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 Message of the 
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 MESSAGE OF J HE PKESlDEXT. 
 
 Richmond, Va., Feb. 8, 1864. 
 
 To the House of Representatives : 
 
 J herewith transmit a eommunicarion from the Secretary of War, 
 in response to your resolution of the 15th ult., requesting to be in- 
 formed " by what authority Gens. Sam Jones and Imboden have pro- 
 hibited the transportation of food from the military districts in which 
 they are locnte<i. to the city of Richmond, for private use and con- 
 confluraption. 
 
 JEFFERSON DAVIS. 
 
 COMMUNICATION FROM SECRETARY OF WAR. 
 
 Confederate States of America, i 
 
 War Departmmt, n 
 
 Richmond. Feb, 4. 18fi4. > 
 
 To the Fresident of the Confederate Stales : 
 
 Sir : I have received a resolution of the House oi" Representatives, 
 '•equesting to he informed '* by what authority Generals Sam Jones 
 \nd Imboden have prohibited the transportation of food from the mil- 
 itary districts in which they are located, to the city of Richmond, 
 for private use and consumption.*' 
 
 In reply, I have the honor to transmit herewith rep.T"t? from the two 
 gonernls named, respoLsiveto the resolution of the House. 
 Verv rflSDeetfullv, your ob't serv't, 
 
 JAMES A. SEDDON, 
 
 Secretary of War. 
 
 -P / 
 
Hkadouauktkh C, 8. Forces, near Moint Jackson, \a.. > i 
 
 January SWh, 1864. S 
 
 Gen. y. CooiKu, ...I. <u)d /. <>.. llkkmond, Va. : 
 
 Oenf.ral : Absence on leave from my command has delKyed a xr- 
 sponse to the resolution of the House of Representatives, calling for in- 
 formation in regard to the authority under which I acted, in prohibiting, 
 by Special Orders, No. 78, Headquarters Valley District, November 
 28, 1863, the removal of supplies from the district then under my 
 command. I beg le-ave nc"w, respectfully, to submit: 
 
 1st. The order itself, a copy of which please find enclosed, which 
 shows that the prohibition "^as not general, and was only enforced to 
 an extent, deemed by me, ft om a full knowledge of the wants of the 
 army, absolutely necessary to prevent great suifering in my own com- 
 mand, and others dependent in a laige degree upon the products of 
 this rich district for their supplies. The reasons for the order are 
 stated on its face. 
 
 2d. The authority under which I acted, I conceive, was conferred 
 by act of Congress and the general orders from the Adjutant and 
 Inspector General's office, of March 19th and November 6th, 1863, 
 authorizing and regulating impressments. Nothing but the most im- 
 perative necessity could have induced me to make the order which 1 
 knew would evoke strong oppogftion, and, perhaps, denunciation, from 
 those whose money-making operations it would interfere with ; but, 
 Avhen gaunt want began to stare my unsheltered, patient and faithful 
 soldiers in the face — men who have not had ten days rest, at .any 
 one time, since April. 1863, nor even a hut to shelter them during 
 oil the cold of this winter — I thought a case of that imperative neces- 
 ' y had arisen for the relief of which the impressment law was enacted : 
 n.id I did not hestate to execute the authority I believed I possessed, 
 ''nder the operation of my order our imroediate necessities were re- 
 iicM'ed, though a number of speculators failed to realize their antici- 
 pated ga'ns; and, having broken up speculation in provisions,! on 
 r.he 24th of December, 1863, so modified the order as not to require 
 a permit for the removal from the district of supplies purchased, bonu 
 y/rfc, for private consumption, and not for sale or speculation. 
 
 In conclusion, permit me to say that, w"ithout a resort to impressment, 
 it is not possible for me to procure indispensable supplies for my own 
 nmall command, at the authorized schedule prices, though i know such 
 supplies are in almost every part of the district, in sufficient quantity to 
 be spared for our support, without seriously inconvenieitcing, and cer- 
 loinly without distressing, the people. But the holders, especially if 
 t-pcculators — and their name is legion — will not sell at Government 
 j>rice8, if they can find a purchaser willing to pay more. I mufsr, 
 therefore, either impress subsistence, or see my men sufi"er for bread 
 and meat. I have no doubt, when this alternative is presented, I 
 have the authority, and it is my duty, to impress. My order, there- 
 fore^ remains in force against all speculators as therein defined, and 
 
will not be revoked as to them, as long as the necessity exists, which 
 caused its publication, unless its revocation is ordered by my military 
 superiors, or the authority to enforce it is abrogated by lavr. 
 Very respectfully. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 J. D. IMBODEN, 
 Brigadier General commanding. 
 
 ItEADQU^KTERS VaLLEY DiSTRICT, 
 
 SptoiAL Okdk.rs. No. 78. 
 
 Linvilk's Cnek, Nov. 28, 1863, 
 
 \ 
 
 I.C having been rt^presented to the general comiTianding, that the 
 otticers and agents of the subhistence department of this district, are 
 unable to procure the supplies imperatively required for the army, 
 by purchase, because speculators are in the market paying higher 
 price:* than those fixed by the Grovernment commissioners, and send- 
 ing such supplies out. of the district, to be >old again, it is ordered 
 that the commissaries of subsistence, at >iew Marker, Harrisonburg, 
 Staunton and Lexington, and those on duty with the command in the 
 field, do impress, for the use of the army, all the necessaries of sub- 
 sistence found in the hands of speculators, or which have been sold to 
 speculators, though not delivered, to bf sent out of the district ; and 
 by the term speculator is meant any cne who buys to sell again ; and 
 any one in this military district making alleged purchases ior private 
 consumption, or for the use of the poor or soidiers families in other 
 districts, for the use of railroad employees, or ' lovernmeut contractors; 
 will not '-c permitted to remove supplies from this district, except by 
 special orders from these headquarters, or from the War Department; 
 and the commissary officers and ngents, named in this order, will see 
 that no such purchases are carried into effect by the contracting par- 
 ties. 
 
 This order is not intended to apply to necessaries in the hands of 
 producers, in transitu to market, which have not been sold or en- 
 gaged to be sold before or on their arrival at market. 
 By command of 
 
 Brig. Gen. JOHN D. IMBODEN, 
 
 Commanding. 
 G. W. McPhail, Lieutenant and A. D. C. 
 
Headquarters, Department Western Virginia, 
 Dublin, January 2G, 1864, 
 
 General : I have received your letter of the 20th instant, enclos- 
 ing the following resolution adopted by the House of Representatives, 
 on the 15th instant, viz : 
 
 " Resolved, That the Secretary of War be requested to inforiu this 
 Hou«e, by what authority Generals Sam Jones and Imboden have 
 prohibited the transportation of food from the military districts in 
 which they are located to the City of Richmond, for private use and 
 consumption. 
 
 "Very respectfully, 
 
 " A. R. Lamar, Clerk.'' 
 
 " Official : John Withers, 
 
 " Lieut. Col. and Assistant Adjutant General. 
 '*A. ^ I. G:s Office, January 19, 18C4." 
 
 You direct me to forward the report required. 
 
 In reply, I have the honor to state that I have never prohibited the 
 transportation of food from this military department to the city of 
 Richmond for private use and consumption. On the contrary, I have 
 given all the aid in my power to facilitate the transportation of food 
 for purposes specified in the resolution. 
 
 I have endeavored to prevent speculators and extortioners, whose 
 chief aims in life seem to be to keep out of military service and en- 
 rich themselves by preying upon the necessities of better men, from 
 fstripping the department of the food necessary for the support of the 
 army. To that end, I have addressed letters to Thomas H. Ellis, 
 •President Jsmes River and Kanawha Canal, and R. L. Owens, President 
 Virginia & Tennessee Railroad ; extracts from which, together with 
 Mr. Owens' advertisement in a Lynchburg paper, are herewith for- 
 warded, marked A, B and C. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant,' 
 
 SAM. JONES, 
 Major General. 
 General S. Cooper, 
 
 Adj't and Insp'r General^ C. S. A. , Richmond^ Va. 
 
 [A] 
 
 I]xtract. 
 
 Headquarters Department, W. Virginta and E. Tennessee,) 
 
 Dubli7i, November 7, 1863. $ 
 
 Sir: 
 
 I have no desire whatever to diminish the usefulness or revenue of 
 
the company of which you are Presideut. I only desire thai it shall 
 be used to the best interest of Government and community, and shall 
 not be used by speculators and extortioners to transport provisions 
 out of the department, to gratify their ov/n inordinate avarice and 
 embarrass this department by withlrawing from it the supplies 
 needed for the troops. I do not wish to interfere in the slightest 
 d-'groe with the transpoitation of such supplies as are intended in 
 20od faith for domestic use. 
 
 You and the directors of the company are certainly as much inter- 
 ested as I am in the successful termination of the struggle in which 
 we are engaged, and you are much better qualified than I am to 
 manage the aftairs of your company, and I prefer leaving the matter 
 in your hands with the single and earnest request that our worst 
 enemies, 'he speculators and extortioners in the necessaries of life 
 shall not use your canal to drain this department and fill their own 
 
 pockets. 
 
 * *-• « * * * * * . * 
 
 Very respectfully, <X:c., &c. 
 
 8AM. JUNES, 
 Major General. 
 Thomas H. Ellis, Es'^., 
 
 President James River and Kanawha Canal. 
 Official : 
 
 Charles Stringkellow, 
 
 Assistant Adjutant General. 
 
 [B] 
 Extract. 
 
 Headquarters Department W. Virginia and E. Tennessee, 
 
 Dublin, November 14, 18G3. 
 
 K. L. Ovv^en, Esq., 
 
 President Virginia and Tennessee Railroad : 
 
 iSiR : Some two weeks since 1 addressed you a letter in regard to 
 the transportation of supplies from this department over the Virginia 
 and Tennessee railroad, and am indebted to you for your prompt 
 attention to my request. I was induced to do so because I heard thai 
 the specula.tors were purchasing and transporting supplies out of this 
 department. The only object I had in view was to protect the army 
 and Government by preventing those harpies, the speculators and 
 extortioners, from stripping the department of subsistence. I had 
 no intention whatever of interfering with the ordinary transportation 
 of freight within this department, or the transportation out of it of 
 such supplies as were intended in good faith for the domestic con- 
 sumption of the parties purchasing. I have received applications 
 from persons asking to be permitted to transport provision from one 
 
puiut iu tlic ilepaicttieut. to another, from which 1 inter that there is 
 some misunderstanding as to my wishes. 
 
 I would much prefer that you should manage all such matters your- 
 self, hileed, it is with greac reluctance that I ask you to place any 
 restriction whatever on the trausportation of supplies by your road., 
 I am sure that we bot/i ha\e the same object in view, that is, that the 
 road shall be used to the best advantage for the interests of the stock- 
 holders and the couiraunity, consistent with the requirements of the 
 army and the efficient working of the Government. If you will aid 
 )ae in the accomplishment of these objects I will most gladly remove 
 all restrictions and leave the entire management of the road to you, 
 
 who, I am sure, are much better qualified to manage it than 1 am. 
 
 * * ' ^.: * * * * ■* '■' 
 
 Very respectfully, &c , &c. 
 
 SAM. JONES, 
 Major General. 
 Official : 
 
 Charles iSiKiNGt'ELLow, 
 
 Assistant Adjutant General. 
 
 fO] 
 
 President's Office, Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, i> 
 
 Lynchburg, November 17, I860. ^ 
 
 I understand there are parties in the southwestern counties of this 
 State buying subsistence supplies and claiming to be agents of the 
 company, and thereby imposing upon the eom.munity. I, therefore, 
 give notice that D. W. Kyle, Manager of Supplies, Robert Mitchell, 
 Wood Agent, and W. S. Minor, Agent at Bristol, are the only parties 
 authorized to purchase such supplies for this company. The restric- 
 tions placed by the military authorities upon shipments of articles of 
 subsistence are intended only to apply to speculators, who otherwise 
 would strip the department of the subsistence necessary for the array 
 there, and no restrictions upon shipments within the western depart- 
 ment, which extends from Liberty west, nor upon shipments east of 
 Liberty, when intended for private consumption. Any party desiring 
 transportation for articles fpr the consumption of his family, and 
 coming east of Liberty, can always obtain it by application to the 
 office of T. D. Jellis. Agent of Transportation at Lynchburg. 
 
 ROBERT L. OWEN, 
 
 President, 
 
 HEADiiUARTERS DEPARTMENT WeST ViRGINIA, 
 
 January 26, 1864. 
 
 Forwarded with my letter of this date to the Adjutant and In- 
 spector General. SAM; JONES, 
 
 Major General. 
 
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