| From the Vicksburg Whig |
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| January 10, 1863 |
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| A Hard and Unnecessary Order |
| The Mobile Register says: |
| We publish below an order from
Lieutenant-General Pemberton, prohibiting all shipments of Corn and
Fodder from private parties beyond the limits of his Command. As that
command embraces the entire corn country of Upper Mississippi, and the
territory along the line of the Mobile & Ohio Rail Road, this
order deprives the planter to a great measure of disposing of the only
article he has produced which he can sell or barter for necessary
supplies, and shuts out this City from articles of prime necessity,
which the Community greatly need. The Mobile & Ohio Rail Road has
always been able to meet the demands of the government for
transportation, and can continue to do so without depriving private
parties of accommodation, and we are told that now the Rail Road can
furnish much more transportation than the Government desired or
employs, and that inconsequence cars come through empty that might be
laden with valuable freight. The only other alleged ground for the
"Order," is the "abuses occasioned by
speculators." But General Pemberton does not discriminate between
them and parties purchasing for themselves and neighbors, making the
many suffer for the sins of the few. Were he to exclude speculators,
but allow others the facilities needed, there would be more reason and
justice in his requirement. As it is, people are likely to suffer for
the want of supplies, which are now abundant in North Mississippi, in
a country, inadequately protected against the incursions of the Enemy,
and which may fall into his hands, without having been an iota of
benefit to the Government, while the Planter has been subjected to
unnecessary loss and the people in this section to unnecessary
deprivation. We appeal the "Order," with the conviction and
hope that it ought to and will be speedily modified or entirely
rescinded. |
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| The Order: Headquarters, Department of Mississippi and
Eastern Louisiana, Jackson, Mississippi, December 12th, 1862
(Circular) |
| The necessity of this order and the abuses
occasioned by speculators render it necessary that no corn or fodder
shall be taken by private parties beyond the limits of this
Department. The necessity for prompt and ample transportation to move
the large quantity of Government forage now being purchased requires
that no corn or fodder belonging to private parties be transported
over any of the Rail Roads. In this Department until otherwise ordered
from these headquarters. |
| Lieutenant-General J. C. Pemberton, Commanding |
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