| Demopolis Nov 24th 1863 |
| |
| Genl W R Bocock Prest |
| Alaba & Miss R R R
{Alabama & Mississippi Rivers RR} |
| |
| Sir, |
| According to your request, I
called on Maj W H Dameron Chf Comm, of the State of Miss on the 20th
Inst upon the subject of releasing the 26 Hhds of Sugar seized by him
belonging to your Company. I exhibited to him the lots order re-issued
from Richmond Nov 6th by Genl S. Cooper and demanded the release, upon
the grounds that the seizure was in violation of Law and the express
orders of the War Department, to which he replied that he would not
release the sugar, but he would assent to your purchasing a lot of sugar
from some other party at 1.30 ct {should be $1.20}
pr lb deliverable at Brandon Miss. I told him you did not know
the party of whom your first purchase was made and you cared nothing
about that particular lot of sugar. If he would deliver 26 other Hhds in
its shed at Meridian this the place yours was seized at, that you would
take it. As to the price you would ??? that to him to settle that you
had purchased yours at 1.25 ct and all you desired was to have the sugar
purchased by you or an equal number of Hhds in lieu, that you denied his
legal or moral right to seize your sugar purchased for exchange for
Bacon to feed your operators, which you could not otherwise procure. You
also denied his right to select a party from whom you might purchase
especially when that party asked a higher price and you would be
compelled to ??? & pay freight on the sugar near 100 miles more to get
it to the place wanted for consumption after a full & free argument upon
all the facts. He p??ting refused to release your sugar. |
| Respectfully |
| Your obt Servt |
| Sam Tate |
|