Trading Through the Lines Requirements, October 1864

DaveBrt

1st Lieutenant
Joined
Mar 6, 2010
Location
Charlotte, NC
We see mention of various plans and ideas to trade through the lines during the war. Rarely does such record include what the South desired to receive for their cotton in such trades. Below is a letter from the QM General's Letterbook, replying to a plan by Sam. Tate, President of the Memphis & Charleston RR and general fix-it man. Since the letter is from the QMG, only Quartermaster supplies are desired.

Quartermaster General's Department
Richmond Oct. 13th 1864
Mr. Saml Tate
Demopolis Ala
Sir,
Your communication of the 28th ult. with enclosure from Gen. Harris has been received.
I am anxious to avail of your services, having faith in your ability & disposition to execute what you propose. At the same time, however, I am constrained to modify to some extent the terms suggested by you. You contemplate delivering the supplies in Mississippi. That is in the Military Dept. commanded by Lt. Genl. Taylor & there it is understood that cotton delivered in payment for Army supplies must be expended on the following basis to it at 50 cts a lb. in payment for supplies delivered at invoice prices with an addition of 15 pr ct thereon for cost of transportation. The invoices should be supported by prices current at the date of purchase & in the locality where the same is made.
The annexed statement will show you the articles most needed. All such suitable for Army use will be received, at convenient points within our lines by Maj. L. Mims QMaster Enterprise Miss, or some subordinate designated by him, & will be paid for in cotton as herein proposed & permission will be granted from Dept Hd. Qrs to export the cotton beyond our lines.
If these terms are acceptable by you please say so & state also within what time the supplies can be delivered. Time is important as they are needed for Winter use.
A R Lawton QMG
List of Supplies to be delivered
1st 50,000 prs of heavy Army shoes (Bluchers) high quarters assorted in size & cording to enclosed circular dated Sept 23d '64 from this office
2nd 100,000 yds of 6/4 Grey Army Cloth 22 to 24 oz pr yd
3rd 50,000 prs of Army Blankets wt: 8 lbs per pair, each Blanket 58x80 inches
4th Stationery, Leather, & Shoe Makers tools & findings, in such quantities as may be brought in
P. S. The above was written prior to the receipt of your letter of the 6th ins. It is still sent in the hope that it may lead to something.
 
So there was trading between the lines? Had no clue! How did it work, please? I mean, wouldn't anyone selling supplies to the other side have been considered at least an opportunist, at worst working against their country? Ran into several instances where cotton was transported and sold, with arrests.
 
So there was trading between the lines? Had no clue! How did it work, please? I mean, wouldn't anyone selling supplies to the other side have been considered at least an opportunist, at worst working against their country? Ran into several instances where cotton was transported and sold, with arrests.
There are numerous cases of people trying to set up such arrangements. Since both sides benefited, both sides would agree and, sometimes, would actually make the trade. The late Mississippi trades were done under Lt. Genl. Taylor, departmental commander (as noted in the letter above). Late Virginia trades were made in the Suffolk area and were Lee's primary source of meat during the last six months of the war. In fact, a second trading attempt in that area was nixed by Lee for fear it would cause the stoppage of the meat trade. In early 1865, a trade for tobacco was interrupted in the Fredericksburg area when a Union force captured the railroad train of tobacco -- blame all around, including the Superintendent of the Richmond Fredericksburg & Potomac Rail Road being arrested as a Union spy because of the loss (he really was a spy and put in a claim for spy pay after the war).

Maybe someone has done a book on the complete subject, but I don't know of one.
 
The US could not stop trading between the regions. All they could do was try to prevent military supplies from going through the lines.
 
There are numerous cases of people trying to set up such arrangements. Since both sides benefited, both sides would agree and, sometimes, would actually make the trade. The late Mississippi trades were done under Lt. Genl. Taylor, departmental commander (as noted in the letter above). Late Virginia trades were made in the Suffolk area and were Lee's primary source of meat during the last six months of the war. In fact, a second trading attempt in that area was nixed by Lee for fear it would cause the stoppage of the meat trade. In early 1865, a trade for tobacco was interrupted in the Fredericksburg area when a Union force captured the railroad train of tobacco -- blame all around, including the Superintendent of the Richmond Fredericksburg & Potomac Rail Road being arrested as a Union spy because of the loss (he really was a spy and put in a claim for spy pay after the war).

Maybe someone has done a book on the complete subject, but I don't know of one.
Philip Leigh wrote about it. His claims may have been sensational, but not by much.
 
There are numerous cases of people trying to set up such arrangements. Since both sides benefited, both sides would agree and, sometimes, would actually make the trade. The late Mississippi trades were done under Lt. Genl. Taylor, departmental commander (as noted in the letter above). Late Virginia trades were made in the Suffolk area and were Lee's primary source of meat during the last six months of the war. In fact, a second trading attempt in that area was nixed by Lee for fear it would cause the stoppage of the meat trade. In early 1865, a trade for tobacco was interrupted in the Fredericksburg area when a Union force captured the railroad train of tobacco -- blame all around, including the Superintendent of the Richmond Fredericksburg & Potomac Rail Road being arrested as a Union spy because of the loss (he really was a spy and put in a claim for spy pay after the war).

Maybe someone has done a book on the complete subject, but I don't know of one.
Some of the material may have helped the Confederate armies. But the US cotton reaching New England and Britain was also capping the profitability of blockade running. The amount of cotton coming out of the US, and cotton coming out of India and Egypt reduced the incentives for the blockade runners. And the people in the south making money on the intersectional trading were future US citizens which was nearly obvious by October 1864.
 
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