nation.
Sec 2. The said sum of money shall be forwarded without delay ly the Bureau of Indian Affairs to the proper representatives of the Jherokee Nation.
Sec 3. It is hereby expressly understood that said one hundred housand dollars is to be returned by the said Cherokee Nation when •eace shall be ratified between the United and Confederate States, r that the said Confederate States shall be reimbursed out of the iiterest on said stocks which may then be due and collected.
Approved January 22, 1864.
January 22, 1864. Ion. James A. Seddon,
Secretary of War: Sir: I have received from Col. W. H. Stevens, chief of construction )epartment of Northern Virginia, an estimate of $500,000 as required o meet the just claims presented, or to be presented hereafter, for he loss of slaves who have been impressed in the State of Virginia, nd have escaped to the enemy or have died whilst engaged in ibor on the Richmond defenses or from diseases contracted whilst Ims employed. This estimate is based on an average valuation of 2,000 for each slave thus escaped or deceased. A consideration of he losses sustained in other portions of this State, especially in the 'eninsula earlier in the war, gives the sum of $708,000 as the entire stimate for the State of Virginia. Reasoning b\'^ analogy, for want f absolute data, and extending the calculation to the other States of he Confederacy, in all of which heavy losses have been sustained mong the negroes impressed for labor on the defenses, the Bureau as arrived at the sum of $3,108,000 as the minimum probably required 0 meet this class of expenditures. I have therefore the honor to ubmit an estimate of $3,108,000, and to ask an appropriation of this mount for the purpose indicated.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. L. RIVES, Zdeutenant- Colonel, &c.
[January 22, 1864. — For Murrah to Magruder, in relation to reor- ;anization of Texas troops, see Series I, Vol. XXXIV, Part II, p. 905. ]
iEneral Orders, \ Adjt. and Insp. General's Office,
No. 7. \ Richmond, January 23, IS64.
I. Paragraph IV, General Orders, No. 3, current series, is hereby evoked.
II. Enrolling ofiicers will proceed as rapidly as practicable in the nrollment of all persons made liable to military service. Previous to nroUment as conscripts all such persons will be allowed to volun- eer: Provided —
1. The company selected was in service on the 16th of April, 1862.
CONFEDERATE AUTHOKITIES. 41
2. The company selected is at the time of volunteering below the minimum number prescribed by regulations.
3 No person made liable to service under this order will be per- mitted to join or will be assigned to any company which has more than sixty-four privates on the roll until all the companies in the service from the State of which the volunteer or conscript is a resi- dent shall have the minimum number prescribed by regulations.
4, Upon the company being selected, the volunteer will receive from the enrolling officer a certificate to the effect that he has so volunteered, and no volunteer will be received in any company except on such certificate.
III. Pei-sons who fail to make selection according to the provisions of this order, and at the time of enlistment, will be assigned accord- ing to existing regulations.
IV. All ofiicers in command of companies authorized under this order to receive conscripts or volunteers will forthwith send to the commandant of conscripts of the State accurate certified rolls of their companies, and without such roll, showing that they do not exceed sixty-four privates, there will not be assigned any conscript or volunteer.
By order:
S. COOPER, Adjutant and Insjyector General.
Confederate States of America, War Department,
Richmond, Va., January 24, 186^. VVyndham Robertson, Esq.,
Chairman Committee on Confederate Relations,
House of Delegates of Virginia:
Sir : I regret that other more pressing engagements have prevented me from sooner acknowledging your communication of the 13th instant relative to the forced withdrawal of able-bodied male slaves from localities within the lines of the enemy or exposed to their inroads. The aims which were contemplated in the proposition here- tofore made by me to obtain the sanction of the Legislature of Vir- ginia to such removal were chiefly two: First, to save such slaves to the owners and prevent the abstraction of so much productive and • valuable labor from the Commonwealth ; and secondly, to prevent their being seduced or compelled by the enemy to recruit his armies and increase the resources employed by them in the atrocious warfare waged against us.
In reference to the first of these ends, I am free to admit that infor- mation gathered by me from inquiries made and manifestations of sentiment in different exposed localities lead me to concur in the opinion you express as to the repugnance and apprehension enter- tained by owners of the effect of such proceedings upon their slave property. They should be able to form the best judgment as to the means of preserving their property, and the Department is disposed to defer to their judgment and relinquish all idea of acting with a view to the preservation of the slaves to their owners or the Common- wealth. In the second point it is evident that the contingencies may occur which would render it an imperative military duty on the part of the Oovernment to remove, as far as its power allowed, able-bodied men who were about to be, and without such action would certainly be, placed in the Army of the enemy. Heretofore the enemy have used mainly seduction, and, except in very limited localities and those
42 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.
entirely within their power, have not, so far as known, drafted or forced slaVes into military service. Such course has, however, been threatened, and may at any time be adopted and enforced as their settled rule of action. In such event it is presumed no objection could or would be entertained by those now most reluctant to the removal of the able-bodied male slaves. I may say, however, to remove apprehensions on the part of owners, that no present necessity of the kind is known to exist, and that in deference to the wishes and judg- ment entertained by the owners, as well as by the members of the State Legislature whose opinions have been declared, great reluctance will be felt in resorting to removal, and that it will be only done under such plain necessity as it is hoped will reconcile it to the judg- ment and interest of all. In such event, too, if circumstances allow, previous notice will be given, so as to afford the option to owners to remove all the slave families.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War.
Confederate States of America, War Department,
Richmond, Va., January 25, 186 Jf. General Howell Cobb,
Atlanta, Ga.: Congress has not yet acted. It is not thought expedient to organize new companies, but to retain all of conscript age to fill up the old.
J. A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War.
Circular ) Bureau of Conscription,
No. 4. ) Richmond, January 25, 1864.
The attention of commandants is especially directed to General Orders, No. 7, Adjutant and Inspector General's Office, current series,, herein set forth for their information.*
Early and vigorous action will be enjoined on the enrolling ofi&cers, each one of whom should be furnished with a copy of the order with- out delay. To insure the publicity of the order there should be sev- eral insertions in the newspapers of general circulation.
II. Persons presenting applications for special exemption with any show of merit will not be molested until action is taken by this Bureau. These cases will be investigated in accordance with Circular No. 3, current series, with the least delaj' practicable.
By order of Col. John S. Preston, superintendent:
C. B. DUFFIELD, Assistant Adjutant- General.
(To Commandants of Conscripts. )
State of North Carolina, Executive Department,
Raleigh, January 25, 1864. Hon. James A. Seddon,
Secretary of War, Richmond, Va.: Dear Sir: To obviate any further difficulty in regard to carrying out cotton by the Collie Line of steamers, the agent of the owners pro-
COVPEDEEATE AUTHORITIES. 43
poses to sell an interest to the Confederacy in those steamers of one- fourth, which would give one-half of the cotton for the Confederacy and this State. I hope you will accept this proposition. Very respectfully,
Z. B. VANCE.
Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia,
January 25, I864. General S. Cooper, C. S. Army,
Adjutant and Inspector General, Richmond, Va.:
General : Agreeably to your request I give to you my reasons for believing that the establishment of a bureau of inspection under your department would prove infinitely beneficial to the Government. Outcries prevail over the whole country against the extravagances and abuses committed bj' the Government ofiQcers and agents in all of the departments of the Army, in and out of the field. Much alleged is doubtlessly true, although in many instances exaggerated, and many, beyond doubt, originate in ignorance of their duties on the part of agents and of their rights on the part of the injured. It unfor- tunately too often happens that persons falsely assuming the charac- ter of Government agents impress, and between such imposition and the rightful exactions of authorized agents, made, however, in too many instances in an arbitrary and arrogant manner by those who do not duly appreciate the relations between themselves and those with whom they are dealing, a spirit of dissatisfaction is being aroused against the Government, almost amounting to disaffection, which, unless remedied, may lead to disastrous consequences. The Govern- ment, ignorant of these facts, receives all the odium of sanctioning them, and, although whenever reported, it strives to correct the iso- lated cases brought to its notice, it effects nothing toward removing the spirit of general complaint, because such corrections are not gener- ally known. The evils complained of are apparent to all in the vicin- ity of all the towns, depots, and entrepots scattered over the country and are publicly commented upon, but there being no particular per- son or department charged with correcting these evils, though all admit the importance of correction, no one is disposed to assume the responsibility of bringing them to the notice of the Government.
ITie means for receiving such information and to enable the Gov- ernment to apply correction would be in the organization of the bureau of inspection, which might readily be done under that of the Adjutant and Insi)ector General's Department. The benefits to be derived from such a bureau are incalculable. The strength and organization of our armies are obtained through the monthly and field returns, but nothing is known respecting their condition in the way of armament, discipline, instruction, and all interior arrange- ments which promote their efficiency and reliability. This is secured in this army by the tri-monthly reports received from inspectors belonging to the different organizations from the brigades up to corps. Through the system in this army officers are held to a strict observ- ance of all orders emanating from all the headquarters up to those from the War Department. All deficiencies in drill, discipline, mili- itary instruction, arms, accouterments, transportation, and, in a word, in any of the requisites for securing efficiency in the different arms of service, are brought through these reports to the notice of the com- manding general. In addition to this the examination of the accounts
44 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.
of officers of all the different departments are made, the observance of property accountability is exacted, the loss or destruction of arms, &c., charged as circumstances require to officers or men, and of all other public property misappropriated, leading through the instru- mentality of inspectors to an observance of property accountability in officers and men which has saved thousands of arms to the Gov- ernment, vast sums to the Treasury in the greater care secured to all kinds of public property, and at the same time has greatly improved the discipline and efficiency of the army.
There are very few cases of fraud which have occurred in this army, and wherever occurring have been promptly brought before a court-martial. With inspections impending over them at all times, in so far as their accounts go, there has been for twelve months past a most commendable observance of regulations in the rendition of accounts, considering all the difficulties under which this army has labored. Inspectors look to the preservation of private property in the vicinity of camps, and where damages are committed, to prompt indemnity to the injured and punishment of offenders whilst sta- tionary, and on the march prevent straggling and the depredations consequent upon such irregularities. These are some of the numer- ous duties required from and performed by the army inspectors, making them, where efficient, the most important officers we have. Extend a system which has so manifestly improved the army through- out the Confederacy, and what would be the probable results ? Doubt- less the measurable, if not entire, correction of the abuses already mentioned with a large increase of the effective force in our ranks. At almost every town, depot, and entrepdt are to be found a number of staff officers with their retinues of detailed or exempted men, drawing commutation of fuel and quarters and purchasing supplies of the Government for themselves and families, entailing enormous expenditures upon the Treasury, and depriving our armies of supplies greatly needed. The first, in many instances, as superfluous, could be sent to the ranks, and the latter, substituted by partially disabled men, might be remanded to their companies. There are also many able-bodied, stout, healthy men nominally employed about the hospi- tals and by conscript, tax, and other bureaus scattered over the country, who should and would be forwarded to their companies. It is unnecessary to proceed further in the enumeration of benefits to be derived from a system whose usefulness has been recognized and adopted by every other government, it is believed, but our own, and I am satisfied that in addition to the greatly increased efficiency which it would have secured in all departments, millions would have been saved to the Government in the more strict observance of propertj' accountability, which it would have brought about in every branch of the service. This result can yet be obtained in the future by the establishment of such a bureau, if organized. In addition to the officers in charge of the bureau there should be ten officers (colonels) of intelligence, energy, and perfect reliability to perform inspecting duties; the Confederacy to be divided into the same number of dis- tricts, which should be inspected successively by these officers; no officer inspecting the same district twice in succession, or, preferably, not until he had passed over all the other districts. By this means, in making their reports, which should be secret and only to be com- municated to parties interested as the discretion of the Secretary of War might determine, inspectoi-s would be particularly cautious in stating facts, and act unbiased by prejudice or partiality, knowing
CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES. 45
that his reports would be compared with those of the officers preced- ing and succeeding him, whereby inaccuracies or favoritism would be exposed.
In all cases where abuses were observed, requiring immediate cor- rections, special reports could be made, to be submitted for the action of the War Department. A manual prescribing the general duties of such officers can readily be drawn off, questions arising under special cases to be submitted for decision by the depai'tments. The rank of these officers should not be less than that of colonel, as such is the grade held in some of the corps already, and it is necessary in inspect- ing tried and veteran troops, which would be required in passing over most of the districts, that the inspector should have that character and rank which would secure attention and deference to his wishes and respect for his office. Through their means the Government could keep itself advised of the condition of all of its forces; the capabili- ties of the different officers, both of those holding high commands and of those of lower grades giving promise of future ability, from whom to select for promotion; the relative efficiency of different organizations; the confidence of the troops in their commanders; the general spirit among the troops, and the military and political aspect discovered in different districts, with the resources in the way of sup- plies to be obtained from each.
I submit the foregoing views as suggestive, not doubtinjg, general, that your own great experience and knowledge will determine upon some plan which may lead to the results desired.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. H. CHILTON, Asst. Adjt. and Insp. Gen., Army of Northern Virginia.
[January 25, 1864. — For Lee to Seddon, in relation to the effect of authorizing individuals to raise companies of artillery and cavalry, see Series I, Vol. XXXIII, p. 1120.]
Executive Department,
Tallahassee, January 26, 1861^. Hon. James A. Seddon,
Secretary of War, Eichmond, Va.:
Sir: Permit me to introduce to your acquaintance Cfipt. I). W. Gwynn, of the Fifth Florida Battalion.
In your letter of the 29th of October, 1863, in reply to one from me of the 22d, you promised that " orders will also be given relative to the supply of arms for the service in Florida." Previously upon applica- tion by me for 3,000 stand of arms, 2,000 Austrian rifles were sent to Columbus, but they were without wipers and were comparatively useless. These rifles were at Columbus subject to the order of the general commanding the district, but I do not know how they were generally disposed of. We have much reason to apprehend raids from the enemy, and it is very important that the troops on whose service the State is dependent for defense should be armed and pre- pared to make it. I request therefore respectfully that the applica- tion for arms by Major Scott, who commands the Fifth Florida Bat- talion, may be promptly granted. I would also respectfully invite
&
46 COEBE8PONDENCE, ETC.
your attention to the copies of letters received by me relative to the impressment of milch cows and calves by the commissary agents. One is from the Rev. John R. Richards, from West Florida; the other from a judge of probate in South Florida. The effect of the impress- ments made in West Florida was the desertion of a large number of the troops in that part of the State, a portion of whom have joined the enemy. From one company, which was considered the best drilled and most reliable company in West Florida, fifty-two men deserted with their arms, some of whom were known to be brave men, who, indignant at the heartless treatment of the rights of citizens, have joined the enemy. I respectfully urge that orders should be immedi- ately issued to conscript and place in military service every impress- ing agent not in military service, and who if not connected with the Quartermaster or Commissary Department, would be subject to con- scription; also that orders shall be issued forbidding interference with cows and calves, or stock not fit for beef, by the officers of the Confederate Government. The citizens of Florida in many parts of the State are indignant at the unnecessary abuse of their rights; and I have reason to know that the lawless and wicked conduct of Gov- ernment agents in this State have produced serious dissatisfaction among the troops from this State in Northwest Georgia and in Vir- ginia, and unless the evils complained of shall be promptly remedied the worst' results may reasonably be apprehended. I have the honor to be, respectfully,
.JOHN MILTON,
Governor of Florida.
[First iiidorsOTueut.]
Ordnance Bureau for attention to passage about arms, <fcc.
J. A. S., Secretary.
[SectiDd ludnrBemeDt.*]
Ordnance Bureau,
Febrtuxry 6. I864. Noted and forwarded to the Quartermaster-General.
[J. G.]
[Third indorHement.]
To Commissary-General: About impressing officers, taking milch cows, &p.
(Fourth iiidorsemeut.]
J. A. S., Secretary.
Office Commissary-General of Subsistence,
Richmond, Va., February 8, I864. Respectfully returned to Honorable Secretary of War. Maj. P. W. White, chief commissary of subsistence, Florida, has been called on to investigate the allegations against the purchasing officer and agents of the Bureau, and to take immediate steps to remedy the evils if found to exist.
L. B. NORTHROP, Commissary- Oeneral.
* See also Gorgas to Secretary of War, p. 83.
CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES. 47
[InoloBure No. 1.]
Calhoun County, Fla., December 20, 186S. Right Hon. John Milton,
Governor of Florida : My Dear Friend: After my best respects to you as my friend and chief justice of the State of Florida, I avail myself of this oppor- tunity of writing to you a few lines to ascertain if it is law for these "pressmen" to take the cows from the soldiers' families and leave them to starve. Colonel Coker has just left my house with a drove for Marianna of about 200 or 300 head. Some of my neighbors went after him and begged him to give them their milch cows, which he, Mr. Coker, refused to do, and took them on. And now, my dear Gov- ernor, I assure you, on the honor of a gentleman, that to my knowl- edge there are soldiers' families in my neighborhood that the last head of cattle have been taken from them and drove oflf, and unless this pressing of cows is stopped speedily there won't be a cow left in Cal- houn County. I know of several soldiers' families in this county that haven't had one grain of corn in the last three weeks, nor any likeli- hood of their getting any in the next three months ; their few cows taken away and they left to starve; their husbands slain on the battle- field at Chattanooga. This is a true state of things in my county; I vouch for them as an honest man. Now, if this is law I should be glad to know it, so I could know how to act by the law, for I have had a different notion of the law; and as a sound man, I think this press- ing of all the cattle will have a bad end, in my judgment, and I am not all that think so. I think if it could be stopped it would have a good effect on this part of the community. I should be obliged to you if you feel a freedom to write me on this subject soon, as I look upon procrastination as the great thief of time. I remain, your obedient servant,
JOHN R. RICHARDS.
[iDclosure No. 2.]
Brooksville, Hernando County, Fla.,
January 12, I864. His Excellency John Milton,
Oovernor of Florida, Tallahassee, Fla.: » Sir: At a meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of this county on the 9th instant, for the purpose of considering the necessi- ties and means of supplying the indigent families of soldiers in this county, it was ascertained that the supply of corn within the limits of the county is nearly exhausted, and that there can be very little or no corn purchased anywhere between here and Gainesville; whether from actual scarcity or an indisposition to sell I don't know, but it is gen- erally supposed it is from the latter cause. On the suggestion of General J. M. Taylor, who said that he had heard Your Excellency say that corn would be sent down to Archer from Middle Florida for soldiers' families if it became necessary for the support of those families, I was verbally instructed by the Board of Commissioners to communicate their necessities to Your Excellency, and ask if 1,000 bushels of corn could be had in that way, in the event that we cannot procure it otherwise. Their situation will be deplorable in the extreme if corn cannot be had beyond the limits of the county, as in conse- quence of a bad crop season the past year there was not more than one-third of an average crop raised in the county.
8 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.
Another mattei- which I would direct the attention of Your Excel- ;ncy to is the fact that the cattle drivers under the orders of Captain IcKay, commissary of this department, have stripped the county of very beef steer that they can find, from two years old and upward, nd are now taking the cows, many of which have been known to ave calves, in less than fifteen miles' drive. This is cutting off the nly supply of meat we had for soldiers' families, as the supply of ork from various causes — mainly for want of corn to fatten it — is nusually short — so much so that the most fortunate of us will be on 3ss than half allowance. Whatever the exigencies of the case may e, I consider it an outrage upon a community having in their midst s many suffering families as we have to take the cows, the only ependence for milk and beef for the future. In manj"^ cases the cows f poor families of soldiers in the Army are taken, as I have been [iformed. Does the ordei- to those commissaries authorize them to sike the milch cows from the people against their will or consent? If 0, the country is certainly ruined and a general famine will be the esult. Already the soldiers' families are becoming clamorous for leat and are killing people's cows wherever they can get hold of them, t does seem to me that this wholesale taking the beef-cattle and milch ows of the country should be stopped, for by taking the cows it cer- ainly cuts off the means of any future supply of beef, saying nothing f cutting off the supply of milk. If we have arrived at that point rhere it has become actually necessary to impress all the cows in the ountry, which are so necessary to the support of any country, then I ay, God help us, for starvation must be inevitable. Will Your ixeellency do us the favor to write me in answer to these several oints ?
With great i-espect, I have tlie honor to be, Your Excellencj''s obe- ient servant,
P. G. WALL,
Judge of Prohafe.
•rivate.] Headquarters Georgia State Guard,
Atlanta, January 26, 186^. Ion. James A. Seddon,
Secretary of War, Richmond, Va.: My Dear Sir: I have just received your dispatch refusing my pplication to organize troops for the war from the members of the itate Guard. I took the liberty of responding by^ telegraph and beg 0 address you again on the subject. I have no earthly interest in the [uestion save as it affects the public interest. I beg you, therefore, o bear with me. What I say is based upon my personal experience ,nd knowledge. I have opportunities of knowing the feeling on this ubject which you have not at Richmond, and though my earnest ounsel may not be heeded, pardon, I beg of you, one more intrusion ipon your time. I regard this decision as disastrous in its conse- [uences. In Georgia it will make a difference of more than 2,000 men n the Army, and the same will likewise occur in other States. I am lot sure that we have not lost that number already, even if the .uthority should now be granted. Besides, you are putting into your Id organizations an element which will produce the worst state of eeling through the ranks, and fill your Army with strife, jealousy, and leartburning. I am sure you do not appreciate the character of the Lien who liave employed substitutes ; whilst there are many who were
CONFEDKRATK AUTHORITIES. 49
seeking to avoid duty (and these will dodge you by leaving the coun- try and other ways) there were large numbers who were as brave and patriotic as any who went into service.
Let me mention one class of cases, by no means unusual, where there were several members of a family, all willing to go, but agreed among themselves that one should i-emain to attend to the business of all. Those who went have fallen in battle or linger in hospitals. Another class, whose large business demanded their attention At home, and who have contributed largely, liberally^ and profusely to the sup- port of the Army and soldiers' families by selling their produce at the lowest prices, and so on, and so on. I tell you that the wholesale denunciation of men who employed substitutes is wrong and unjust. I fully agree that the law ought to be repealed, and these men ought now to be brought into the service, but I do insist, not only on their own accounts, but for the good of the service, they ought not to be forced into the ranks of the old organizations. In the case of the Georgia State Guard, all the men promptly responded to the call of the Governor, and have made as good and uncomplaining soldiers as any in the field. I seriously fear the consequences of this policy in Georgia. The very men who were eager and enthusiastic to form themselves into new companies for the war are now arranging to test the question before the courts, and will resort to every method to defeat what they regard as a harsh and unjust i-ule upon them.
They dread the jeers and sneers which they must encounter from the Army more than they do the bullets of the Yankees, and their pride revolts at the idea of being forced into the ranks under men their inferiors in every respect, save in the length of service and expe- rience in the field.
Whether you respect this feeling or not, the question cannot be avoided, of the effect upon the strength and efficiency of the Army. You not only want soldiers, but you want them cheerful, content, and satisfied. It may even now be too late, but still better now than not at all.
Your friend,
HOWELL COBB.
[IndorBement.]
February 1, 18()4. Respectfully submitted to the President for his consideration. I do not concur in General Cobb's views, but respect for his judg- ment induces me to submit his letter. .,
J. A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War.
Richmond, Janimry 21, ISGJf. The Senate:
I submit to the Senate herewith the nomination of A. R. Lawton, of Georgia, to be Quartermaster-General, with the rank of brigadier- general, to take rank from the 13th day of April, 1861, and deem it proper to communicate the reasons which induce this course.
On the passage of the act of the 20th of March last, entitled "An act to amend an act for the establishment and organization of the general staff for the Army of the Confederate States of America," inquiry was made to aid in the selection of the most competent person then made
4 R R— series IV, VOL HI
50 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.
eligible, and the office of Quartermaster-General was tendered to Gen- eral Lawton, who was averse to accepting it if it involved a nomination and new appointment, for the reasons that it withdrew him from serv- ice in the field, interfered with his chances for promotion, and that, as he was then the oldest brigadier in the service, he would, by accept- ance of a new commission, be deprived of his relative rank as compared with other brigadiers. There were two other ofi&cers recom- mended to me as specially fitted to discharge the duties of Quarter- master-General, who could be spared from service in the field, and they were both major-generals and could not therefore be expected to accept a lower grade in the staff than that which they held in the line.
The name of the officer then performing the duties of Quartermas- ter-General was also presented to me with recommendations entitled to carry great respect, but my own observation of tlie manner in which those duties had been discharged had previously satisfied me that the public interests required an officer of greater ability and one better qualified to meet the pressing emergencies of the service during the war.
On examination of the law above referred to, its language, although not free from doubt, was held, after consultation and advice, to jus- tify the conclusion that the intention of Congress M'ould be fulfilled by assigning to the performance of the duties of Quartermaster-General an officer already confirmed as brigadier-general in the Provisional Armiy, without again submitting his nomination to the Senate. The grounds for this conclusion were that the eighth section of the act of 6th of March, 1861, organizing the Regular Army, expressly authorized the Executive to assign the brigadier-generals to anj"^ duties he might specially direct, and when the five brigadier-generals were raised to the rank of generals by the act of 16th of May, 1861, the President was again empowered to assign them to such commands and "duties" as he might specially direct. As it had, therefore, been permitted by Congress that any one of the generals of the Regular Army might be assigned to staff or any other duty at Executive dis- cretion, it seemed a fair inference that when by the law of last session provision was made that the rank, pay, and allowances of Quarter- master-General should be those of a brigadier in the Provisional Army the will of the Legislature was as well fulfilled by assigning to the duties of that of&ce one who was already a brigadier-general of the Provisional Army as by nominating a new officer.
This view of the question was fortified by the fact that the law last referred to did not create an office, but only provideci that during the war the officer discharging the duties of Quartermaster-General should have the rank of brigadier-general, and by the further fact that the original act of 26th of February, 1861, for the establish- ment and organization of the general staff, contained a provision stiU in force, that officers of the Quartermaster-General and other staff departments might by order of the President be assigned to the com- mand of troops, according to their rank in the Army, thus indicating that positions in the quartermaster's and other staff departments were not distinct of&ces, but were posts of duty to which officers of the Army were appointed, and from which they might be withdrawn and assigned to othei duties at Executive discretion. This is a provision of our law that did not exist in the former service of the United States, in which when an officer of the Army entered the Quarter- master's Department he surrendered his commission in the line and
CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES. 61
I am advised, however, that such is not the construction given to the law by many Senators, and I so far conform to their views as to give the Senate an opportunity to advise the Executive in relation to the appointment of this officer.
This statement was also necessary in explanation of the proposal that General Lawton's rank should date from the 13th of April, 1861, that being the date of his present commission of brigadier-general in the Provisional Army.
Since the foregoing message was written I observe by the pub- lished proceedings of the Senate that it has adopted the following resolutions:
Resolved, That, in the opinion of the Senate, A. C. Myers is now Quartermaster- General of the C. S. Army, and is by law authorized and required to discharge the duties thereof.
Resolved, That A. R. Lawton is not authorized by law to discharge the duties of said office.
Refraining from any further remark on these resolutions than the expression of my conviction that they are not sustained by the Con- stitution or the law, their passage enforces the propriety of submit- ting to you the nomination which accompanies this message.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
[January 27, 1864. — For Vance to Davis, requesting permission to P|ublish correspondence between them on subject of peace negotia- tions with the enemy, and Davis' reply (30thj, see Series I, Vol. LI, Part II, p. 814.]
State op South Carolina, Executive Department,
Columbia, January 27, 186]^. Hon. James A. Seddon,
Secretary of War: Sir: I had the honor on the 19th day of December last to inclose you and request your attention to a resolution of the Legislature as to the Government foregoing the right heretofore exercised of ship- ping cotton and bringing freight on the boats of the Importing and Exporting Company of South Carolina in consequence of the owner- ship of the State of a part of these boats. The resolution seems to explain itself. I have not yet received a reply. I inclose copies both of the act on the subject and the resolution,* and^ask leave to introduce to your acquaintance Mr. Charles M. Furman,' president of the bank of the State, who will present to you the views of the Legis- lature in passing the act and resolution, as well as my own, as to the importance to the Confederate Government and the State of the pro- posed relinquishment. He is fully authorized to act in the premises. It will be my object to import mainly army supplies and agricultural implements — the former to relieve as far as practicable the Confeder- ate Government and keep the troops from this State well equipped for service, and the latter to keep the citizens supplied with the imple- ments for raising subsistence for themselves and the troops in the field.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
M. L. BONHAM.
*Copy of act not found. For the resolution, see Vol. II, this series, p. 1060.
52 cokkespondence, etc.
Confederate States op America, War Department,
Richmond, Va., January 28, 1864. The President of the Confederate States:
Sir: I have received the following resolution of the House of Rep- resentatives, referred by Your Excellency to this Department:
Resolved, That the President be requested to inform this House whether authority has been granted by the War Department to any person or persons to raise new companies, battalions, or regiments of troops since September 27, 1863, in portions of the country in which the conscript law has not been suspended by the President ; and further, if such authority has been granted, to whom and in how many instances it has been granted, and how many companies, battalions, or regiments have been raised under such authority.
In response I have the honor to transmit herewith a letter from the Adjutant-General, stating that the records of his office do not show any authority granted to raise troops of conscript age except in locali- ties where the operation of the conscript law has been suspended, or from the control of the enemy it cannot be enforced. All special authorities to raise troops have been issued through the office of the Adjutant-General.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War.
[iDclusure.]
Confederate States of America, War Dept.,
Adjutant and Inspector General's Office,
Richmond, January 28, 1864.
The Honorable Secretary of WaR:
Sir: In response to the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 12th instant, requesting to be informed whether authority has been granted by the War Department to any person or persons to raise new companies, battalions, or regiments of troops since Septem- ber 27, 1862, in portions of the country in which the conscript law has not been suspended by the President, I have the honor to inform you that the records of this office do not contain any authority to raise troops of conscript age except in localities where the operation of the conscript law has been suspended.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant.
S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General.
Post-Office Department,
Richmond, January 28, 186^. Hon. James A. Seddon,
Secretary of War :
On the 19th of October last I addressed you a letter, inclosing a copy of a circular from Lieut. Col. G. W. Lay, acting chief of the Bureau of Conscription, in which I objected to the order as unlawful, and in support of my objection I inclosed you a copy of the opinion of Judge Halyburton, of the Confederate district court, in the case ex parte Lane. To this letter you made no answer.
On the 17th of November last I addressed you another letter, inclosing a copy of a letter from the Hon. Waller R. Staples to this Department, and a copy of a letter from sundry other persons to him, presenting a case of gross violation of the law and contempt of the
CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES. 53
decision of a court of the State of Virginia in two cases in which persons were arrested and put into the military service, after having been released from such service on writs of habeas corpus, and call- ing your attention to the fact that I had received no answer to my letter above referred to of the 19th of October. To this letter I have received no answer.
And on the 7th of January instant I wrote to you again, inclosing a copy of a letter from the postmaster at Ivor, Va., complaining of the rude and unlawful conduct of a Captain Green in unceremoni- ously turning him out of the post-ofBce and using it as a dancing- saloon and as a store-house for forage, and calling your attention to the fact that you had not answered my letters of the 19th of October and 17th of November, and asking an answer to that. I have received no answer to this.
The necessities of the public service require frequent correspond- ence between the Post-Oifice and War Departments. As your course in these cases precludes any further communication between us, with- out a surrender of self-respect and the rights of this Department by me, I have no course left but to submit the matter to the President. Your obedient servant,
JOHN H. REAGAN,
Post/master- General.
General Orders, ) Adjt. and Insp. General's Office,
No. 8. j Richmond, January 28, 186^.
I. Paragraphs 1129, 1130, 1131, 1132, Army Regulations, are hereby revoked.
II. Enlisted men detailed for duty on account of physical disability, in the city of Richmond, are allowed $1.20 jjer diem as commutation of rations.
III. Commutation of rations of all enlisted men entitled thereto by the Regulations of the War Department, whether on detached or on detailed service, or stationed in a city, with no opportunity of mess- ing, or of the non-commissioned and regimental staff, when they have no opportunity of messing, or of soldiers on furlough, or stationed where rations cannot be issued in kind, or placed temporarily in a private hospital on the advice of the senior surgeon of the post or detachment, or of ordnance sergeants, or of a soldier who has neces- sarily paid for his own subsistence, or of a chaplain, is fixed at $1 per diem, to date from the 1st of Januarj', 1864. '
IV. Enlisted men who have been or may become permanently dis- abled, or who hold the certificate of a medical examining board to that effect, and who have not been discharged the service, may have their rations commuted at $1.25 per diem, whether they are in a hos- pital, private quarters, or on furlough.
V. All commutation accounts will state the length of time, date, and amount, for what purpose commutation is claimed, and that it was impracticable to take rations in kind ; which facts must be certi- fied to by the commissioned officer under whose orders the soldier was at the time the rations became due. '
VI. Commutation of rations in the case of paroled unexchanged prisoners on furlough, who have just been received from the Federal lines, will be allowed at $1 per diem, to date from the 1st of January, 1864.
54
CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.
"VII. The following paragi-aph will be substituted for 1111, Army Regulations :
Issues to the hospital will be on returns by the medical officers, for such provisions only as are actually required for the sick and wounded. The commuted value of rations for the sick and wounded will be 11.25. The rations for hospitals will be the same as that issued to soldiers in the field. If a greater allowance is required of any par- ticular articles not issued to troops in the field, special requisitions must be made therefor.
VIII. Hospital attendants cannot draw rations from the Subsistence Department, but will have their rations commuted at fl.25 per diem.
By order:
S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General.
General Orders, ) Adjt. and Insp. General's Office,
No. 9. j Richmond, January 29, 1864.
I. The following schedules of prices for articles named therein, adopted by commissioners appointed pursuant to law, for the State of Virginia, are announced for the information of all concerned ; and the special attention of officers and agents of the Government is directed thereto :
II.
Richmond, January 27, I864. Hon. James A. Seddon :
Sir : In reviewing the schedules of prices for February and March, we invited the co-operation and aid of Mr. William B. Harrison, and it is just to add that the schedules received the unanimous approval of the commissioners. "We respect- fully offer the accompanying Schedules A and B, with the understanding that the prices are to remain for the months of February and March, unless in the interval it should be deemed necessary to modify them.
The following prices are to be the maximum rates to be paid for the articles impressed, in all cities and usual places of sale, and when impressed on the farms or elsewhere, the same prices are to be paid. Since the passage and enforcement of the law imposing the tax in kind places additional burdens upon the farmers of delivering a tenth of their productions, we think it rather too onerous on those who produce the most to be required also to incur the heavy additional expense of delivering their surplus.
Under existing circumstances we have deemed it not only just, but most likely to favor increased production, that producers in future should not be required to transport their surplus productions when impressed, but that the agents of the Government should employ or impress the neighborhood or county wagons and teams to haul all such articles, and so divide the work between the owners of wagons and teams as to be least prejudicial to those succesrfully engaged in agriculture.
Schedule A.
|
Article. |
Quality. |
Description. |
Quantity. |
Price. |
|
|
1 |
■Wheat |
Prime |
Per bushel of 60 pounds. Per barrelof 196 pounds. |
$5.00 22.00 |
|
|
Pine |
|||||
|
do |
do |
||||
|
... do |
do |
ILxtra superfine |
do |
26.50 28.00 4.00 3.95 4.20 3.20 2.50 .60 .70 .90 1 in |
|
|
do |
do |
Family |
do |
||
|
fl |
Cora...... |
Prime do |
White or yellow do |
Per bushel of 66 pounds, do |
|
|
4 |
Com, unahelled |
||||
|
5 |
Good |
Per bushel of 50 pounds. Per bushel of 66 pounds. Per bushel of 32 pounds. Per bushel of 17 pounds. Per bushel of 22 pounds . Per bushel of 28 pounds. Per bushel of 37 nnnnda . |
|||
|
f\ |
Rye |
Prime .- |
|||
|
7 |
do |
||||
|
B |
Wheat bran . ... |
Good |
|||
|
9 |
Short B |
do |
|||
|
10 |
do |
||||
|
n |
ShiDBtnfr |
do |
CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES Schedule A— Continued.
65
12 13
U 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 53 59 60 61 62 03 64 65 66 67
68
Article.
Qaality.
Bacon
Fork, salt
Pork, fresh
Lard
Horses
Wool ,
....do
Peas
Beaos
Potatoes
....do
Onions
Peaches, dried
-...do
Apples, dried
Hay, baled
do
Hay, nnbaled
Sheaf oats, baled
Sheaf oats, unbaled . . Blade fodder, baled.. Blade fodder, anbaled
Shacks, baled
Shacks, nnbaled
Wheat straw, baled . . Wheat 8traw,nnbaled.
Pastnrage
do 7:
do
do
do
do
Salt
Soap
Candles
Vinegar
Whisky
Sncar
Molasses
Rice
Coffee
Tea
Vinegar
Fig-iron
....-do
do
Bloom iron . . . Smith's iron . . Railroad iron .
Leather
do
do
Beef-cattle
do
do
Sheep
Army woolen
3-4 yard. Army woolen cloth - . Army woolen cloth,
6-4 yard. Army woolen cloth-.
Flannels, 3-4
Cotton shirting, 3-4 - - Cotton shirting, 7-8 . . Cotton sheetings, 4-4. Cotton, Osnaburg, 3-4 Cotton, Oenaborg, 7-8
Cotton drills, 7-8
Cotton shirting stripes Cotton tent cloths
cloth.
Good
.-..do
Pat and good..
Good
First class
Fair or merino
...do
Good
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
— . do
do
do
do
do
Superior
First rate
Good
Snperior
First rate
Good
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
Superior
First rate
Fair
Good
.do . .do.
.do. .do. -do- -do. -do . .do. .do. .do. .do. .do.
Description.
Hogronnd.
Artillery, &o .
Washed
nnwasbed
Irish .. Sweet .
Peeled
TJnpeeled
Peeled
Timothy or clover
Orcharcl or herd grass do
Good
do....
do....
do....
First rate.
Good
do....
Interior —
do
do
Near cities.
do
do
Tallow
Cider
Trade
Brown
New Orleans .
Rio
Trade
Manufactured . No. 1 quality... No. 2qnalit.v--- N■o. Squality...
Round, plate, and bar
Harness
Sole
Upper
Gross weight .
do
do
Quantity.
Per pound.
10 oimces per yard
20 ounces per yard.
6 ounces per yard
4^ yards to pound . . .
3| yards to pound
3 yards to ponnd
6 ounces per yard — 8 oonces per yard —
3 yards to ponnd
do
10 onnces per yard. . -
Cotton warps
Army shoes
Shoe thread
Wool socks, men's —
Mnles
Comtop fodder, baled.
Comtop fodder, un- baled.
a Pro rata as to greater or less width or weight. b On the above enumerated cotton cloths, pro rata as to greater or less width or weight.
Wagon, &c .
Per pound, net weight. ..
Per pound
Average price per head . . Per pound
Per bushel
-...do
do
do
do
do
do
do
Per 100 pounds
.ly/Ao////////.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
Per bead per month
do
do
do
do
do
Per bUHhel of 50 pounds Per pound
Per gallon
Per pound
Per gallon
Per pound
'.'"/.io.'//^V^'/.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.
Per gallon
Per ton
do
do
do
do
do
Per pound
do
do
Per 100 pounds
do
do
Per head
Per yard
Price.
Per yard .
Per yard .
'.'.'.'.do'.'.'.'.
do....
do....
do...-
do-.--
do--..
... do...-
Per ponnd
Per pair
Per pound
Per pair
Average price per head -
Per 100 pounds
do
$1.25 1.10 .80 1.25 350.00 3.00 2.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 5.00 5. 00 8.00 4.50 3.00 3.50 3.00 3.00 4.00 3.50 3.50 3.00 2.20 1.70 1.80 1.30 8.00 1.00 5.00
e.oo
6.00
7.00
5.00
.40
2.00
2.00
3.00
1.50
10.00
.20
3.00
7.00
.50
150.00
132. 00
120.00
216.00
456.00
190.00
2.60
2.40
2.80
16.00
18.00
20.00
30.00
5.00
(o) 10.00
(o)
4.00
.56
.84
.87
.75
.88
.88
.88
1.12
(*)
2.00
10.00
2.00
1.25
300.00
2.00
1.50
CORBE8PONDENCE, ETC. Schedule A— Continued.
|
Article. |
Quality. |
Description. |
Quautity. |
Price. |
|
|
Wheat chaff, baled Wheat cbs^ unbaled. |
Good |
$2.00 |
|||
|
1 |
do |
1.50 |
|||
|
do |
8 00 |
||||
|
do |
.40 |
||||
|
, |
do |
do |
.50 |
||
|
do |
do |
...do |
.CO |
||
In assessing the average value of " first-class artillery and wagon horses at J50," we designed that the term should be accepted and acted upon according ) its obvious common-sense import. In other words, that horses should be sleeted and then impressed accordingly as their working qualities and adaptation ) army service, together with their intrinsic value, would warrant a judicious urchaser in considering them as coming within the contemplation of the com- lissioners when they assessed the average value of such horses as the Govem- lent needed at $350. But cases might arise, however, when the public exigencies rould be so urgent as to demand that all horses at hand should be impressed, 'et under ordinary circumstances, when family or extra blooded horses or brood lares of admitted high value are impressed, we respectfully suggest to the Sec- 3tary of War to have instructions forwarded to the impressing officers to propose nd allow the owners to substitute in their stead such strong, sound, and service- ble horses or mules as shall be considered and valued by competent anddisinter- 3ted parties as first-class artillery horses or first-rate wagon mules. _
The term " average value per head" was used in contradistinction to a fixed nd uniform price for each horse or mule. We supposed that in impressing a umber of horses or mules, whether owned by several iwrsons or one individual, t»at some might be estimated at $250, or even at less, and others at different dvanced rates, according to their worth, up as high as $450, or above that mount— thus making an average value or price for a number of good, sound, nd efficient horses $350 each, and mules $300 each.
In illustration of our views, we will add, that a horse vnth only one eye sound light, in all other respects, be classed as a first-rate artillery horse, yet the loss f one eye would justly and considerably curtail his value. So a horse from ten 0 eighteen years of age might be deemed in all other particulars as a first-class rtillery horse, but of course, however efficient or able to render good service for
year or so, yet his advanced age would justly and materially Impair his value. Lny horse, however he may approximate the standard of a first-class artillery lorse, must, according to deficiencies, fall below the maximum price ; and as f 3W omparatively exactly come up to the standard, and therefore are entitled to the uaximum price, so of course in all other instances the price should be proportion- .tely reduced, as imperfections place them below the standard of first class, &c.
Schedule B. — Hire of labor, teams, wagons, and drivers.
Quantity and time.
Price.
Baling long forage
Shelling and bagging com ; sacks furnished by Government
Hauling
Hauling grain
Hire of 2-horse team, wagon, and driver; rations furnished by owner.
Hire of same; rations furnished by the Government
Hire of 4-hor8e team, wagon, and driver; rations furnished by owner.
Hire of same; rations furnished by the Government
Hire of G-borso team, wagon, and driver; rations furnished by owner.
Hire of same ; rations furnished by the Government
Hire of laborer; rations furnishea by owner
Hire of same ; rationa furnished by the Government
Hire of same; rations and clothing furnished by owner
Hire of same ; rations furnished by the Government
Hire of teamsters ; rations furnished by the Government
Hire of laborer; clothing and rations furnished by the Govern- ment.
Hire of same; clothing and rations furnished by owner
Hire of same; rations only furnishetl by the Government
Per 100 pounds .....
Per 50 pounds
Per cwt. per mile .. . Per bushel per mile. Per day
-do. -do.
do. .do.
do
do
do
Per month.
do
do
Per year...
.do . .do .
$0.50 .05 .08 .04
10.00
5.00 13.00
6.50 16.00
8. 00 2.50 1.50 60.00 30.00 40.00 300.00
550.00 100.00
CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES. 57
Upon further consideration we have concluded to value sheaf oats, hay and blade fodder east of the Blue Ridge Mountains, when baled, at $5 per 100 pounds and unbaled at $4.50 per 100 pounds, and shucks baled at $8.50 per 100 pounds' and $3 unbaled. '
E. W. HUBARD, ROBERT GIBBONEY, WM. B. HARRISON,
Commissioners for Virginia. \iy order:
S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General.
Circular ) Confederate States of America,
> Bureau of Conscription,
No. 5. ) Richmond, Va., January 29, 186^.
I. Commandants will forthwith proceed to change the locality of each Congressional district arid local enrolling officer, and each Con- gressional district examining surgeon. Care will be observed not to place an enrolling officer in the district or county of which he is a resident.
n. Public notice in the newspapers of the State will be given for twenty days, calling for the presentation to the enrolling officers of all exemptions heretofore granted, and officers will be instructed care- fully to revise them, renewing such as are correct, and revoking such as are fraudulent or erroneous.
III. Corruption, abuses, and errors are known to exist, and the purport of this circular is to endeavor to remedy and prevent these abuses and give more activity to the service. No application for a departure from its provision will be considered.
IV. The Superintendent again appeals to the honor and patriotism of the commandants of conscripts, and directly to the enrolling officers, for increased diligence, activity, and energy in the perform- ance of the important duties confided to them.
The President, the Congress, the people, and the noble armies now in the field look to the authorities of conscription to maintain and increase those armies, and thereby secure the public liberty. Every man engaged in this service should feel that the liberties of his coun- try and the preservation of parents, wives, sisters, and daughters from a brutal and relentless enemy depend on his individual exer- tion. The officer of conscription who neglects his duty or abuses his trust is a traitor of the deepest dye. Want of energy, waht of earnest, honest, untiring diligence is cowardly treason. The guilty officer may perhaps escape present detection and punishment, but the curse of God and his country will fall upon him. We have been told what we are expected to do, and how to do it, and if we fail to get into the field by the Ist of May every man the law requires us to send there, we will deserve and will certainly receive a just condemnation. These are not mere idle words of exhortation. Let us fail, and we will find their bitter truth. We are soldiers assigned to this service — the most delicate, the most important in the public defense. Let us show that we are as zealous and as brave as our brother soldiers who are in front of the enemy.
By command of Col. John S. Preston, superintendent:
C. B. DUFFIELD, Assistant Adjutant-General.
8 correspondence, etc.
Confederate States of America, War Department,
Bichmond, Va., January 29, 1864. Eon. Messrs. W. P. Chilton and David Clopton,
Members of Congress, House of Representatives:
Gentlemen: Your letter of the 25th instant was received to-day.* ^he probability is that the spring campaign will be opened at a very arly day, and the necessity for filling up the ranks of the Army is irgent and imperious. Whatever resources of men that can be put a requisition must be used as soon as practicable. The law repeal- Qg the exemption of those who had furnished substitutes furnished dditional and important resources, and the orders for employing hese men forthwith issued. They may be seen in the morning papers, ^he legislation on the subject of those who are to be reserved for the are of plantations is at present in a very confused condition.
The specific reservations in the act of October 13, 1862, relative to he owners and overseers of plantations and the owners and managers if stock you will recollect. Those were broad and comprehensive >rovisions by law, and this Department had no difficulty in adminis- ering them. One of these was unconditionally repealed in May ast, and in its place a verj'^ restricted, but still a specific, enactment, Jlowing an exemption in favor of a class of farmers and planters, ras substituted for it upon the payment of a tax. There was besides his a clause which allowed the President to grant exemptions in dis- ricts deprived of white and slave labor indispensable to the producer if grain or provisions necessary for the support of the population emaining at home, and also on account of justice, equity, and neces- ity. The latter portion of this section of the act of May 1, 1863, has ■arely been used with reference to the cases of owners of plantations. t has generally been applied to the condition of those who were des- itute or those who have furnished to the Army several members, eaving one to take care of the families and f orttines of the remainder, »r who had placed in the service minors not liable to service but com- )etent to render efficient service, from considerations of a domestic lature, or when the family was composed of aged, helpless, unpro- ected persons, making the assistance of a male member necessary and )roper.
Political considerations have not entered as a controlling ingredient n the decision of the cases to be exempt because of justice, equity, or lecessity.
The persons who have had large industrial interests have been sncouraged to relieve themselves by putting substitutes in the Army. The right to do so has been greatly restrained by the regulations of ,he Department limiting the number to two for each month in a com- jany and requiring the approval, first, of the regimental commander, md afterward of the general commanding. There has been much fraud and abuse of this privilege, but there have been a great many ;ases in which the privilege to put in substitutes was exercised fairly md in which the circumstances of the principal justified the act. The •epeal of this act and the subjecting of the men to military service •enders some legislation proper to meet the cases that arise when det- ■iment to the interests of the country would follow for the conscrip- tion of all the persons made liable to service in consequence of the repeal.
* Not found.
CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES. 59
The Department cannot form a plan of administration until the legislation of Congress on this important subject be known, and the object of this communication is siraplj' to place before you the meager state of legislation upon the subject which will render any plan inade- quate to meet the exigencies of the country.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. A. CAMPBELL, Assistant Secretary of War.
Surgeon-General's Office, Richmond, Va., January 29, 186 Jf. Lieut. Gen. L. Polk,
Commanding, &c., Meridian,