Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia
| January 11, 1864 |
| |
| His Excellency Jefferson Davis |
| President Confederate States, Richmond, Va. |
| |
| Mr. President, |
| I beg leave to apologize to
Your Excellency for troubling you with subjects which properly ought
not to come under your notice, but sometimes I find it impossible to
accomplish what is desirable without invoking the aid of all in
authority, even including yourself.
|
| The present is a subject of great importance
in our crying necessity for food, and the evil may extend further
than has been brought to my knowledge, and may exist on distant
lines of communication. Recently we have found that the amount of
meat invoiced to the army at Richmond is not received here. The
practice is at every depot where provisions are received for the
commissary to whom they are consigned to be present on the arrival
of the train with a guard to take charge of them and see that they
correspond with the invoices. A statement is inclosed of the
deficiencies discovered, which, in the aggregate, amount to 5,000
pounds of bacon. At our present rate of issue this is equal to
20,000 rations, and is intolerable. The meat is loaded on the cars
in Richmond in pieces, each piece counted, and the whole number and
weight given in the invoice and railroad manifest. Whether the
railroad agent verifies the accuracy of the invoice on reception I
do not know. I understand that the railroad is not responsible for
the safety of the provisions, but all is conveyed at Government
risk, nor does it provide locks or fastenings for the cars.
|
| I have never known of such an arrangement
before. All the Government agents along the road have been put on
the alert, but the loss is increasing. If the railroad agents will
take no care of the safety of the Government freight, Government
agents had better be sent with each train of provisions.
|
| Last year I recollect there was some
depredation of subsistence stores on the Richmond and Fredericksburg
Railroad {Richmond, Fredericksburg &
Potomac Railroad}, and as well as I remember it was
ascertained to have been committed by some of the railroad employees
between Hanover Junction and Fredericksburg. Upon their dismissal
the depredations ceased. But if there is so great a loss sustained
in the transportation of meat from Richmond to Orange, I have feared
it might exist on the roads south of Richmond, and it was on this
account, as well as in the hope of having that referred to
corrected, that I have ventured to bring the matter to the notice of
Your Excellency.
|
| I am, with great respect, your obedient servant |
| R. E. Lee |
| President |
| |
| [First indorsement] |
| Commissary-General of Subsistence, for
consideration and remarks. |
| J.
D. |
| |
| [Second indorsement] |
| Office Commissary-General of Subsistence |
| March 6, 1864 |
| |
| This subject has long been observed and
efforts to correct it been made. A list of deficiencies in amounts
at this single post for one year is presented. From the beginning of
the war to the present constant representations and suggestions have
been made in respect to transportation. These evils have been
aggravating.
|
| For the last sixteen or eighteen months they
have been threatening fatal results, which have received every
attention possible from this bureau. The War Department has been
duly informed of what is to be expected. Troops in Virginia depend
on corn from Georgia for bread. For months we have been living from
hand to mouth, and if the last reserve of flour at Lynchburg had not
been used for the army destitution must have ensued. That condition
is now impending, with no apparent remedy. Over 100,000 bushels of
corn demand transportation; not over one-third of what is already on
the road has arrived. Unless all passenger trains are stopped the
consequences may be fatal. In addition, transportation for bacon is
needed from Georgia.
|
| I again renew a suggestion repeatedly made,
that nothing should be allowed as a sufficient reason to delay an
immediate accumulation of supplies of food at this point. And I
again repeat that conscript officers should be prohibited from
breaking in on the organization of the employees of this bureau,
which is, as far as possible, endeavoring to conform to the
requirements of law.
|
| Respectfully returned to His Excellency the
President |
| L. B. Northrop |
| Commissary-General of Subsistence |
| |
| [Third indorsement] |
| March 8, 1864 |
| AIDE-DE-CAMP: |
| Write to General Lee and refer to General Bragg
for his inquiry and attention. |
| J. D. |
| |
| [Fourth indorsement] |
| March 8, 1864 |
| Wrote to General Lee and inclosed copy of
Colonel Northrop's indorsement, and mentioned above reference. |
| Wm Preston Johnston |
| Colonel and Aide-de-camp |
| |
| [Fifth indorsement] |
| This matter, known to be a very important
one, full of fraud, will receive every attention. A good railroad
expert is necessary. Colonel Wadley is the only one known to me. |
| B. Bragg |
| |
| [Sixth indorsement] |
| Secretary of War |
| It may be practicable to employ Mr. Wadley as
an agent. |
| J. D. |
| |
| [Seventh indorsement] |
| I fear Colonel Wadley's services are not
now attainable, but retain for inquiry. |
| J.
A. S. |
| |
| [Inclosure No. 1] |
|
Deficiencies in meat sent from Richmond,
Va. |
| Date |
Invoiced/Received |
Pieces |
Weight |
| December 30 |
Invoiced |
919 |
36,725 |
|
Received |
898 |
36,096 |
|
Short |
21 |
629 |
| January 2 |
Invoiced |
495 |
20,700 |
|
Received |
473 |
19,736 |
|
Short |
22 |
964 |
| January 6 |
Invoiced |
503 |
2,592 |
|
Received |
470 |
1,981 |
|
Short |
33 |
1,611 |
|
| Deficiencies in
meat sent from Staunton, salt pork |
| Date |
Invoiced/Received |
Pieces |
Weight |
| January 6 |
Invoiced |
1,158 |
16,570 |
|
Received |
1,149 |
15,731 |
|
Short |
9 |
839 |
|
| Deficiencies in
flour sent from Richmond |
| Date |
Invoiced/Received |
Unit |
Number |
| January 8 |
Invoiced |
barrel |
500 |
|
Received |
barrel |
498 |
|
Short |
barrel |
2 |
|
| January 10: Invoiced 42 pieces meat; short in one
car-load, 1,057 pounds |
| Total pounds {of meat short]:
5,000 |
| |
| [Inclosure No. 2] |
| Report of
supplies deficient under invoices from various points during
1863 |
| Received |
Pork |
Beef |
Bacon |
Beef-tongue |
Lard |
Peas |
Potatoes |
Rice |
Coffee |
| From |
bbl |
bbl |
# |
pcs |
# |
# |
# |
# |
# |
| First quarter |
| Danville, Va. |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
82 |
| Charlotte, N. C. |
70 |
-- |
1,127 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Salem, Va. |
-- |
419 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Salisbury, N. C. |
-- |
-- |
2,425 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Atlanta, Ga. |
-- |
-- |
54,110 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 1st Qtr |
70 |
419 |
57,662 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
82 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Second quarter |
| Atlanta, Ga. |
-- |
90 |
99,530 |
-- |
773 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Danville, Va. |
-- |
-- |
184 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
3,535 |
-- |
| Hickory Tavern, N. C. |
-- |
-- |
1,587 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Weldon, N. C. |
-- |
-- |
1,541 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Warrenton, N. C. |
-- |
-- |
1,135 |
-- |
633 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Salisbury, N. C. |
-- |
-- |
4,315 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Raleigh, N. C. |
-- |
-- |
6,047 |
-- |
236 |
60 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Charlotte, N. C. |
-- |
-- |
3,090 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
634 |
-- |
| Burkville, Va. |
-- |
-- |
215 |
-- |
188 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Bristol, Tenn. |
-- |
-- |
1,061 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Petersburg, Va. |
-- |
-- |
5,300 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Salem, Va. |
-- |
5,239 |
2,173 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 2nd Qtr |
-- |
5,329 |
126,178 |
-- |
1,830 |
60 |
-- |
4,169 |
-- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Third quarter |
| Atlanta, Ga. |
-- |
4,565 |
81,272 |
534 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Charlotte, N. C. |
-- |
-- |
2,915 |
-- |
-- |
7 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Macon, Ga. |
-- |
-- |
4,542 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Abingdon, Va. |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
184 |
-- |
-- |
| Millen, Ga. |
-- |
-- |
1,415 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Warrenton, N. C. |
-- |
-- |
2,122 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Columbus, Ga. |
-- |
-- |
4,909 |
-- |
-- |
913 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Weldon, N. C. |
-- |
-- |
4,271 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Hickory Tavern, N. C. |
-- |
-- |
2,364 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Charleston, S. C. |
-- |
-- |
1,156 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
193 |
| Raleigh, N. C. |
-- |
-- |
8,842 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Salisbury, N. C. |
-- |
-- |
6,154 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
17 |
-- |
-- |
| Wilmington, N. C. |
1 |
-- |
13,929 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 3 Qtr |
1 |
4,565 |
133,891 |
534 |
-- |
920 |
201 |
-- |
193 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Forth quarter |
| Columbus, Ga. |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
4,278 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Atlanta, Ga. |
-- |
-- |
289,659 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Charlotte, N. C. |
-- |
-- |
2,767 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1,439 |
-- |
-- |
| Raleigh, N. C. |
-- |
1,278 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Petersburg, Va. |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
2,895 |
-- |
-- |
| Salisbury, N. C. |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
128 |
2,613 |
-- |
| Hickory Tavern, N. C. |
-- |
1,952 |
2,205 |
-- |
104 |
-- |
1,730 |
-- |
-- |
| Goldsborough, N. C. |
-- |
-- |
5,485 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 4th Qtr |
-- |
3,230 |
300,116 |
-- |
104 |
4,278 |
6,192 |
2,613 |
-- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Total 1863 |
71 |
13,543 |
617,847 |
534 |
1,934 |
5,258 |
6,393 |
6,782 |
275 |
|
| |
| Report of
supplies deficient under invoices -- continued |
| Received |
Sugar, |
Candles, |
Tallow, |
Soap, |
Soda-ash, |
Dried fruit |
Molasses, |
Whiskey, |
Corn |
| from |
# |
# |
# |
# |
# |
# |
gal |
# |
bu |
| First quarter |
| Charlotte, N. C. |
382 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Mobile, Ala. |
-- |
-- |
-- |
673 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Salem, Va. |
-- |
-- |
321 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Lake City, Va. |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
4,851 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 1st Qtr |
382 |
-- |
321 |
673 |
4,851 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Second quarter |
| Atlanta, Ga. |
9,045 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Hickory Tavern, N. C. |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
164 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Salisbury, N. C. |
-- |
-- |
-- |
530 |
-- |
426 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Raleigh, N. C. |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
167 |
56 |
-- |
-- |
| Charlotte, N. C. |
5,829 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Burkeville, Va. |
-- |
-- |
-- |
35 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 2nd Qtr |
14,874 |
-- |
-- |
565 |
-- |
757 |
56 |
-- |
-- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Third quarter |
| Atlanta, Ga. |
3,934 |
50 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
712 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Mobile, Ala. |
41,866 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
2,143 |
-- |
-- |
| Warrenton, N. C. |
-- |
-- |
-- |
12 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Columbus, Ga. |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
281 |
31,892 |
| Raleigh, N. C. |
15,930 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
101 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Salisbury, N. C. |
-- |
-- |
-- |
186 |
-- |
35 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 3rd Qtr |
61,730 |
50 |
-- |
198 |
-- |
848 |
2,143 |
281 |
31,892 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fourth quarter |
| Columbus, Ga. |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
24,573 |
| Atlanta, Ga. |
-- |
77 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
135 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Raleigh, N. C. |
2,243 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
39 |
203 |
-- |
-- |
| Mobile, Ala. |
44,024 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1,040 |
-- |
-- |
| Hickory Tavern, N. C. |
-- |
-- |
34 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 4th Qtr |
46,267 |
77 |
34 |
-- |
-- |
174 |
1,243 |
-- |
24,573 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Total 1863 |
123,253 |
127 |
355 |
1,436 |
4,851 |
1,779 |
3,442 |
281 |
56,465 |
|
| |
| The loss in bacon from Atlanta has been
specially heavy by the western route, and may have occurred under
the difficulties in Tennessee, of which I have no report. |
| Large losses have occurred in sugar and
molasses for want of transportation, large quantities having been
stored on the line to prevent exposure and pillage. |
| A heavy deficiency is shown in corn from
Columbus, Ga. I am satisfied, by close investigation, that a large
portion of it has been diverted to the Quartermaster's Department of
this city by the quartermasters on the line, under the presumption
that all corn belonged to that department. |
| Respectfully submitted |
| T. H. Clairborne |
| Major and Commissary of Subsistence |
|