The Louisiana in the Civil War Message Board

Re: Bacon for Vicksburg
In Response To: Bacon for Vicksburg ()

Not specific to the Vigo, but related:

O. R. Volume 24 (Part I)
EXCERPTS
Reports of Lieut. Gen. John Pemberton, C. S. Army, commanding Department of Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana, of operations April 4 July 4. HEADQUARTERS, Gainesville, Ala., August 25, 1863.

Immediately on assuming command of the Department of Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana, on October 14, 1862, I gave my earnest and unremitting attention to the reorganization of the several staff departments and to the great question of supplies.
It resulted almost necessarily from this state of things that but little attention had been given to the accumulation of supplies. No depots of importance existed within the limits of the department, nor had any measures been taken to establish them. Much of the season best suited to the collection of stores from the Trans-Mississippi had gone by. They were undoubtedly abundant there, but my command did not embrace that district of country. I had no control over the steamboats in Red River. It was one thing to purchase supplies, bat another to transport them.

Most of the boats were engaged in carrying sugar, molasses, and salt either for private parties or for the Government. There was great opposition on the part of owners at every attempt to divert them from these purposes. The Government was appealed to against what was styled the violation of the rights of the citizen by the military authorities.

It required time to ascertain what was needed to be done and time to acquire the means of its accomplishment. On October 25, the necessary orders were issued to procure and transport supplies from the parishes of Pointe Coupee, Concordia, and Tensas. Major [R. H.] Cuney, then chief commissary, was directed to confer with Lieut. Col. [W. A.] Broadwell, agent of the Commissary-General, then in the Trans-Mississippi Department, but to make arrangements for supplying this department without relying upon him.

On January 14, I addressed the following letter to Lieutenant-Colonel Broadwell, agent of the Commissary-General and also for my department, under my immediate instructions: Purchase bacon for this department; if possible, buy several million pounds. Also send, if you can, a few thousand live hogs to Port Hudson and Vicksburg. If the present navigation should be interrupted, try to get the hogs across the river, so that they can be driven to the interior of the State and rendered available for the use of the troops. If nothing better can be done, you will contract with energetic men to get from Texas 200 or 300 wagons loaded with bacon, the meat to be paid for by the chief of subsistence of this department, the transportation settled by the quartermaster, and the wagons and teams taken at fair valuation by the Government. You had better attend to salt first, to bacon next, and to sugar afterward. You are properly accredited to commanding generals elsewhere, who are requested to assist you in accomplishing my wishes as herein indicated.

I was extremely desirous at this time to procure a sufficient supply of salt to enable me to cure bacon, and with that purpose an order was issued prohibiting the exportation of hogs from the department. The difficulty of obtaining salt in sufficient quantity at the proper season prevented the success of this plan to any great extent. Though extremely anxious at this time to purchase all the meat possible, I did not think it advisable to make large purchases of corn from the Trans- Mississippi for Vicksburg and Port Hudson, and Lieutenant-Colonel Broadwell was so notified.

Early in February 1863 also, the enemy succeeded in passing two of his gunboats by our batteries at Vicksburg. This at once rendered the navigation of the Mississippi and Red Rivers dangerous, and from that time forth it was only by watching opportunities and at great risk of capture that supplies could be thrown into Port Hudson and Vicksburg; nevertheless large amounts were successfully introduced into both places (into the latter via Big Black). Port Hudson, however, received much the larger portion, being easier of access.

On February 28 and on March 2, 1863 instructions were again sent to Lieutenant-Colonel Broadwell to purchase all the meat possible at the price suggested by him, and [he was] notified also that beef could then be crossed safely, and to send forward all he could control.
About the same time Major-General Taylor, commanding West Louisiana, was respectfully urged to have all the beeves, bacon, and salted pork possible forwarded, and it gives me much pleasure to add that I am greatly indebted to his active exertions, as well as to Lieutenant- Colonel Broadwell, for large supplies of corn and meat.

On March 23, the following letter was received from Lt-Colonel Broadwell: ALEXANDRIA, LA., March 17, 1863. GENERAL: Four steamboats arrived here to-day from Shreveport and Jefferson, loaded chiefly with corn. One of them had 300,000 pounds of bacon; three others (the Charm, Texas, and Frolic) are reported coming down with loads. Five others (the Falls City, Louisville, Starlight, General Hodges, and Nina Sims) are below here, with full cargoes designed for Port Hudson, but the Federal gunboats are reported blockading this river. Great God, how unfortunate! We must try to get cattle to Bowman’s Landing, 15 miles back of Waterproof, and, if possible, swim them at the latter point; but the cattle here are thin, and may be unfit for beef when they arrive on the other side. In fact, it is doubtful whether many of them ever get through the swamps and bayous through which they are required to pass on this side. As the water declines, I think it likely that cattle in large quantities can be crossed over by swimming, but at present the prospect of your getting supplies from this side is gloomy enough. With the hope, general, that the suspension of steamboat navigation will embarrass you less than is now apprehended, Very respectfully, & c., W. A. BROADWELL.

On the day of its receipt, the above letter was referred to Maj. Theodore Johnston, chief of subsistence, for his information, and was returned with the following indorsement:

Office CHIEF OF Subsistence, DEPARTMENT OF Miss. AND E. LA., Jackson, March 24, 1863. Respectfully returned. The following boats have arrived out of Red River and have discharged their cargoes at Port Hudson:
Frolic, corn to assistant quartermaster;
Louis d Or, corn to assistant quartermaster;
Trent, corn to acting commissary of subsistence;
Drover, corn to acting commissary of subsistence;
Red Chief, corn to acting commissary of subsistence;
Starlight, corn to acting commissary of subsistence;
Indian No. 2, corn to acting commissary of subsistence;
T. D. Hine, bacon, hogs, and beef, to acting commissary of subsistence.
The steamer General Hodges, spoken of, discharged her cargo at Alexandria.
The Louisville had 20,000 bushels of corn.
The Falls City turned over all her cargo, except 350 barrels of molasses, to steamer T. D. Hine.

Lieutenant [George] Cammack left Alexandria on 16th instant, one day later than the communication from Colonel Broadwell. THEO. JOHNSTON, Major and Chief of Subsistence.

A cargo of bacon, which had been run up Choctaw Bayou on April 18 to avoid the enemy’s gunboats on Red River, was by the energetic exertions of Mr. Howell Hinds, of Jefferson County, Mississippi, successfully transported from the bayou across the river to Port Gibson. I was extremely anxious to get this meat to Port Hudson, but the difficulties of transportation prevented, and before it could be removed by General Bowen to a point of safety, it became necessary to destroy much of it, to prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy.

Pemberton writes…[early April 1863] …After consultation by telegraph with Major-General Gardner, commanding Port Hudson and the Third Military District, deeming the garrison at Port Hudson more than sufficient under existing circumstances, and to save supplies at a point so difficult to provide, the navigation of the Mississippi River being then obstructed to us, and the mouth of Red River, from whence large quantities of subsistence stores were drawn, being blockaded by one of the enemy’s gunboats, I ordered [A.] Rusts brigade and two regiments, under Brigadier-General [A.] Buford, to proceed immediately to Jackson, Miss.

Series 1 - Volume 24 (Part III)
HDQRS. SUBSISTENCE DEPT., SECOND DISTRICT, DEPT. OF MISSISSIPPI AND EASTERN LOUISIANA, Vicksburg, Miss., March 3, 1363. Maj. Gen. C. L. STEVENSON, Comdg. 2nd Mil. Dist., Vicksburg…I have not learned that navigation is open from Red River and do not think supplies can be sent here now, by steamboat, with any more safety than at any time during the past thirty days. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, T. B. REED, Major and Commissary of Subsistence.

VICKSBURG, April 1, 1863. Maj. W. H. DAMERON, Commissary of Subsistence, Jackson, Miss.: MAJOR: Yours of 29th ultimo, inclosing copy of the Commissary General’s letter to you, of 14th ultimo, is at hand. I assumed charge as chief of subsistence of the district on the 10th of February… Since that time I have received from you $50,000, which has been invested chiefly in corn.

I have received about 30,000 pounds of bacon, 500 live hogs. 557 barrels of molasses, and large quantities of salt, all of which has been sent over by Colonel Broadwell; there are several hundred hogs now on the way here on this side of the river, and several boats in the river loaded with provisions, also sent forward by Colonel Broadwell. This supply will place the commissariat in better condition, I believe, than it has ever before been in this district. If the Yankee ships can be prevented from cutting off our communication with Eastern Louisiana and Texas, I have but little doubt that the great energy of Colonel Broadwell, with my own exertions here, will soon give us a supply that will enable us to stand a six months siege. Respectfully, GEO. L. GILLESPIE, Major and Commissary of Subsistence, Second District.

August 6, 1863. Col. L. B. NORTHROP, Commissary- General, Richmond: …Colonel Broadwell and Major [W. ] Dameron had been on duty in this department for several months before I was assigned to duty. I, however, acquit Colonel Broadwell of all blame, for he distinctly stated to me that he was not responsible for the subsistence of the Army of Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana, but he would cheerfully aid me in any way that he could. I believe he has done so. THEO. JOHNSTON, Major, & c.

RICHMOND, August 10, 1863. Col. L. B. NORTHROP, Commissary- General of Subsistence: COLONEL: I was appointed commissary agent, and instructed to establish myself at Vicksburg by Maj. Cuney, commissary of subsistence of the Department of Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana, about the 1st December 1862. As soon as Col. W. A. Broadwell was informed of my appointment, he vested me with much fuller powers than had been given by Major Cuney…

On the 4th of January 1863, General Pemberton issued his Special Orders, No. 4, forbidding all commissaries to purchase commissary stores, except his chief of subsistence, Maj. Theodore Johnston. Even after this order, I made many efforts to procure provisions for the district, in which I met with considerable success, but as I found, or thought I found, so much jealousy and opposition to me, on account of my connection with Colonel Broadwell, I relaxed, and took no further prominent part in supplying the commissariat of the district until the 10th of March, 1863, when I was sent for by Maj. Gen. C. L. Stevenson, then in command of the district.

He, knowing of my connection with Colonel Broadwell, and knowing that the stores collected by him were chiefly in Western Louisiana and Texas desired me to send over to him for aid from that quarter.

In the course of that interview with General Stevenson, I understood him to say that he considered the holding of Vicksburg simply a question of subsistence; that his commissaries, under the orders of General Pemberton, had no authority to do anything; that General Pemberton would neither provision the post nor give him authority to do so.

Acting under his orders, I sent the C. S. steamer Charm to Red River for meat and molasses.

I wrote to Colonel Broadwell, telling him of General Stevenson’s apprehensions, and informing him of the condition of the commissariat. Colonel Broadwell began immediately to send back into Big Black River provisions for Vicksburg (communication with the city having been cut off by the Federal batteries on the opposite side of the river). Those supplies continued to come in until we had received about 500,000 pounds of hog meat (bacon, pork, and live hogs), a considerable quantity of molasses, some salt beef, some corn, and a large supply of salt, when, by the passage of the Yankee gunboats by our batteries, our navigation of the Mississippi River was stopped, and this source of supplies cut off. In compliance with your request, I respectfully submit the foregoing as a statement of my connection with the commissary department at Vicksburg, Miss., imp to the time of the surrender of that post. Very respectfully, W. H. JOHNSON, General Agent, & c

Messages In This Thread

Bacon for Vicksburg
Re: Bacon for Vicksburg
Re: Bacon for Vicksburg
Re: Bacon for Vicksburg
Re: Bacon for Vicksburg
Re: Bacon for Vicksburg
Re: Bacon for Vicksburg
Re: Bacon for Vicksburg
Re: Bacon for Vicksburg
Re: Bacon for Vicksburg
Re: Bacon for Vicksburg
Re: Bacon for Vicksburg
Re: Bacon for Vicksburg
Re: Bacon for Vicksburg
Re: Bacon for Vicksburg
Re: Bacon for Vicksburg