| Richmond, February 24th, 1863 |
| |
| Col. A. C. Myers |
| Quartermaster Genl. |
| |
| Col. |
| I ascertain from the reports
of Maj. Whitfield QM that 133,000 bushels of Corn were in store in
this city on the 3d. instant -- that his receipts to the 22d. instant
inclusive were 26,000 bushels, that his transfers and issues were
74,300 bushels, leaving 84,700 bushels in depot. I further ascertain
the daily average of these receipts to be 1,300 {4
carloads} and transfers and
issues 3,715 bushels and that at the same rates of receipts and issues
the stock of Corn in this city will be exhausted in 35 days from the
22d. instant. I apprehend that the transfer of Corn from this city to
Genl. Lee's army will be greater in future because of the recent
occupation of the "Northern Neck" of Va. by the enemy, and
because of the increased remoteness from the army of the Corn
remaining in Essex & Middlesex Counties. I also apprehend that
under existing arrangements for transporting Corn from Tarboro &
Weldon to this city the receipts will be less. Maj. Whitfield reports
9,400 bushels as the receipt of Corn for the week ending the 22d. of
February {an average of 4 to 5 carloads daily}, but with the railroad transportation now employed in this
service, I believe that the maximum weekly delivery of Corn in this
City from Tarboro & Weldon will be 8,200 bushels. I requested Col.
Wadley A. A. G., to provided sufficient transportation to secure the
daily delivery in this city from Tarboro of 4,000 bus of Corn {12
1/2 carloads}. I do
not doubt but that Col. Wadley has discharged his whole duty in the premises
I believe that the want of the necessary rolling-stock by the roads
between Tarboro & Richmond is the only reason why the
transportation has not been provided. |
| I am informed that for some
months past a portion of the rail-road transportation of North
Carolina has been employed under the orders of his Excellency Governor
Vance, in removing the surplus Corn of eastern North Carolina to the
western portion of that State. The Corn of eastern North Carolina has
already been greatly reduced & the amount remaining is not beyond
the necessary demands of the armies of the Confederate States. These
demands require that 30,000 bushels of Corn shall be brought from this
section to Richmond every week {94 carloads --
over 6 trains of 15 cars each}. The posts of Wilmington &
Petersburg & those intervening must be chiefly sustained by this
Corn. The post at Raleigh is dependent upon it. Shipments of Corn are
made from Weldon to the army under the command of Genl Pryor & the
army in North Carolina cannot be sustained without the Corn in this
section. |
| The officer in charge of the
post in Kinston reports that "forage is becoming exceedingly
scarce as the authorities at this place have allowed too large a
quantity to be sent to the western part of the State." When a
proper representation of these facts is made to the patriotic Governor
of North Carolina I believe that he will arrest the further removal of
Corn necessary to the armies of the Confederate States, and give all
of the assistance in his power to divert the transportation now
employed in this service & necessary to place this Corn within
reach of these armies. |
| Very Respectfully |
| Your obt Servant |
| Chas. S. Carrington |
| Maj. & QM |
|