| First District, Dept. of Miss. and Eastern La. |
| Columbus, Miss. |
| March 6, 1863
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| Lieut. Col. J. R. Waddy |
| Assistant Adjutant-General |
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| Sir,
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| I have the honor to state, for the
information of the lieutenant-general commanding, that much anxiety
exists among planters throughout Northeastern Mississippi
on the question of protection of the planting interest generally. At
present the protection is inadequate, and they are apprehensive that
the labor and expense incurred in sowing their crop will be lost,
and that the undertaking will be attended with disaster. It is
apparently well understood that the district embraced covers about
the best grain-producing portion of the State, and would be capable,
under careful, or even ordinary, management, of producing supplies
for almost the entire force now employed in the department. This
district has been much depended on for supplies since the great
campaign opened at Corinth
more than a year since.
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| I have, in connection with the immediate
demand for supplies, ordered Lieutenant-Colonel [J. R.] Barteau to
advance to Verona, 16 miles above Okolona, although his troops are miserably armed, and deficient in number,
with not even ammunition sufficient for a skirmish.
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| I have also directed that the railroad
track {of the Mobile & Ohio RR} be repaired to that point for the transit of supplies as
rapidly as possible.
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| *****
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| Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
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| Daniel Ruggles
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