Duke University Libraries 
 Report on the c 
 Conf Pam #387 
 
 DTTDEED3bV 
 
HOrst; OK REPREtsEM.VTlVElS. May 17, r.s64.— Laid on 
 the tubie and ordered to be printed. 
 
 [By the CiiAiK.] 
 
 IR.EFOriT 
 
 ON THK 
 
 CONDITION OF COVIilRNMI-NT COTTON, 
 
 Contiguovs to the Mississippi and its Tributaries. 
 
 Tteasury Department, C. S. A., 
 Richmond, May 16, 1864. 
 
 lion. Thomas S. Bocock, 
 
 Speaker of the House of Representatives : 
 
 Sir: In compliance with the resolution passed by the House of 
 Representatives, on the 9th instant, I have the honor to transmit a 
 copy of the report dated April 9th, 1864, made by J. D, B. DeBow, 
 Esq., General Agent of the Produce Loan for the State of Missis- 
 Bippi, on the condition of Government cotton contiguous to the Mia- 
 sissippi and its tributaries. 
 
 I am, very respectfully, 
 
 C. G. MEMMINGER, 
 Secretary of the Treasury. 
 
 Columbus, April 9, 1864. 
 
 Condition of the (htton. 
 
 From every source of information, it is certain, that the cotton in 
 the exposed district is in the most deplorable condition. Large plan- 
 tations are abandoned everywhere, and the cotton has been left in 
 sheds. These tumble down or are blown down. Stray cattle destroy 
 the cottou ; soldiers, particultrly cavalry, strip it of the ropes and 
 
bag^'iii^, or make use of it for beds, scattering it. in every directiou ; 
 fires are of frequeiit occurence per accident or incendiarism : the poor 
 of the county take away as much as they can make use of; runaway 
 negroes devastate; thieves, with whom the country abounds, carry off 
 the cotton by wholesak, trading it to the Yankees, or hiding it in inac- 
 cessible places — they do it at night, or even in broad daylight, as there 
 is little law in the country. Even those who have sold their cotton 
 to the Government, in their desperate fortunes, regarding themselves 
 as beyond the protection or reach of the Confederacy, sell it again 
 to the Yankees, upon the pretext that they will replace it out of the 
 next crop, or out of cotton in other quarters. They justify the act 
 by their necessities. There is reason to fear that the soldiery are 
 sometimes implicated in the guilt. Parties visit the section with 
 forged powers, represent theTuselves as Government agents, and take 
 away the cotton, using force, if necessary. General demoralization 
 prevails throughout much of the entire section, reaching to every 
 class. Trade with the enemy is universal. The temptations to fraud 
 are overwhelming. Even our own agents are often charged with 
 complicity. I have endeavored to procure men familiar with the 
 country, and the best recommended. They report it to be impracti- 
 cable to prevent the depredations. 
 
 Q;uantity of Cotton in the District. 
 
 From the reports of agents, I estimate that there are about ten 
 thousand bales of cotton, owned by Government, remaining in the 
 district. It cost the Government from eight to fifteen cents in its depre- 
 ciated issue, and is yet capable of reimbursing us for all losses in the 
 district. The cotton, for reasons above, is generally in miserable 
 condition. Even when best protected and guarded, the bagging and 
 rope will burst after several ye&vs. Most of the representations made 
 to Richmond, and to which the Secretary has frequently called my 
 attention, ha\e reference to these cottons. Those in other parts of the 
 State are receiving constant supervision from my agents. The owners 
 being on the estates, makes the matter practicable. Large quantities 
 of cotton, owned hj private parties, who reside out of the State, being 
 greatly neglected, are freqvently reported to be Government cott&t\. 
 
 Burning Co/ton by the Military. 
 
 This haa been accomplished in the wildest and most irrational man- 
 Jicr. Under the influence of panic, thousands and ten thousands of 
 bales have been burned, which the enemy could not possibly have 
 leached. Even in presence of mere cavalry raids the torch has been 
 frequently used. The most incompetent persons are often employed. 
 The greatest possible irregularities occur. Whilst the cotton of some 
 parties is burned, that of others is spared. The charge of collusion is 
 frequently made ; certain it is, that no general principle has been ob- 
 served. Cotton is burned and no receipt given. It is burned at times 
 
3 .1. ' 7 ^ '^ 
 
 with the gin-house. It is ordered to be turned out for burning, and 
 after being stripped for the purpose, is left imhurned, to be destroyed 
 by the weather or cattle, or to be carried away. It is burned ruth- 
 lessly and madly, in places remote from danger, whilst entire districts, 
 contiguous to the enemy, are spared. The commanding General 
 (Johnston,) admitted this, in conversation with me, and deplored it. 
 Thus, the most intense heart-burnings are engendered, and much of 
 the demoralization among the people, frequently referred to, is the 
 result. In one county, (Wilkinson,) the cavalry burned public cotton 
 only, leaving the private cotton untouched. Private parties and 
 holders will not burn, fearing retaliation from the enemy. 
 
 Removal of the Cotton. 
 
 Frequent orders from Richmond have come to remove the cotton 
 from the exposed districts, and a large organization was set on foot 
 by me for the purpose. Responsible and competent persons were sent 
 into the district with ample means nnd authority. After an experi- 
 ment of nearly six montlis, the Avhole may be regarded a failure. In 
 that lime eight hundred bales were brought out from the south-west- 
 ern counties, at an expense equal to nearly the original cost, and sent 
 to Enterprise to be stored. This was regarded a most eligible poi»t, 
 but it reached there only in time to be largely used up by the Sher- 
 man expedition, which destroyed also such as was en route. Had the 
 cotton remained on the plantations, it would have escaped. Thirteen 
 hundred bales were removed out in north-western Mississippi, and 
 stored in the vicinity of Goodman, to await trnuop Nation on the 
 Central railroad. More than half of it was iui'iif.' iiwiely afterwards 
 fired by incendiaries nnd destroyed. Thi;?, too, though a guard had 
 been ordered over it. I caused ail the cotton to.be brought out of 
 Panola county, h no sooner reached points on the railroad, than it 
 was all destroyed by the military. Six thousand bales were used in 
 Fort Femberton. I was in the act of having it.re-bailcd and brought 
 away, when the cavalry dashed in and destroyed it. General Pem- 
 berton advised me to remove all our cotton from the Yiizoo and Talla- 
 hatchie. I asked him to fix a place fur them, which he would regard 
 secure. He named points on the Southern road, between Morton and 
 Meridian. Had 1 adopted this course, every bale .would have been lost. 
 Four thousand bales were removed by me from north-eastern Missis- 
 sippi ; 1 carried it,, lo be" stored, near the eastern bor(icr of the State, 
 on the Tombigboo. but the lough handling received from the wagon 
 and the railroad has put much of it out of oider, and extensive repairs 
 are being now conducted. This cotton was, however, saved by re- 
 moval; but it is exposed to accident from hre by such large aggrega- 
 tion, and I have sent an agent to procure other warehouses, so as to 
 divide tiie risk in several parts. It is almost impossible to get store- 
 houses or warehouses Mobile would be an unsafe point to store. T 
 cannot often build stores on account of the great scarcity of materials 
 and labor. They are absorbed by the army. There is another great 
 difficulty in the way of removal. The planters have no transportation, 
 
 X 
 
and there is little in the country. Horses, mules and wagons have 
 been taken away by one or the other army, or by the enemy. Where 
 there are teams, the parties will not accept Confederate money. They 
 cannot vse it. I have been compelled to pay for transportation in 
 sugar and salt, bought for the purpose. The necessities of the crops, 
 in general, require all the teams that remain. To impress them would 
 intensify the discontent and increase the demoralization, thus effecting" 
 more harm than good. The cotton is, besides, in no condition for 
 transportation for any distance. 
 
 Exchanging Cotton for Gold or Sterling. 
 
 ' I have the means at any time of sending agents into Memphis or 
 New Orleans to transact with foreigners or their consuls. Citizens of 
 high character are in communication with me, wishing to undertake 
 the business. I enclose some of their letters. The policy of such 
 exchange is almost universally maintained in the State to be the true 
 one for the Government, I have received assurances, almost official, 
 from Yankee authorities at Vicksburg, Memphis, ISew Orleans, tltc, 
 that no interference would be had in the matter. 
 
 Exchange of Cotton for Q\iartermaster\<i and Commissary Stores. 
 
 The War Department has several contracts embracing the delivery 
 of Mississippi cotton. One of collossal character is given to Mr, 
 Pollard. Thus the Administration's virtual control of the cotton will 
 be taken out of the Treasury. I have the evidence that Mr. Pollard 
 is giving out sub-contracts, and their numbers may be indefinite; 
 each petty sub-contractor having military protection to take out the 
 cotton and bring stores. Parties that 1 know to be irresponsible, 
 have likewise obtained contracts at Richmond. I have the lists of 
 articles needed by the War Department, and the price they are pay- 
 ing, and can have a responsible agent in each county to deliver cotton 
 in all cases of purchase, and turn over the stores to the nearest quar- 
 terma^ter, obtaining his voucher for the same. Under the Pollard 
 contract, the military authorities are noVv hauling our cotton to the 
 vicinity of the river, to await the arrival of stores, and if there is any 
 failure of such arrival, the cotton will inevitably he lost, either by act of 
 the enemy or of marauders, with whom the country abounds. This, 
 too, whilst I have been expending large sums upon the very opposite 
 policy, indicated in your telegram of December 8th. of bringing away 
 the cotton from such localities. 
 
 No Time to be Lost. 
 
 Whatever is done must be done speedily. On the most intelligent 
 and reliable testimony, if the cotton in the exposed district be not 
 parted mth. in the next few months, it is irredeemably lost to the GoO-- 
 emment. Now is the time to move. Everything favors action. The 
 occasion may not happen again. Better to part with the property. 
 
even for treaeury noteB, than to incur the total lops. It can b* soH 
 for them at from eight to ten tiinen what it cost the Governmeut. 
 
 J. D. B. DeBOW. 
 Genentl Agent Produce Loan. 
 
 Supplemental. 
 
 Since the preparation of the preceding pages, a letter from the De- 
 partment, of date March 31)th, requires some remarks. It has been 
 shown that no adequate plan of protection can be organized for the 
 cotton in exposed districts. There are, of course, exceptions to the 
 general rule, and upon these exceptions the Department may rest 
 satisfied I am actively employed. There are representatives of this 
 oflBcc in all the counties, who are doing what' is practicable, and whose 
 reports, hereafter, will be very valuable in implicating individual 
 wrong-doers. Redress will be very remote and difficult. If, under 
 the circumstances, the Government determines not to part with its 
 entire property, these agencies will be kept up and increased, and all 
 other resources, secret as well as open, will be exhausted in securing 
 as much as possible of the cotton. 
 
 The exposed district embraces either the whole or a part of the fol- 
 lowing counties : Panola, Tallahatchee, Bolirar, Sunflower, Lafayette, 
 Yallabusha, Carroll, Holmes, Washington, Yazoo, Issaquena, Madison, 
 Warren, Claiburne, Copiah and Amite, Jefferson, Franklin, Adams. 
 
 According to the best estimate that I can make, there have been 
 destroyed, out of cotton bought by me in Mississippi : 
 
 Balea. 
 
 By cur military authorities 35,000 
 
 By accidents of various sorts. , 5,000 
 
 Taken by the Yankees, &c 10,000 
 
 Total 50,000 
 
 This is somewhat more than a third of the entire purchases in the 
 State. My record book shows, in detail, against each individual lot 
 bought by me, in a column left for the purpose, what has occurred to 
 that lot ; and before the meeting of Congress, or very soon after, I 
 will send on a transcript of this book. It will be found to support 
 the above aggregate statistics. 
 
 In reference to complaints made to the Department, I have this to 
 say : 
 
 Ist. They are often from parties who are interested in subserving 
 some purpose of their own, or whose schemes have been interfered 
 with by the action of this oihce. The S'»fr»'fary can understand that 
 this is likely to happen. 
 
 2d. They are from persons who act from hearsay, or who, having 
 no practical knowledge of the subject, do not know what is being ■ 
 done, (11 what can or cannot be done. They can point out evils, but 
 are impotent to effect a rtriudy. 
 
 3d. They are from persons who deal in exaggeration, and often in 
 
<lownright falsehood, I have hal to deal with too many of these, not 
 to understand it. This is not among the least evidences of demoral- 
 ization. Every day reports are brouglit to me, which investigation 
 proves to be utterly false. 
 
 4th. They are from those who honestly err, i. e., they see large 
 quantities of cotton exposed to ruin, and hear that it is Government 
 cotton. This occurs all the time. It is believed the Government 
 owns all the cotton, whereas two-thirds of the cotton in the State is 
 private, and being owned often by capitalists outside, whose agents are 
 unfaithful, it is in perfect luin. The Secretary will remember the 
 case of the cotton seen by the President at Meridian. In the very 
 town of Columbus, five hundred bales of private cotton, in utter 
 decay, is believed to be Government property. 
 
 5th. Without doubt, many of the parties who report are honest and 
 true men, and represent the facts ; but it would be well for them to 
 fiirnish me a copy of their letters, for my action, and I trust the Sec- 
 retary will cause this to be done. 
 
 My headquarters have returned, some time since, to Columbus. 
 During the period of my agency, nearly two years and a half, they 
 have been at some points in the State, with the inconsiderable excep- 
 tion of the period when the Yankees have driven me to Alabama, and 
 even in these cases, their organization was kept up complete by my 
 deputies and ;igents in the different counties, regularly reporting to 
 me 
 
 Nine-tenths of the time, I have been personally present, and ac- 
 tively employed at my post, and sincerely believe, that, under the 
 peculier circumstances which have existed in Mississippi, I have done 
 nearly, if not quite, everything that was practicable to protect the 
 Government interests. 
 
 .1. D. B. DkBOW. 
 
 It should be added, that the cottons not in the exposed district are 
 being looked after very carefulh by special agents, and that they 
 have not yet sutlered materially, and can be save<l. The latest in- 
 structions covering all agencies are annexed. 
 
 Instructhns to District and County Agents. 
 
 Produck Loan Office, ^ 
 Columbus, Miss., April 4, 18(54. S 
 
 Sir : You are requested to examine carefullj^ into the condition of 
 <iovernment cotton in your county, a list of which is enclosed, and 
 report to this oifico the facts. 
 
 Should the c6tton be found insecurely sheltered, or otherwise neg- 
 lected, 01- in bad condition, it is expected that you will notify the par- 
 ties having chart^e of it to give the same immediate attention, under 
 their contract to •' take due and proper care of the cotton." 
 
 Should the said parties, after reasonable notice, not take the ne- 
 cessary steps for the preservation of the cotton, you are empowered 
 to have the matter attended to, at the expense of the Government, and 
 
your duplicate vouchors will be paid by mo. In ^^ach cases, the jtar- 
 ties will be held liable for the cost, except an lor circuuistauces of a 
 very peculiar character. 
 
 What the Governnieut experts is, that its cotton will be .shellere<l 
 from the weather and from cattle, and where the bagging or rope have 
 been removed by unauthorized parties or depredators, that the party 
 in charge of it shall replace the same with boards and hoops, and 
 where buildings are injured, cause them to be repaired. 
 
 Agents are requested to' ascertain and report all the facts connected 
 with alleged lo6S of cotton from fire, or any other cause, and in rebail- 
 ing will use boards and hoops. 
 
 In cases where co'.ton is left upon abandoned estates, the agent 
 will, if no arrangement can be made to place it in charge of some 
 neighbor, cause the cotton to be removed to a secure location, taking 
 the receipt of a responsible party, who will undertake its custody. 
 
 Agents will report to me at least twice a month* in detail. 
 
 J. D. B. DeBOW, 
 General Agent Produce Loan. 
 
 This circular is but a reprint, with some emendations of previous 
 circulars sent from this office. It is published, also, in the leading 
 papers circulating in Mississippi. 
 
3 
 
pHS.5