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Tupelo June 12 1862 |
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| J E Slaughter |
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Brig & Inspector General |
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| I have the honor to report that in
accordance with your instructions of April 21 I forwarded with Shipments
of Sugar & Molasses seized by your order from Memphis. The constant
demand upon the Memphis & Charleston Road for transportation of Troops
Camp Equipage & Heavy Ordnance Stores retarded me badly as the result
was that we did not get out as much for distribution on the Mobile &
Ohio road as was desirable, when I could not get Transportation as was
some times the case for Days together I cooperated with Coln Hamilton
who was agent for the Shipments on the Miss Central & Memphis & Ohio
Roads, the result of which is that a larger amount will be found on
those Roads. |
| I am happy to be able to report that all
that was seized has been got away so far as can learn. The Sugar &
Molasses destined for distribution on the Mobile & Ohio Rail Road where
by your direction deposited at Baldwyn & Tupelo at which places agents
were appointed to make exchanges. That portion at Baldwyn was removed in
the evacuation of that Post to Okolona where I find it in a wretched
condition, partly from rough handling & more from depredations of
unprincipled soldiers & citizens. I am now removing it as fast as cars
can be obtained to the different stations on the Road below for the
purpose of exchanging with Planters for subsistence stores. |
| A Tariff of prices was fixed & furnished
each agent, the Basis of that Tariff was a full indemnity to the
Government for all costs & expenses that should attend the business &
leaving the price at a much less figure than that asked by speculators
or extortioners, the loss from rough handling depredations & leakage
will I fear be greater than was expected, but I still hope the prices
fixed will relieve the Government from loss. |
| I attach hereto a copy of instructions to
agents marked A also a list of agents marked B with a circular issued
from Okolona marked C. The Agents for valuation at Memphis have a??
rendered me no statement & I have no means of communicating with them.
At Columbus I have a statement of exchanges, shiped but cannot from
memory undertake to state it. The Agent at Baldwyn has I learn since my
arrival here, gone down the road for the purpose of making his report to
me. The Agent at this point cannot without more time be prepared to make
me a proper statement, as the investment of the place by our Army has
thrown an extraordinary amount of labor upon him he being Station Agent
for the Road as well as Hotel Keeper. The larger portion of the Molasses
has been or will be turned over to the Commissary Department. The
shipments of Sugar from Baldwyn is I am not able to state with accuracy,
but will not vary much from 450 Hhds either on hand at Tupelo 748 Hhds,
making an aggregate of nearly 1200 Hhds. |
| So soon as circumstances will permit I
hope to get the Sugar now at Tupelo distributed to the various Stations
below, at present however it is impossible as the siding of the Road are
as crowded as to forbid it. |
| I would suggest that as we have little or
no Molasses to exchange & this being the most desirable article with the
Planters, you might order some to this Road from the Miss Central or
perhaps from the Vicksburg or Jackson seizures unless it shall be found
that the wants of the Commissary Department will require it. |
| I have the honor to be General |
| Yours very Respectfully |
| Abm Murdock |