| Office Chief of Subsistence, Army of
Tennessee |
| Chattanooga, August 25, 1863 |
| |
| General Braxton Bragg |
| Commanding Army of Tennessee |
| |
| General, |
| I submit as briefly as
possible the present supply of this army, and the resources upon
which it has to depend for future subsistence. |
| I have three depots subject
to the order of this office, containing all the subsistence of the
army, except as drawn for upon Majors Cummings and Wilson. After
supplying the army to August 31, inclusive, I shall have on hand in
bacon, salt beef, and lard, 900,000 rations: fresh beef, none;
breadstuffs, 1,100,000 rations; rice and peas, 3,000,000
rations; sugar, 150,000 pounds; vinegar, 1,200,000 rations;
soap, 3,000,000 rations; salt, 4,500,000 rations; molasses, 300,000
rations. |
| In relation to rice, peas,
soap, salt, and vinegar, there is no probable difficulty in the way
of continued future supply, large stores still remaining in the
rear. |
| For breadstuffs, also, I
have no fear. By Major Cummings and Major Wilson, in the article of
flour, and by Captain Allen, of Columbus, Ga, in that of meal, this
army can be supplied weekly with sufficient for consumption, without
lessening materially the supply above mentioned. |
| In the articles of bacon and
beef, the prospects for a supply beyond October 1 are not merely
uncertain, but gloomy indeed. I have only fifteen days' supply on
hand after September 1. Major Wilson can only give this army
semi-monthly 100,000 pounds of fresh beef and 20,000 pounds of
bacon, being but about five days' supply in the month. Major
Cummings reports, August 21, but 800,000 pounds of bacon on hand,
the Army of Virginia to be supplied out of that, and his inability
to feed this army longer than September 20 in meats. Since Major
Cummings' letter was written he has sent to this army and that of
East Tennessee 150,000 pounds of bacon. |
| I inclose extracts from
letters of both these officers of recent date, mentioning these
painful particulars. |
| The local resources of this
country, except as embraced in the field of Major Wilson's
operations, and in North Alabama, where my agents are yet doing good
service, are entirely insufficient to supply our hospital posts, the
officers of some of which are calling on me weekly and oftener for
cattle to be sent them from the rear to feed their sick. From North
Alabama I cannot expect to receive within thirty days more than 600
or 700 head--less than three days' supply. Major Sykes, from
Somerville, Ala., it is true, reports the probability of yet
procuring in North Alabama, in exchange for salt, 50,000 pounds of
bacon; but that will be subject to Major Walker's order, as he alone
can furnish the salt, and will probably reserve the bacon for the
army in Mobile. Even if procured, when it reaches a post it will not
feed the army two days. Any local purchases and exchanges that can
be made by our detached troops will only compensate for wastage and
loss in consequence of badly cured meat. |
| These estimates are
irrespective of any probable increase of the strength of this army.
They are also based on the ration of one-third pound of bacon, an
amount which I am satisfied cannot further be reduced without great
dissatisfaction in the army, a dissatisfaction already mentioned by
distinguished generals as existing, and to dissipate which will
require such an address and explanation to the troops as will expose
to the enemy the weakness of our resources and the probable
consequences. |
| Upon the whole, general, I
can see no reasonable expectation to feed the army with meats beyond
the last of September, and that only with the most rigid care and
economy, except by immediate resort to the cattle of Florida and
Southwest Georgia, as suggested by Major Cummings, and by a general
impressment of all stock, except those reserved for breeding, that
our cavalry can drive in. This last course, I understood from you
this morning, would be ordered and may be of material use in
extending the period of supply. The extent of a just reliance upon
it remains to be seen. I can give no estimate even of what it might
effect. |
| I regret I can give no more
gratifying account of the supply of the army, and the probable
resources of the country. |
| Respectfully referring to the inclosed
extracts, I am, general, your obedient servant, |
| Giles M. Hillyer |
| Major and Chief of Subsistence |
| |
|
First indorsement |
| Headquarters Department of Tennessee |
| Chattanooga, August 26, 1863 |
| |
| This paper touching a matter
of such vital importance is submitted for the information of the War
Department. The morale of this army is being seriously
injured by this cause principally, and desertions, some to the
enemy, are not uncommon. |
| Braxton Bragg |
| General, Commanding |
|
Second indorsement |
| Adjutant and Inspector General's Office |
| September 2, 1863 |
| Respectfully referred to
Commissary-General for report. |
| By command Secretary of War: |
| H. L. Clay |
| Assistant Adjutant-General |
|
Third indorsement |
| Office Commissary-General of Subsistence |
| September 4, 1863 |
| Respectfully returned to Secretary of
War. |
| Major Hillyer's statement of
the condition, present and prospective, of the means for subsisting
General Bragg's army, and the indorsement of the latter, are
submitted for the information of the War Department. |
| Extracts from letters of
Majors Cummings and Wilson are sent as sustaining the positions.
Many months ago communications from the commanding officers of that
army and from the chief commissary were forwarded to the War
Department containing similar information, with views of the
unpromising prospect then existing in the country, which the
Secretary of War it was very erroneously supposed had not been kept
informed of. From the inception of hostilities the War Department
has been fully and continually informed of the existing condition
and future prospects of obtaining subsistence. |
| The great dependence of the
cotton States on the north and on the States of Kentucky and
Tennessee, even for the articles of breadstuff and meat, including
corn, has been urged; and from the beginning, so long as it was
possible, supplies, to a large extent, have been obtained therefrom,
gradually lessening as the enemy have advanced and occupied our
territory. |
| The records of this
Department exhibit this: On the 27th of April, 1862, a circular
letter was issued to the chief commissary of each army, a copy of
which is hereby appended, showing the views of the
Commissary-General. |
| As the war has progressed
these causes have increased and the results have become intensified,
so as to be obvious to ordinary intelligence; and the prudential
suggestions flowing therefrom have been continuously pressed on the
War Department. In the fall of 1862 an elaborate statement of the
whole situation submitted and occupied the attention of the
Government for weeks. |
| Finally, many secret
contracts of various kinds, in which the proposers assumed success,
were made to get meat from over the borders in many directions. The
watchfulness of the enemy has foiled them all. Other arrangements to
introduce meat via Europe, Bermuda, and Nassau have been pressed
with some success, but small compared with the necessity; and a
system of collecting all the food that could be obtained in our
country established so complete that those who do not raise it for
their own use fear they will find, in some instances, insuperable
difficulty in supplying themselves, and the other departments
requiring supplies, make such complaints, and the reduction of the
meat ration has been several times pressed. |
| General Bragg and his chief
commissary, so far as these papers, indicate, seem to think that the
statements of Majors Cummings and Wilson are necessary to convince
the Secretary of War of the want now impending. |
| General Bragg's indorsement
states that the paper touching a matter of such vital importance is
submitted to the War Department, and that the morale of his
army is being seriously injured by this cause principally, and that
deserters, some to the enemy, are not uncommon. |
| General Bragg has fallen
into a delusion. His army has probably many Tennesseeans and
inhabitants of districts in Mississippi and Alabama which have been
yielded to the enemy from the Mississippi east, and the loyal East
Tennessee having entered the army, and perhaps also many lukewarm,
if not disloyal, consider that their families are virtually in the
hands of their domestic enemies. Those from the rest of Tennessee
and North Alabama and Mississippi know that their homes are actually
so. That army has been sufficiently fed to keep the men in good
condition. Witness that of the Army of Virginia, on less, never was
more healthy or efficient than last winter. But the causes above
enumerated have been working, and will cause demoralization always,
except only when troops are actively engaged in attempting to drive
the enemy from their homes. Even without those causes an army of men
having homes and families not well provided for will be demoralized,
while an army with far less rations than his army has had, if
operating actively, will not become demoralized. |
| General Bragg admits serious
demoralization in his army; he attributes it to the prospect of
impending want of subsistence one month ahead; consequently his
judgment of the true causes is legitimately contested by my judgment
in support of a different explanation.
The reserves at Atlanta were intended for the east, it being
justly supposed that the armies of the west and southwest could hold
the country, which was amply sufficient to subsist them. General
Bragg's army has chiefly depended on these reserves, and 125,000
pounds of bacon have recently been sent to General Johnston's army. |
| For twice within two months
the stores at Jackson, Miss., have been destroyed, to which I
especially ask the attention of the Secretary of War. |
| L. B. Northrop |
| ***** |
|
Inclosure No. 3 |
| Office District Commissary |
| Atlanta, August 21, 1863 |
| In your telegram you ask me
to write you fully as to prospects, and I therefore respectfully beg
leave to call your attention, and the attention of General Bragg, to
the fact that my supply of bacon is being rapidly reduced, and I
have not to-day exceeding 800,000 pounds all told on hand, and my
shipments to Richmond average over 50,000 pounds per day, and my
orders from Richmond are to ship all bacon on hand as rapidly as
possible. In addition to my shipments to Richmond, I am making daily
shipments to other points; therefore I estimate that within twenty
days, thirty at the outside, from this time I will be entirely out
of bacon. |
| These are alarming truths
and should be well looked to by those in authority. I have been and
am still doing all I can, but feel that I have done about all I can
do, and being restricted by orders and circumscribed in territory, I
feel I cannot meet expectations, and have therefore determined to
tender my resignation, but until accepted I will continue to do all
I can. |
| In regard to breadstuffs I
have no fears. I can and will supply you, at least for some time to
come, unless I am peremptorily ordered to ship to Richmond. Only a
few days since I received an order from the Commissary-General of
Subsistence directing me to ship as quietly and rapidly as possible
all the wheat I had on hand or could accumulate to Richmond, over
and above the absolute wants of the armies that were dependent upon
me. I answered I could barely supply the requisitions of flour for
the armies in my immediate neighborhood, therefore could not make
shipments to Richmond unless specially ordered. |
| In regard to beef-cattle, I
have ordered everything I have in West Georgia driven in to you at
once, which is being done as rapidly as possible. In Southwest
Georgia I have a good many beeves, but for the want of
transportation they are being brought out very slow. My agents in
Southwest Georgia report that the principal part of the
transportation is being taken for the use of the army of Virginia in
transporting corn, therefore I conclude that the prospect for
feeding the Army of Tennessee is quite gloomy. My agents in Florida
write me that there is all abundance of cattle there, but the people
are indisposed to sell them for our currency and drivers cannot be
had. |
| I this morning had a long
interview with His Excellency Governor Joseph Brown, and frankly
stated to him the condition of the commissariat, and the difficulty
I had to labor under for drivers, &c., and did hope he would
turn over to me 50 or 100 men from his State organizations for the
purpose of driving cattle. My statement appeared to alarm him very
much, and he at once telegraphed the President. A copy of his
dispatch I herein inclose you, from which you will see there is not
much to be expected from the Georgia State troops. |
| I have no hesitancy in
saying--from the reports made to me--that a great many cattle can be
had in Florida by energy and a proper organization. The
Commissary-General has authorized me to get them, but I can do
nothing without men and assistance. I regret to have to make so
gloomy a report, but the facts are as stated, and I thought it
proper that you and the commanding general should be well advised of
the condition of, affairs, and that you may be advised in advance. I
must say I cannot supply you with meat for exceeding thirty days
from to-day unless assistance is furnished me, and that promptly. |
| ***** |
| I am, very respectfully, your obedient
servant, |
| J. F. Cummings |
| Major and Commissary of Subsistence |
|
Inclosure No. 4 |
| Richmond, April 27, 1862 |
| Sir, |
| In this letter I wish to
call your attention to three things and to their bearings upon your
duties: |
| First. The lines of railroad
transportation, always insufficient for the purposes of the
Government, are comparatively worn out, and the most important have
been broken by the enemy. |
| Second. Appropriations of
money made by Congress for the army have extended only from session
to session. |
| Third. Whilst the number of
troops on the field has increased and will be still further
increased, certain districts of large supply, as in Tennessee and
several portions of Virginia and North Carolina, are wholly or to a
very considerable extent in possession of the enemy. Various reasons
besides the above-mentioned mode of furnishing money have hitherto
forbidden large contracts in advance as the rule of this Department,
and have made it necessary to supply by far the largest part of
subsistence by current purchases. And now the partial, if not
entire, exclusion of Texas from furnishing supplies on this side of
the Mississippi River will require each section to be the-principal
reliance for subsisting the troops within its own limits. In this
aspect of affairs proceed at once to make yourself fully acquainted
with the resources of your district, with a view to support troops
now and with reference to future crops, and especially ascertain the
prospect of obtaining corn-meal in adequate, prompt, and continuous
supply as soon as it may be needed, and the number and capacity of
the mills for grinding it. |
| In consequence of existing
and probable scarcity of meat, arrangement had been made to
distribute molasses as a substitute for part of the rations of meat
throughout the army. The loss of New Orleans, likely to be followed
by that of the few points on the Mississippi River from which sugar
and molasses can be carried to the interior, renders it necessary
that you endeavor to limit the consumption of meat. Henceforth the
rations will be a pound of beef or a half pound of bacon or pork,
and the ration of flour or meal will not exceed a pound and a half
of either. |
| Report the result of your investigation
to this office as soon as possible. |
| L. B. Northrop |
|