| Demopolis, Ala. |
| April 27, 1864
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| His Excellency President Davis |
| Richmond, Va. |
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| The condition of affairs
along the western front of my department, originating in the
intercourse of our people with the enemy, and developed by illicit
trade, exhibiting itself in absenteeism, murder, and robbery, has
given me great concern, and has been the subject of much reflection.
I am fully convinced that the cause which operates more than all
others to induce this state of things is the cotton in the hands of
citizens along the border. This cotton should be got rid of,
i.e., out of the hands of the present owners, before we can
reasonably expect much improvement in the condition of things. As
long as the cotton remains in the hands of planters or citizens,
just so long will they be resorting to all sorts of measures to push
it into the enemy's lines, and either sell or exchange it for money
or supplies, and to prevent this by guarding the lines of
communication would require the united force of all arms in my
department. |
| So general has this become,
as I am informed, that all classes, more or less, in certain
districts are engaged in the traffic, and the infection has extended
itself in most instances to the soldiers guarding the roads, who
connive at the trade by the inducement of a bribe in money or other
valuables. In view of this condition of affairs, I beg leave
respectfully to submit the following suggestions for your
consideration: |
| Let the Government become
the owner of all the cotton included within a belt of country
extending from the lake shore to the Tennessee
line and from the Mississippi River bank to the {Mississippi}
Central Railroad,
either by purchase or impressment, as in the case of all other
property. Let competent agents be employed, under the direction of
the department commander, to thoroughly canvass this district and
purchase or impress all the cotton found within its limits and have
it all removed east of Pearl River, except so much as may be needed
for purposes of exchange, and stored, subject to future orders of
the Government, through its agents. It is my purpose to have the
great lines of railroad communication through the entire length of Mississippi
and Alabama
completed, from near the lake shore to the line of the Memphis &
Charleston Railroad. This will facilitate the transmission of the
cotton whenever it may be required. I entertain but little doubt, if
some such plan was adopted and placed in the hands of the department
commander for execution, it would go very far toward enabling him to
restore the infected districts to a healthful moral and military
condition. |
| If any doubts should arise
as to the propriety of impressing cotton, it may be said that if the
Government has the right, upon the soundest principles of public
policy, to impress corn and hay and meat and horses, and even men,
for its defense in times of great national danger, there surely
could be no doubt of its having the right to impress the cotton of
private citizens, paying them for it a fair consideration. |
| The good order, and even the
loyalty, of the region indicated demands that this cotton should be
either seized or burned, and prompt action is required. |
| I remain, respectfully, your obedient
servant, |
| L. Polk |
| Lieutenant-General |
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