Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 02.djvu/109

This page has been validated.
Resources of the Confederacy in February, 1865.
99


obtained has enabled us to use, for the purpose of barter, a large quantity received from the Virginia works.

The mine in Louisiana, and the works in Georgia, have been lost by the movements of the enemy.

The contract made with Messrs. Stuart, Buchanan & Co. was for 45,000 bushels per month in excess of the estimated demand for the army. This was made in view of the foreseen deficiency of money to obtain meat, by supplying salt for barter. After the contract was made and approved by the Honorable Secretary of War, he, in spite of my remonstrances, and, in my judgment contrary to the interests of the Government, annulled it. Believing this to be unjust and prejudicial to the interest of the Government, I refused to take any action in the matter, and he then assumed the making of a contract with the State of Virginia, which I had considered and declined to make. Respectfully,

(Signed)L. B. Northrup,
Commissary-General C. S. A.

(No. 11.)

beeves.

The sources from which beeves in large numbers were to be gotten were Texas and Florida, and complete arrangements were made for securing a supply from both States, and large numbers have been obtained from both, together with a large quantity of pickled beef from Texas. Arrangements were made in 1862-3, to bring cattle from those States and put them on the grass lands of Virginia and Tennessee, but the long drive, want of good grass on the way, caused the attempt, which was made with a few droves, to fail.

Some thousands of beeves have been obtained within the past few months by swimming the Mississippi, and when the river is again in a suitable state and the season admits of it, the proceeding should be continued. From Florida many have been obtained, and the plans and means to continue the supply are complete. Twenty thousand more are expected. The marvellous accounts of the hundreds of thousands of beeves in Florida are believed to be idle, as this bureau has received accurate information of the number.

The operations of the enemy may, however, defeat our expectations, but it is proper that the War Department should have this source in view. Respectfully,

(Signed)L. B. Northrup,
Commissary-General C. S. Army.

(No. 12.)

fisheries.

While recognizing the possibility that our fisheries would be destroyed by the enemy, it was still deemed advisable to establish them on our coasts and bays.