SPECIAL ORDERS, ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL’S OFFICE, December 80, 1864

SPECIAL ORDERS, ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL’S OFFICE,
December 80, 1864.

No. 309. Richmond, December 80, 1864. * * * * * * *

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

RICHMOND, VA., December 3, 1864. Hon. JamEs A. SEDDON:

Sir: Upon consultation we have concluded to readopt for December and January our last schedules for October and November, thus continuing the same. rates, with a few exceptions, relative to the prices to be paid for hired negro laborers. These changes will be found in Schedule Be The policy you proposed for impressing from producers only one-half of their surplus productions is eminently proper, and all impressing officers should scrupulously observe the rule and never go beyond it. If this rule is strictly adhered to by impressing officers it would greatly benefit the non-producers and tend to reconcile the producing classes to whatever appeared harsh in our system of impressments, for they would have one-half or their surplus productions to dispose of at neighborhood market rates.

As requested by your Department, we conferred with commissioners of North Carolina, and had the good fortune to adjust prices upon a basis calculated to harmonize the leading interest of both States. The just and enlightened views entertained by the North Carolina commissioners were practically illustrated by the liberal spirit and wise terms upon which they agreed to co-operate with us. In this revolutionary crisis we should all agree to aid each other and the Government. To rescue the country and save the people from the dangers that environ both is clearly.the duty of all. Our honor, rights, and independence are at stake. Let us bend all our energies to defend and secure them. Toattain thisinvaluable end the people must be fed and clothed. Our producers, manufacturers, and tradesmen certainly can afford to work for moderate compensation while our gallant soldiers dare to confront our savage adversaries in their defense. Certainly if our brave men throw their protecting arms around our family altars and gallantly defend their country for a sum too insignificant to mention, those who remain at home enjoying the benefit of their valor can afford to feed them and their families on the most moderate terms. The question should be, How little will you ask or take for your productions? Fidelity to all the best interests of our country points to tne observance of this maxim as the best test of our charity and patriotism. Let the watchword be everything for our country and away with money-making. In this final and desperate struggle for liberty beware lest in hoarding up money and neglecting the cause of the people you exchange your birthright for a mess of pottage. Believing that our cause appeals to all parties and interests alike, we trust the people will unite and act in concert in achieving our independence. What we will to do wecan accomplish. United we are invin. cible—triumphant, what a glorious destiny opens to our view; conquered, how abject and forlorn our condition. Who, under existing circumstances, is not willing to sacrifice a few paper dollars to gain the most enviable victory that civilization ever witnessed ?

Entertaining the conviction that the popular mind is favorable to every effort calculated to advance the success of our cause, we venture to place before you the annexed schedules of prices for the months of December and January, which, though imperfect, because there are so many and such varied views and interests to harmonize, yet we indulge the hope may be properly received by the people.

The following prices are to be the maximum rates to be paid for the articles impressed in all cities and the usual place of sale, and when impressed on the farms or elsewhere the same prices are to be paid.

Under existing circumstances we deem 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 impress or employ the neighborhood or county wagons and teams to haul 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.

No. Articles. Quality. Description. Quantity. Prim6).. 0.00 — White or red ……- Per bushel of 60 pounds. – Good, fine aee – Per barrel of 196 pounds. Saperfine saemalsse sates sece –s~ cnc 5e. ones Ot Fee toceeesmrtces ice Extra superfine: e-ssctlwses ae aceneels sa6- du ssn te wailanaisioes ere Family : Pek ae (IE aes ey bee! 5 3 = ) PPLMO) San -/sris ae : Per hee of 56 pounds. 4 Good 2… s2ns2: Per bushel of 50 pounds. 5 y’ lig Wie Saeenea A — Per bushel of 56 pounds. 6 Cleaned oats.-……. arotets = GOP osasne cee — Per bushel of 32 pounds. 7 Wheat branvs. see (ROUGE Soc. se ncn . Per bushel of 17 pounds. Bi) SHOTS ove vccs eines heisienie OO easiness coc — Per bushel of 22 pounds. 9 Brown stuff …..-../.–.- 0.5. eae — Per bushel of 28 pounds. TO) eShipistutt. 222 s-…-5)-2— dots. eres: — Per bushel of 37 pounds. dy) Baconhee oe ner en lene OO sass = Ber pounds cam om < wrereras 12 Pork, salt ….. dsanolsecas Ore testis oa Saeeleivic e -wcebincis ces ciallaans x pia sale eveisiais @ obtetenicts 13 Pork, fresh’. .<-=- Fat and good .. Per pound, net weight 14 BI eee he cao Good toss. ce: SAlipae oe COweemeaiseem eee eas 15 Horses and mules… First class..-.-. – Average price per head . HOnl Wioolleeeoee ens sos «. Fair or merino.. – Per onnl Soher Peace ATs eae GOs cece es cles s esie- KOO cescecesae URWaShedteacas- o> cafe a6 fee siceee seeebre nace TQS \CAS ee cses vo caisnee == Peribushel® ooo… se-cas ROD Beans teers esters. (s cme OOo. sn maces seme seats noes etna sorte AS stews OSaeuceeeeee ce 20i E OtabOes ia ses. ares alae cOO cco cceeen ey) ITISM. ooccceaeececes ssece C0222 2. < co Srcewecee 4 1 eee: GO ren ereart ee ae AOrn aca rtaian! (SOW OOU eaccae aaaeinmic scicics OO pecetoresmeeeaaaer 22 ONIONS eee acc pie totes steps awe nace nelsicue cele cones ctoacsanen= ce Sek UG ee Sonaecepeneone: 23 Dried ppesones pera GO pa ot nn eens eres wae PARR eee een a sae 22 22 es OM peeled= sce e ces peers GORA BSE OCROROCCroN 25 Die. vided eee 02355 2eett tose 26 Hay, baled…… Timothy or clover .. Per i Pounds: .csceePE Seo! le csarseasce {Orchard wore sherdii\sees:d0.cseees ssecee ssid 2Su MH By OMDA LGM rs sct~ia\ = misiete MO an meisieisinl as =

a Pro rata as to greater or less width or weight.

wo mw PAH SODSR OWS SSO SE co) Ss

No. Article. Quality. Description. Quantity. Price. 72°) Wlannels; $94.c200005 ) GO0E ss. ccccnenn G.ounces per yard ..c Pertyard .. 224-222-2222 $4.00 73 Cotton shirtings, 3-4 ….. (OS Gaerne 44 yards to pound… ….. Ci eS Fa be bE 74 Cotton shirtings, 7-8]. …- ee een 3% yards to pound… ….. dO. 32 525s Re 1.35 75 Cotton sheetings,4-4 .-…. dOssors see 3 yards to pound…. ….. dO. csteese secs cas ee JE75 76 Osnaburgs, 3-4…-.. ….- 0) 5 c.c

baled. 84 Corn-top fodder, ….. GO SSeetees else a east ewewowse cds Joee @QOs. es sdseeucdetess Be 1.50 unbaled. 85 Wheat chaff, baled.. ….. AG cde wcinctcscloaccas scant tewoa-cesasltees s GO. ciicemsseoese teat 2.40 86 Wheat chaff, un- ….. GO vies bares be ceaweses seeacstoecetole cicerd GO? sss 322. 5Ree st ee 1.50 haled. 87 Sorghum molasses.. First quality … …………..-.–.— Ber gallom.—.< sse-ss-<5 8.00 88 Pasturage for sheep. Good ………-.. Interior…………. Pershead iiss. Seer eee -40 890)… 52 oecsnateee sen Superior…….. es de sO Sie < Jeoescutal eae dosc2 k- So ieeecesoee -50 OD leseac (Oc cn oencenaccen First rate. ….-. ..-.. GOs ssst dees sees eee GO Gss.cti cesses – 60 91 Apple brandy 10. 00 92 Peach brandy Saiete 10. 00 93) Battercescecscs ences 5.00

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

In assessing the value of first-class artillery and wagon horses and mules at $800, we designed that the terms should be accepted and acted upon according to its obvious common-sense import. In other words, that they 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 $800. 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-class wagon mules.

The term average value per head is in contradistinction to a fixed and uniform price for each horse or mule. We suppose that in impressing a number of horses or mules, whether owned by several persons or one individual, that some might be estimated at $600, and others at different advanced rates, according to their worth, up as high as $1,000, thus making an average value or price for a number of good, sound, and efficient horses or mules $800 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-class artillery horse, yet the loss of one eye would justly and considerably curtail his value. So a 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 etficient and able to render good service for a year or two, 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 deficiency, fall below the maximum price; and as few comparatively come up to the standard, and are therefore 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.

The first quality of sorghum molasses is of the consistency of honey and free from all acidity to the taste ; but second and inferior qualities of molasses should be reduced in price from 10 to 20 per cent. accordingly as they shall fall below the standard of first quality. ;

CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES. 985

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

Quantity and time. Price.

Balingpoucvonag einen ee sels eeeseanene= serie ascii cr/aiseaael= Per 100 pounds…. $0.90

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

teal al iy ae ale et eter ersten letaratateis ie a geist seins sceman are sacs cccaae sees Per cwt. per mile. – 08

Hauling oral acaceeicerincesaese sce casi leisceinetaiccscdsmsiescccecmes Per bushel per 04 ile.

Hire of 2-horse team, wagon, and driver; rations furnished by owner.

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

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

Hire of same; rations furnished by Government……….-..–..—

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

Since the adoption of our schedulesfor the months of February and March last the financial bills passed by Congress, taxing the currency, have seriously impaired the value of the old issues of Confederate Treasury notes. At this juncture large numbers of horses and mules were impressed and paid for in a currency which was a few days thereafter to be taxed 334 per cent.

The Board of State Commissioners having adjourned, and one of its members being out of the State, it could not be convened in time to review our schedule of prices. Under this state of facts we have re-examined and rearranged our tariff of prices, so far as we have been advised of recent impressments, proposing, in this mode, to remedy any diminution of valuation which may have resulted from the action of Congress upon the currency. Therefore we assess the average value of artillery or wagon horses or mules, impressed since the passage of the currency bill of the 17th of February last, at $600. This award will entitle each person to receive higher compensation accordingly as each horse or mule recently impressed may be considered as being a first, second, or third class artillery or wagon horse or mule, whether the parties appeal to our Board or not; and theimpressing officers and agents should forthwith call on all those persons of whom they impressed horses or mules and propose a settlement on the foregoing basis, but allowing to each person only such prices as first, second, or third class artillery or wagon horses or mules may have been estimated at by the local or county appraisers, assuming our average appraisement of $600 as a fair medium of valuation. This, then, would allow a maximum price of $806, and a minimum price of $400, making $600 the average price—thus allowing more for first-class horses or mules, and proportionately less for the inferior, as they may fall below the grade of first class. The county appraisement will be the guide in making these settlements, but within the limits of our maximum price of $800 and our minima.n price of $400. This plan, perhaps, would be most satisfactory to the people, for whatever price the county appraisers agreed upon should be deemed fair within the range of our minimum price of $400 and our maximum price of $800, payment of whatever amount awarded to be made in the new issues of Treasury notes.

The impressing officers in those instances where there were no arbitrators or local appraisements for horses or mules impressed should in all such cases themselves re-estimate the value of horses or mules thus impressed, and allow in each case such additional compensation as would, within the limits of our schedule rates, appear just and proper. But if, after this revaluation and settlement, any person should not be satisfied, the party could then appeal to our Board and have the case reconsidered. –

All appeals and communications should be addressed, post-paid, Mr. D. K. Whitaker, secretary of the Board, box 995, Richmond post-office, Va., and who may be consulted at his office in the department of the Quartermaster-General.

The next meeting of the Board will be held on Tuesday, the 31st day of January next. E. W. HUBARD, ROBT. GIBBONEY, Commissioners for Virginia.

JNO. WITHERS, Assistant Adjutant- General.

By command of the Secretary of War: