UK. LJWf Duke University Libraries Communication o Conf Pam #442 DTTDfi2bl3 ^ HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, January 10, I860.— Re- ferred to Special Committee on Impressmeuts, and ordered to be printed. [By the Cuair.J MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT. Uicu.MONJ), \' A,, .Ian. 0, 1865. To the Ilomt of Jteprescidat'cces : 111 response to your resolution of the UHLi November last, I liere- witli transmit a ci'ininunication from tlie Secretary of War, wliicli conveys the information desired, relative tj the impressment of brandy, so far as the records of his office enable him to furnish it. JEFFERSON DAVIS. COMMUNICATION OE SECRETARY OF WAR. CojfFBDEKATB StATKS OF AmFRICA, ] War Department^ v Richmond, Va., January 5, 1865. ) To the Predidviot of the Votifederate States: Sir: — t have received the following resolution of tUe House of Ril)re3entative-}, referred by your Excellenc}'- to this Department: '* Resofced^ L'liat the President be respectfully reij nested to cause llic proper ortieer to communicate tu this House, copies of all orders whicli iiave been issued to impressing officers directing tlie impress- ment of brandy, and also to inform tlie House what (quantity of brandy has been impressed, and what disposition has been made of it." In response, I have the honor to transmit herewith a report from the Commissary (ieneral, containing such information on the subject mat- ter of the resolution, as the records of lii-^ I3are;iu enable him to fui'- ni'^h. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAMES A. SEDDUN, Secretary of War. tEDP:KATE States of Amkkica, ^ Suhsistcnce Dc])ar1meiit^ > iichiiioiid, January 3d, 1865. > REPORT OF THE COMMISSARY GENERAL 111 response to Resolution of ITonsc of Representatives of lOtli No- vember, 1804, concerning Impressment of Brandy in \^irginia and North Carolina. Coniedp:kate States of Amk] Rich] Iloii. James A. Seddon, Secretary of ^Yar, C. S. A.: Sir : In reply to the resolution of the House of Representatives of 19th of Nc»vember, ISli I, communicated by 3'ou to me (»n the 22d of November, in reference to the Impressment of Brandy in tlie States of Virginia and North Carolina, I have the honor to submit the following report : The impressment of brandy in tliese States was rendered necessary l)y the fact, tliat all the corn made in them being needed for the sub- sistence of the men and animals of the Arm}^ of Northei-n Virginia, none of it CMdd be consumed in the manufacture of whiskey to be used as stunuhmt and in making vinegar; and the very limited means of transportation would not sulfice to bring corn for tliat purpose from llie Southern States. The impressment was also strongly recommended by the Medical Director of the Army of Northern Virginia and the Surgeon General, on the grounds that the lu-andy was needed as a stimulant for men in hospital, and tliat the sale of it by citizens to the troops was producing most injurious results, (See letters enclosed.) I enclose herewith copies of all orders which have been issued from this Bureau on the subject. I cannot state the quantity thus far impressed, as I have not been able to obtain the information from the officers in cluirge of tiie various districts. Report from one district in North Carolina shows the impressmeiit of (1,858?, gallons, and the Depot Commi.-isaiy in tliis city has received, from all sources in the two States, thus far, ll,7i^3?, gallons. The quantity thus far received is so small, and S(; much less than it was expected the inqjressment would realize, that none of it can be issued as stimulant. It wdll by no means afford the needed supply of vinegar. An arrangement has been made with the Medical Departiuont, by which tlie othci'r> een impressed <>ii iliclr account. I am, sir, \H\vy respectfully, Vour obedient servant, L. B. NORTHROP, Comm'y General C. S. Army. LETTER OF SURGEON GENERAL. ' Confederate Statics of America, ) Surg f on GencraVs Office^ V ^ Richmond, Va., Sept. ?>Otb, 186-!-. ) Sir.: 1 liave the honor t(^ invite your attention to the following extract IVoiu a letter of Surgeon L. Guild, Medical Director A. -^'^•^^•i and to request that authority be fjjiven to tiie proper ofKcers, i >r me impressment of brandy in the localities suggested by Surgeon Guild, both as a sanitary ineasure, and as a means of supply of alcoholic stimulants for this department, "An etlbrt has been made, 1 understand, to secure this year'!^ cro|3 of apples for the pur])ose of mating vinegar for the army, but it appears that the people in many sections of the country, have con- verted their apples into brandy, and in the vicinity of the army, especially in the southern ])ortion of Virginia and the northern part of North (-arolina, the pernicious ])ractice of vending this highly injurious and unhealthy li(|ui>r to the soldiers, has been adopted, I would sug- gest, that all "of this apple or peach brandy be seized by the Connnis- saryand Medical Departinonts, and all that can be, should be con- verted into vinegar, and the rest used for the ]>reparation of tinctures of tonic indigenous barks. The Chief Commissary of the army is unable to fui-nish vinegar to the tro(»ps, in such ([uantity or of such quality as is necessary. T have had frequent conversations with him on this subject, and have urged the expediency of seizing the li([Uor which has been distilled from fruit, which should have been used for making vinegar. Col. Cole informs me that he has found mucli difticulty in obtaining the authority requisite for the seizure, and I would ask that you place the matter before the Hon, Secretary of War, and use your own in- fluence in accomplishing an object so important to the maintenance of the health and vigor of our army,"' Very respectfully, your obd't servant, S. P. MOORE, Surg. Gen. C, S. A. llun, Jas. a. Seddon, Sec'y of War. Tlichmond, Va. On the above were the following endorsements : S, P, Moore, Surg. Genl. C. S. A. Pichmond, Va., Sept. 30th, 186-i. Calls the attention of the Hon. Secretary of War to an extract from letter of Surgeon Gulld^ Medical Director A. N. V., in relat4on 4- to impressment of apple and peach brandy in Southern Vii'ginia and Northern N. Carolina. To Com. General : What do you advise in relation to these articles ? If impressment is to be made of them, it had bettsr be done bj your officers Ut Oct. '64. (Siartie:^ will sell to the Government at schedule price one-half their brandy and whiskey, they will grant ^^rotection to market for the other half. (Signed.) 13. V. POLAND, Maj. v-t Chf. C. S. for Va. Official copy.— 11. S. REYNOLDS, Capt. & A. C. S. Richmond, Va., Dec. 10, 1S64. (Copy.) Richmond, Oct. 8th, 1864. Maj. "W. "W". Morrison, Goldsboro', N. C: — Secure by purchase and impressment, without delay, as much brandy as possible, for use of army. Allow price in October Schedule. Tannahill directed to pay same in his district. By order Commissary General. (Signed.) J. C. ABRAMS, Capt. it A. C. S. (Copy.) Richmond, Oct. 8th, 1864. Major E, M. Lowe, Charlotte, N. C. :^Secure by purchase and im- pressment, without delay, as much brandy as possible, for use of the army. Allow price to be fixed in October Schedule. By order Commissary General. (Signed.) J. C. ABRAMS, Capt. & A. C. S. i (Copy of Telegram sent in reply to one from Major Mon-ison asking instructions in i-elation to collection of brandy ordered Oct, Stli.) Richmond, Oct. 18th, 1864. Major W. W. Morrisox, Goldsboro', JN". C. : — Eely on impressment and Schedule rates. (Signed.) S. B. FRENCH. Major & C. S. NovEMBEK 5tli, 't34. — Yerl)al order given Major Jas. Sloan, Greens- boro', to secure all brandy po>;silile for the army, by purchase or im- pressment. LETTEIl Vmm EOliEHT TANNAHILL, MAJOR & C. S. Subsistence Dei'Aetmext, [ Petersburg, Va., October 23(1, 1864. ) Maj. B, P. ISToLAND, Ch. C. S. tbr-V-n., Richmond : Major : — The enclosed telegram explains itself. Please ascertain of Dr. Johns, himsdf, who are his authorized agents for the purchase of brandy in my 'district, the rates he is pay- ing, and tiansniit me tlie information. I have directed my agents "to recognize no agent unless he has orders in writing, as there are so many persons sjieculating in the article under bogus orders. If the agents of the Medical Department are authorized to pay J=^ 30 or the market price, the agent of this Department cannot ],m- at Schedule. as it is all for Government. Veiy respectfully, youi' ob't eervant, llOBT. TANNAHILL, Major & C. S. P. S.' — If Dr. Johns' agents are buying in good faith foi- his De- partment, I ];resnme they pay detailed farmers same as othei-s. This is wrong, of course. I sliall see Gen. Lee's Medical Pnrs'cyor, and show him coj)y enclosed telegram, and arrange with him to stop the existing competition, if it exists, aiul shall also take the brandy men- tioned if not all O. X. On the above were the following endorsements : Petersburg, Oct. 23, 1864. R. Tanxauill, Maj. & C. S. :— Ascertain from Dr. Johns who his agents are, tlie ])i-ice he is paying for bi-andy, and give him informa- tion no agent recognized unless with ordei-s in writing. Telegram enclosed. OtFICE CulEF C. S. FOK Va., ) Eichmond, Oct. 26, 1864. \ Respectfully referred (through the C. G. S.) to the Surgeon General, at whose suggestion the purchase and impressment of brandy and whiskey were ordered to l)c uuidc by tlie officers of this Department, in Virginia. They have been actively engaged in securing all they can, but are limited to the (Schedule price, which h '^ 10, and it is re- spectfully requested that the agents of the Medical Department be also instructed to conform thereto. B. P. XOLAND, Major 6c Chf. C. S. for Va. IJUKBAU OF SUBSISTENCIJ, ) Richmond, October 31, 1864. ) Kespcctfullv referred to the Surgeon General. L. B. KORTllllOP, C. G. S. S. G. Office, jS"ov. a, 1S6J-. Respectfully returned to t'ac Commissary General. The .Medical Purveyors having agents engaged in procuring brandv, will be ordered to discontinue purchasing at ^30 per gallon, with the understanding tiiat the Commissary General will instruct his agents to impress any brandy required tor this Department. Bv order of the Surgeon General. TIIOS. H. WILLIAMS, Surg. C. S. A. } S. G. O.— liec" Nov. 1st, 1864, Bureau of Subsistence, Richmond, Nov. 5, 1864. Ilespectfully returned to Surgeon General, who is ordered to desig- nate his agents for the purchase of brandy, and their localities, in order that the officers of this Bureau may be instructed to impress all that may be indicated bv them. L. B. NORTHROP, C. G. S. G. O., Nov. 8, 1864. Respectfully returned to the Commissary General. Surgeon E. W. JOHNS, Richmond, Xa. JAS T. JOHNSON, Charlotte, N. C. " R. K. 'J'AVLOR, Lynchburg, Va. Ass't " W. 13. ROBERTSON, AVytheviUe, Va. were autlinri/ed and instructed to procure brandy for this Department. Bv order of the Surgeon General. THOS. H. WILLIAMS, Surg. C. S. A. Rec'd &. G. O., (back), Nov. S., 1864. 6 Bureau of Subsistence, ) Riclimond, 12tli November, 1864. j Respectfully referred to Chief C. S. for Yirgiiiia, veto will instruct his officers and apjents to impress such brandy as may be indicated by the Medical officers named in the endorsement of the Surgeon Geucral, they furnishing funds with which to make payment. By order 0. G. S. T, U. DUDLEY, Jr., Major & C. S. Office Chief C. S. fok Va., } Richmond, Nov. 16, 18G4. f Respectfully referred to Major Ro. Tannahill. C. S., for his informa- tion, and who will instruct his officers according to the orders of the C. G. S., and return this paper promptly to tliis office. By order Chf. C. S. for Ya. H. S. REYNOLDS, Capt. & A. C. S. Office Chf. C. S., Pecersbm-g, Nov. 29, 1864. Respectfully returned to Maj. B. P. Noland, Chf. C. S. for Ya. ROBT. TANNAHILL, Maj. & Chf C. S. pH8.5 ^