| Office Chief Commissary for Miss. |
| Meridian Nov 9 1863 |
| |
| W. P. Bocock Prest |
| Ala & Miss Rivers RR |
| |
| Dear Sir, |
| Your favor of 6th inst is to
hand, as an answer to my letter to Mr Prichard, of 5th inst. its
fairness and candor has left an agreeable impression, in contact with
the impression desired from the inter??ms and correspondence held by me
with Mr Prichard. I am of the impression that you have not before seen
the telegrams, of which the enclosed are two copies, and which would
have closed all correspondence upon the subject but for your letter. |
| The proposition contained in
my telegram was made in good faith, designed to relieve your company
from any embarrassment growing out of the seizure, and to assist it in
procuring necessary supplies. For the same ??t??, a like proposition was
made to the Prest of the O & Mobile R. R. {Mobile
& Ohio RR} & of the S. R. Rd {Southern (of
Mississippi) RR} as yet no replies have been received from the
former, the latter has accepted. The owner of the Sugar referred to in
my dispatch was Mr R M Latimer of Canton, and if by the expression "Your
(my) friend" it is implied that I was in any degree interested in
the sale of the Sugar, you can easily form your own conclusion by
referring to Mr Latimer who is, I am told, a gentleman of integrity and
good standing, but who was previously unknown to me, the difference
between the two lots of Sugar, making, in my judgment, the one liable,
and the other not liable, to impressment, did not consist in the fact
that the price of one was $1.25 pr pound, deliverable at Demopolis, and
the other $1.30 pr lb deliverable at Brandon, but in distinction of a
higher character, legitimately within the scope of the judgment of our
officer empowered by the Govt to impress. Mr Latimer purchased his Sugar
across the Missi River, a part of it was captured by the enemy in
crossing the river, and the remainder, stored within six miles of the
river, he proposed, at his own risk and expense, to move to the RRd and
deliver it there. Should he succeed in this, it will be so much gain
to the Confederacy, and I do not think it would be right to deter
him from the enterprise, or to interfere with the results of the same. |
| My views of the other
transaction have been set forth in my correspondence with Mr Prichard,
and which were "shown to you." Similar explanations were made to the S.
R. Rd Co. which had purchased 20 Hhds Sugar from Mr Grider, and to the M
& O R R Co, which had also purchased a lot of Sugar at Shoobota, and
which explanations were delivered so satisfactory that these purchases
made by them were readily relinquished in furtherance of the interests
of the Govt. |
| I regret if you have suffered
loss in this matter, but required to exercise what I concur to be a
plain duty, without fear and without partiality. I cannot deviate from
my action without a change of opinion. If within my sphere of duty I can
assist your company, it would afford me pleasure to do so. |
| Very Respectfully |
| Your obt Sevt |
| W. H. Dameron |
| Maj & Chf CS |
|