| Hdqrs. Dept. of Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana |
| Jackson |
| March 14, 1863
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| General Joseph E. Johnston |
| Commanding Chattanooga |
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| General,
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| *****
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| I am drawing corn in large quantities
from Yazoo, Sunflower, and Deer Creek, via the river and Grenada; also supplies are being collected along Mobile & Ohio
Railroad, and thrown into Vicksburg
as rapidly as possible. Nothing prevents large accumulations there
of corn but the wretched condition of the Southern {of
Mississippi} Railroad, which
after every rain is so seriously injured as to delay transportation
for several days; hence I have found it necessary at times to
require the rolling-stock of other roads to run their freight
through to Vicksburg over the Southern road, not knowing that
to-morrow I shall be able to put in a train. It is now, however,
accumulating rapidly, and I have already withdrawn the restriction
against shipments of sugar for other departments. A moment's
reflection will, I think, show the propriety of my order at the time
of its issue. I had very little other subsistence for the army
there, whilst for nearly a week it was impossible to pass a car over
the Southern Railroad, and the navigation of the Mississippi River
either cut off or liable to be so at any hour by the passage of
gunboats. At this time cattle could be crossed from Louisiana
if they were on the shore, but the condition of the country from
heavy rains has made it impracticable of late to drive them. I have
agents purchasing, and contracts for large number of head, and I
hope very shortly to receive some of them. Meat is, I presume, as
scarce in this department as in others. The beef obtained in the
fall and winter from Texas
will not feed on corn, and there being little or no pasturage, the
animals become thin and unfit for issue. There is not sufficient
beef in the department to feed the people and army for any
considerable time. I am getting bacon and salt pork from the
interior and from Trans-Mississippi.
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| *****
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| Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
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| J. C. Pemberton
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