Executive Department to J. F. Cummings, January 28, 1864

Sir: In reply to your letter I state that the laws of Georgia will not tolerate any such consumption of grain by distillation as you propose. When the country is so hard pressed for bread I shall order the prompt prosecution of every man who runs a still without a license from the State, and I shall grant no license to stills in Upper Georgia. The law only authorizes me to grant license to distill a small additional quantity by Confederate distillers, and these must be located in Southern and Southwestern Georgia, over twenty miles from a railroad or navigable stream.

Very respectfully,