Messrs. W. P. Chilton And David Clopton to The probability is that the spring campaign will be opened at a very, January 29, 1864

GENERAL ORDERS, ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL’S OFFICE,
January 29, 1864.
No. 9. Richmond, January 29, 1864.

I. The following schedules of prices for articles named therein, adopted by commissioners appointed pursuant to law, for the State of Virginia, are announced for the information of all concerned; and the special attention of officers and agents of the Government is directed thereto:

RICHMOND, January 27, 1864. Hon. James A, SEDDON:

Sir: In reviewing the schedules of prices for February and March, we invited the co-operation and aid of Mr. William B. Harrison, and itis just to add that the schedules received the unanimous approval of the commissioners. We respectfully offer the accompanying Schedules A and B, with the understanding that the prices are to remain for the months of February and March, unless in the interval it should be deemed necessary to modify them.

The following prices are to be the maximum rates to be paid for the articles impressed, in all cities and usual places of sale, and when impressed on the farms or elsewhere, the same prices are to be paid. Since the passage and enforcement of the law imposing the tax in kind places additional burdens upon the farmers of delivering a tenth of their productions, we think it rather too onerous on those who pipauce the most to be required also to incur the heavy additional expense of delivering their surplus.

Under existing circumstances we have deemed it not only just, but most likely to favor increased production, that producers in future should not be required to transport their surplus productions when impressed, but that the agents of the Government should employ or impress the neighborhood or county wagons and teams to haul all such articles, and so divide the work between the owners of wagons and teams as to be least prejudicial to those successfully engaged in agriculture.

Article. Quality. Description. Quantity. Price. da) Wheateec2es 00 a do Superfinessssgaceec sae aes Oeecen st scmeseea ee 25. 00 ead Oca comssastosmereacle BoGco0 MWe ahisqacnpsdasetel Berase dO arenes teats took cc 28. 00 3 Per bushel of 56 pounds. 4.00 4 Corn Unsnelled . cece silence AON caciaim orale te OOo oe anem oeisieeiteis’s ue CSSA Rees Ansaaekeess 3.95 5 Per bushel of 50 pounds. 4,20 6 Per bushel of 56 pounds. 3. 20 7 Cleaned oats………. ….. CIS cecan§ Hocorocto depoohaecenda Per bushel of 32 pounds. 2.50 8 Wheat bran ………. Good! Mica ster sess sattencts Meee se cbeee Per bushel of 17 pounds. -50 9 Shorts ….. debestesoce sScc” WO) sleciecintaja erase oie ote = nee ieee cate Per bushel of 22 pounds. 70 10) Brow stuals Article. Quality. Description. Quantity. Price. Bacon’ os… casioec se Got maielelnisieials Hog round………… Per oung Sieinle(siessle)Siereietole(s $1. 25 RE OPE SGN Ge tie nia aies te tafe pe Ore ine ion ces is sisjateas scaisieteee noes eo inte aac LOR Re een 1.10 Pork, fresh ecco ie ood ROOM Ns en sone seein Per pase. net weight. . – 80 eeenicinicinan nies atereral kf CROOG 9s ic Se cine oc >ioia/aseeesel eee es Per pound………0..04. 1,25 Horses meoimein\nislewiewe nine First class…. Artillery, &¢ … – Average price per head.. 350. 00 IWO0lnc esc .cesecn sous Fair ormerino Washed …..-… – Per ound Spee eciaiienice 3.00 Bote OO occssennseercen sas–O0lsc-ense- UN WASHEd. 5-5 – 2.00 CAG see en a cae ee eens GLOOM t rams aan ent 4.00 B6AS ve eee e ses ne ocean eOOmc enna eee amet see a ceo 4.00 POtAtOeS see. -se se ==: right -ces\ecnn = 4,00 s=neeAO cscs toecn==nece Sweet …-.-.. 5. 00 Onjonae cece sine nea tae COm ies Sala eels cate noc aerate 5. 00 poncho dried… 222. Peeled…. 8.00 RBERA AOE SeRBRSaHRSHeAS Unpeeled 4,50 ae dried… Peeled 2.5.2. -.~-= 3. 00 Hay, baled…- Timothy or clover …. Per 100 pounds!.a Pro rata as to greater or Jess width or weight.

6 On the above enumerated cotton cloths, pro rata as to greater or less width or weight.

Article. Quality. Description. Quantity. Price. 88 Wheat chaff, baled=-In assessing the average value of “first-class artillery and wagon horses at $350,” we designed that the term should be accepted and acted upon according to its obvious common-sense import. In other words, that horses should be selected and then impressed accordingly as their working qualities and adaptation to army service, together with their intrinsic value, would warrant a judicious purchaser in considering them as coming within the contemplation of the commissioners when they assessed the average value of such horses as the Government needed at $350. But cases might arise, however, when the public exigencies would be so urgent as to demand that all horses at hand should be impressed. Yet under ordinary circumstances, when family or extra blooded horses or brood mares of admitted high value are impressed, we respectfully suggest to the Secretary of War to have instructions forwarded to the impressing officers to propose and allow the owners to substitute in their stead such strong, sound, and serviceable horses or mules as shall be considered and valued by competent and disinterested parties as first-class artillery horses or first-rate wagon mules.

The term Ca value per head” was used in contradistinction to a fixed and uniform price for each horse or mule. We supposed that in impressing a number of horses or mules, whether owned by several persons or one individual, that some might be estimated at $250, or even at less, and others at different advanced rates, according to their worth, up as high as $450, or above that amount—thus making an average value or price for a number of good, sound, and efficient horses $350 each, and mules $300 each.

In illustration of our views, we will add, that a horse with only one eye sound might, in all other respects, be classed as a first-rate artillery horse, yet the loss of one eye would justly and considerably curtail his value. Soa horse from ten to eighteen years of age might be deemed in all other particulars as a first-class artillery horse, but of course, however efficient or able to render good service for a year or so, yet his advanced age would justly and materially impair his value. Any horse, however he may approximate the standard of a first-class artillery horse, must, according to deficiencies, fall below the maximum price; and as fow comparatively exactly come up to the standard, and therefore are entitled to the maximum price, so of course in all other instances the price should be proportionately reduced, as imperfections place them below the standard of first class, &c.

SCHEDULE B.—Hire of labor, teams, wagons, and drivers.

Quantity and time. Price.

Baling dong fore ge )cisraeuei ous se cet elsich ae bis see ens ee cictieteisicehine sates Per 100 pounds ……. $0.

Shelling and bagging corn; sacks furnished by Government …. Per 56 pounds ……. -05

Hauling ~~~ .-.2 6-5-5522 we ceo cee necs ces necescnecseccsccutessanant Per cwt. per mile ….. . 08

Saves Lien sas eseee mae cone ehinate seme De eeCe tance ee eke eter Per bushel per mile… 04

Hire of 2-horse team, wagon, and driver; rations furnished by Per day……. A tato 10. 00 owner.

Hire of same; rations furnished by the Government……….-..

Hire of 4-horse team, wagon, and driver; rations furnished by owner.

Hire of same; rations furnished by the Government

Hire of 6-horse team, wagon, and driver; rations furnished by owner.

con NO UP WOde

Upon further consideration we have concluded to value sheaf oats, hay, and blade fodder east of the Blue Ridge Mountains, when baled, at $5 per 100 pounds, and unbaled at $4.50 per 100 pounds, and shucks baled at $3.50 per 100 pounds,

and $3 unbaled.

Commissioners for Virginia.

Adjutant and Inspector General.

No. 5. Richmond, Va., January 29, 1864.

I. Commandants will forthwith proceed to change the locality of each Congressional district and local enrolling officer, and each Congressional district examining surgeon. Care will be observed not to place an enrolling officer in the district or county of which he is a resident.

II. Public notice in the newspapers of the State will be given for twenty days, calling for the presentation to the enrolling officers of all exemptions heretofore granted, and officers will be instructed carefully to revise them, renewing such as are correct, and revoking such as are fraudulent or erroneous.

III. Corruption, abuses, and errors are known to exist, and the purport of this circular is to endeavor to remedy and prevent these abuses and give more activity to the service. No application for a departure from its provision will be considered.

IV. The Superintendent again appeals to the honor and patriotism of the commandants of conscripts, and directly to the enrolling officers, for increased diligence, activity, and energy in the performance of the important duties confided to them.

The President, the Congress, the people, and the noble armies now in the field look to the authorities of conscription to maintain and increase those armies, and thereby secure the public liberty. Every man engaged in this service should feel that the liberties of his country and the preservation of parents, wives, sisters, and daughters from a brutal and relentless enemy depend on his individual exertion. The officer of conscription who neglects his duty or abuses his trust is a traitor of the deepest dye. Wantof energy, want of earnest, honest, untiring diligence is cowardly treason. The guilty officer may perhaps escape present detection and punishment, but the curse of God and his country will fall upon him. We have been told what we are expected to do, and how to do it, and if we fail to get into the field by the Ist of May every man the law requires us to send there, we will deserve and will certainly receive a just condemnation. These are not mere idle words of exhortation. Let us fail, and we will find their bitter truth. We are soldiers assigned to this service— the most delicate, the most important in the public defense. Let us show that we are as zealous and as brave as our brother soldiers who are in front of the enemy. :

By command of Col. John 8. Preston, superintendent:

Assistant Adjutant-General.
Richmond, Va., January 29, 1864.

Members of Congress, House of Representatives :
GENTLEMEN: Your letter of the 25th instant was received to-day.*
The probability is that the spring campaign will be opened at a very
early day, and the necessity for filling up the ranks of the Army is
urgent and imperious. Whatever resources of men that can be put