| From the Richmond Dispatch |
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| February 11, 1864 |
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| The Prohibition of supplies to Richmond |
| In the House of
Representatives yesterday, the Speaker laid before the House a
communication from the President in response to a resolution of the
House, inquiring upon what authority Gens. Sam Jones and Imboden have
issued orders prohibiting the transmission of supplies from their
departments to the city of
Richmond. The President enclosed a letter from Gen. Imboden, in which he says
that his action was based upon authority which he conceived was
conferred by act of Congress, and General Orders from the Adjutant and
Inspector General's office of March 19th and November 6th, 1863,
authorizing and regulating impressments. He says that nothing but
imperative necessity could have induced him to issue the order, which
he knew would evoke strong opposition, and perhaps denunciation, from
those whose money-making operations it would interfere with. Gen. I.
says that having broken up the speculation in provisions, he, on the
24th of December, 1863, so modified the order as not to require permit
for the removal from the district of supplies purchased bona fide for
private consumption, and not for sale or speculation. He says that
without resort to impressment, it is not-possible for him to procure
indispensable supplies for his own command at the authorized schedule
prices. |
| Gen. Jones replies by sending
a letter addressed by him to the President of the Virginia &
Tennessee Railroad, in which he says
that it was his only desire that the road should be used to the best
interests of the Government and community, and should not be used by
speculators and extortioners to transport provisions from the
department to gratify their own inordinate avarice and embarrass the
department by withdrawing from it the supplies necessary for the
troops. |
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