B. P. Noland to and Chief Commissary of Subsistence for Virginia, April 1, 1864
Richmond, Va., April 1, 1864.
Sir: The plan adopted by Judge Campbell for regulating the export of cotton and tobacco through our lines along the Rappahannock and Potomac border is to require the bond to be taken and the permits indorsed by me to some local officer, who indorses them with the length of time for which they can be used. He has so informed General Lee, and asked the prohibition of all trade not authorized by such permits. On the North Carolina and ‘Tennessee border, where a heavy trade is going on, the permits cannot readily be granted
*See Series I, Vol. LI, Part II, p. 842. + Not found as an inclosure.
by the War Department, and I would, therefore, respectfully suggest that all permits for trade in those sections be granted by the general commanding, who shall require them before being valid to be indorsed by the chief commissary of the State or district, or some officer specially charged by the chief or district commissary with the control of that business. On the North Carolina border General Pickett could grant the permit, and Maj. R. Tannabhill, the chief district commissary, should indorse it, and in the Southwest General Breckinridge’s permits should be indorsed by Maj. Joseph Cloyd, the chief district commissary.
Agents for railroad companies are now at work in North Carolina with permits from General Whiting, exchanging cotton for bacon, pound for pound, while our agents are exchanging two and three pounds of bacon for one of cotton. The trade should be under the control of designated officers, and thus uniformity and regularity could be attained and fraud and speculation prevented.
your obedient servant,
Major and Chief Commissary of Subsistence for Virginia.
[Indorsement.]
APRIL 4, 1864.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY:
If your judgment approves, will you give the requisite instructions ?
If not, I should be pleased to have the benefit of your counsels. I
am inclined to make the modification of requiring the permit from