| Office of Chief Commissary for Virginia |
| Richmond, Va. |
| March 10, 1865 |
| |
| Brig. Gen. I. M. St. John |
| Commissary-General of Subsistence |
| Richmond, Va. |
| |
| General, |
| The information that I can give you with
regard to the resources of the department for the subsistence of the
armies located in Virginia
and North Carolina
must necessarily be of a general character; still have gained some
information in a hurried trip to Greensborough, N.C.
Our lines have been much contracted lately, but if maintained as at
present, I feel well assured that there is most ample supply to
sustain the armies. To obtain them is, in my opinion, the only
question presented to our department. The difficulties are great,
but can be overcome. Energetic action in transportation and earnest
effort in the collection of supplies will avail much, but the
officers must be supplied with means; currency and gold in abundance
will only produce abundant supply. The appeals made to the people
will be most generously responded to by the patriotic portion of the
population, and the result will be, in my opinion, most cheering and
surprising; but still there will be a large accumulation that can
only be reached by gold. The hoarders are surfeited with paper
money, and these stores can only be obtained by the use of gold or
the bayonets of the enemy. |
| The subject of transportation is a
serious one; having but one line to depend upon to the chief
magazines of supply, the utmost efficiency is demanded in the
management of the lines connecting us with North Carolina, and it
behooves the Government to exercise the most rigid scrutiny upon the
work upon these roads, otherwise the collection of supplies will
avail nothing. The exposure of supplies at some points, especially
in North Carolina, is much to be deplored, and it is to be hoped that the present
scarcity will at least arouse all to more effort than has been shown
at these points. |
| Very respectfully, your obedient servant, |
| J. H. Claiborne |
| Major and Commissary of Subsistence |
|