| Office Post Quartermaster |
| Meridian, Miss. |
| February 14, 1863 |
| |
| Maj. R. W. Mimminger |
| Asst. Adjt. Gen. |
| |
| Sir, |
| I telegraphed you to-day concerning the
apparently conflicting orders of Lieutenant-General Pemberton, of
December 12 (by telegraph from Maj. L. Mims), and December 18
(written also from Major Mims), and decisions recently made at Richmond. |
| From the first promulgation of these
orders, there has been, on the part of the management of the Mobile
& Ohio road, a spirit of discontent and ungracious obedience
amounting almost to resistance. Parties to whom I have given permits
to transport corn down the road for domestic consumption, have been
told by the superintendent of the road that such permits were
worthless; that the management of the road was vested in the owners
and directors of it, not in General Pemberton; and that when not
fully occupied with Government transportation, transportation for
corn and such supplies would be furnished to private parties without
as readily as with these authorized permits from the commander of
this department. |
| A recent communication from J. J. McRae,
and another dispatch (which has been published in the Mississippian
successively), of which I have no copy, has led the superintendent
and managers of the road to believe that they are fully warranted in
so acting, by decisions of the War Department. Under this
conviction, they were transporting corn to Mobile
for a private party, which has been stopped here, and awaits your
orders. No application has been made to me for transportation of
stores, bought by quartermasters or their agents, but I have reason
to believe that supplies of corn are being bought and shipped to Mobile, by order and for the use of General Buckner's command. My orders
from Major Mims extend only to the "refusal of
transportation" in such cases. Is it the design and order of
General Pemberton that I shall intervene and prevent these stores
also from going out of his department, even with transportation
furnished by General Buckner's quartermaster? I think you will
allow, major, that my orders in doing so should be distinct and
unequivocal. They will be promptly obeyed, whatever they are. |
| I have to report, also, that a limited
quantity of supplies for the "free market" of Mobile,
consisting of corn, lard, soap, peas, and a small quantity of meat,
was this morning, after consultation with Major Mangum, commandant
of the post, allowed to pass on its way. In doing so, after
investigation to satisfy me that its ostensible destination was the
genuine one, I believed I was acting in accordance with the spirit
of the letter of instructions of Major Mires of December 15,
authorizing me to "make exceptional cases in favor of private
parties who would necessarily suffer by being cut off in the
transportation of corn." I would be glad to know if my doing so
is approved. |
| If Lieutenant General Pemberton's order
has been revoked or abrogated from Richmond, and the Mobile & Ohio road licensed to drain this department
of its supply of corn for the supply of Mobile, it will be unfortunate. I have reason to believe, and do believe,
that there is in Alabama, contiguous to the Alabama River, and along
the lines of her railroads, an ample supply of corn for the uses of
the military forces within her limits. No such wise forecast,
however, as that which has had control in this State having been
exerted, it is held at such high prices that the suffering people
turn to this department, not so much because there are no supplies
elsewhere within their reach, but because, through this much
clamored-against order, the price has been kept within living range.
This barrier to extortion broken down, supplies and prices will be
as scarce and high in Mississippi
as in Alabama. |
| All of which is respectfully submitted for
consideration and the orders of the general commanding. |
| J. M. McMahon |
| Major and Quartermaster |
|