Bills of Lading

[whitworth]

***
Bills of Lading and invoicing are items not studied by the "battle" students of the Civil War. But these bills of lading, kept in a St. Louis, MO library, give a very good indication, of how dominant the U.S. was in shipping supplies to important military points, by steamboat. Ordnance to Kansas City, corn to Nashville, troops and supplies to Helena, Arkansas, food supplies shipped to Vicksburg, days and weeks after that city's surrender to Grant.

The United States dominated the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri Rivers with steamboats and thereby dominated the land adjacent to these waterways. There was no magic formula to the reasons the Confederate States could not properly defend the land near these waterways. It could never match the U.S. in steamboats or supplies. Failure was the eventuality.
***




United States Order for Transportation for shipment of ordnance on board the steamer W.H. Russell from
Jefferson City to Kansas City, dated October 3, 1862. Document contains the stamp of Capt. Charles Parsons, assistant quartermaster at St. Louis.


Bill of lading for corn shipped by Captain Jno. H. Ferry, Louisville, on board the steamboat City Belle, to Captain W. Mills, Nashville, February 17, 1863.
Bill of lading for corn shipped by Captain Jno. H. Ferry, Louisville, on board the steamboat Glasgow, to Captain W. Mills, Nashville, March 25, 1863.


Receipt of the United States to the Regular St. Louis & New Orleans Passenger Packet for transportation of men and supplies on board the steamer Ruth, from Columbus, Kentucky, to Helena, Arkansas, January 24, 1863.


Bill of lading for food shipped by R.D. McGee & Co., Memphis, on board the steamboat White Cloud to Com. G.W. Graham, Vicksburg, July 11, 1863. Document contains the stamp of Capt. Charles Parsons, assistant quartermaster at St. Louis.

Receipt for cattle of Capt. Chas. W. Lyman, Memphis, to be delivered by the steamboat White Cloud to Capt. Henry S. Chubb, Vicksburg, July 11, 1863.


Receipt for food of Capt. C. Parsons, St. Louis, to be delivered by the steamboat White Cloud and Barge to Capt. R.E. Davies, Vicksburg, July 30, 1863.

Receipt for military stores of Capt. Charles Parsons, St. Louis, to be delivered on the steamboat Die Vernon to Rev. Lewis Hamilton, 2nd Colorado Cavalry, Kansas City, Missouri, November 25, 1863.

[richard]

Are these bills of lading just for the western area or are they complete for all items shipped in the north? IE from Pa to Indiana?

[whitworth]

Of course, it's not all inclusive of everything shipped by the U.S. on steamboats or trains during the war.

The U.S. of course made good use of the shipping points on the Ohio, Mississippi River, and Missouri river to fight the war.
I recall that steamers were turned into rams at the Pittsburgh, PA boat building facilities, and sent down the Ohio River to near Memphis, where the Confederate navy forces were defeated, and Memphis captured.

Grant's Memoirs indicates the importance of steamers to send troops and supplies to the various embarkations. I recall that there is a sizable amount of steamboat records in the Cincinnati Library.


Reference:
Cincinnati, OH

The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County

The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County has several special collections, one is the famous Inland Rivers Library in the Rare Books and Special Collections Department. The Inland Rivers Library is the largest collection of river books and photos.
Directions:
The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County
Main Library / North Building
800 Vine Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202-6900

The Inland Rivers Librarymaterials pertaining to the commercial use of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and their navigable tributaries

I've only scratched the surface in my research.

A U.S. Army Engineer did an inventory on steamboats in 1861 and he listed the following boat building facilities on the Ohio River.


"Building-yards for boats.—The principal boat-building places on the
Ohio River are: (1) Pittsburg, Pa.; (2) Wheeling, Va.; (3) Cincin-
nati, Ohio; (4) Madison, Ind.; (5) New Albany, Ind.; (6) Mound
City, Ill."

[Freddy]

In 1863 my great grandfather's IX Corps reached Cairo, Illinois via train from Cincinnati. There the fleet of 11 boats began sailing down the Mississippi on June 8th for Vicksburg.
From his dairy:
June 12th.
Our fleet of 11 steamers got underway at sunrise this morning. Just below Memphis passes wrecks of rebel gunboats sunk during the attack on the place a year or more ago. The scenery below Memphis nearly the same as above it. Here and there a plantation can be seen stretching along the rive bank. The dwellings of the planters seem a hundred years behind the age in style and convenience. They have little about them that is attractive. Many of them mere one-story buildings unpainted. Adjoining them could be seen the log cabins of the slaves standing in rows close together. The day has been quite warm-have made out to shelter ourselves somewhat from the sun by using our tents or blankets. Got asleep today in the sun, which is very weakening. Must be more cautious about this if I would keep my health. The scene of the starting of our fleet was novel and lively music by various bands on one steamer was provided with a “calliope” which added its melody to that of the bands. Each steamer was crowded with men and batteries and stores, each had its guard on the hurricane deck, or some a section of a battery ready as guard against guerrillas, whose reports say are ready to pounce upon any unarmed steamer. Card playing or novel reading the principle methods of spending the time among most of the men. Have found some good reading with which to pass the time. Hauled up opposite Napoleon, Arkansas for the night and sent a picket on shore for the night.

[unionblue]

Freddy,

Great post above and very neat with the tie-in to this thread.

Thanks for posting it.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

[5fish]

This is a good post but wonder if there is a stash of Confederate Bills of Lading and if there is has anyone reviewed them and wrote about it...

[whitworth]

NEAR VICKSBURG, MlSS., June 11, 1863,
VIA CAIRO, ILL, June 16.
H.W. HALLECK, General-in- Chief:
Re-enforcements other than from my own command are beginning to arrive. There is every indication that they may be required. The en-emy occupy Yazoo City and Canton with an entire division of cavalry on. the ridge between the two rivers. I am fortifying Haynes’ Bluff, and will have a garrison there of 13,000 men, besides the ability to throw an equal amount more there in case of an attack, and still keep up the investment of Vicksburg. Kirby Smith is showing signs of working to this side of the river, either to operate against General Banks or myself
He may find difficulty in crossing the river, but the great number of bayous and little lakes within a short distance of shore in this region afford such facilities for concealing boats that the means of crossing an army may still be left to the rebels; particularly may this be the case about Natchez. I now fear trouble on the opposite side of the river, between Lake Providence and Milliken’s Bend.
U.S. GRANT,
Major. General.

p42 Series 1 - Volume 24 (Part I)


WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington, June 12, 1863 —11.30 a. in.
Major-General GRANT, Via Memphis, Tenn.:
I hope you fully appreciate the importance of time in the reduction of Vicksburg. The large re-enforcements sent to you have opened Mis-souri and Kentucky to rebel raids. The siege should be pushed night and day with all possible dispatch.
H. W.HALLECK,
General-in- Chief

p42 Series 1 - Volume 24 (Part I)


NEAR VICKSBURG, MISS.,

Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, July 4, 1863—10.30 a. m.
General-in- Chief:
The enemy surrendered this morning. The only terms allowed is their parole as prisoners of war. This I regarded as of great advantage to us at this juncture. It saves probably several days in the captured town; leaves troops and transports ready for immediate service.
General Sherman, with a large force, will face immediately on Johnston and drive him from the State. I will send troops to the relief of General Banks, and return the Ninth Corps to General Burnside.
U.S. GRANT,
Major- General.

p44 Series 1 - Volume 24 (Part I)

[whitworth]

http://www.civilwararchive.com/CORPS/9thcorp.htm

The Civil War Archive

Union Corps Histories

9th Corps

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by unionblue

Freddy,

Great post above and very neat with the tie-in to this thread.

Thanks for posting it.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

I am glad you liked it. There are many entries concerning the Vicksburg and Jackson, MS campaigns at www.civilwardiary.net.