Theodore Read to Alexander S. Webb, March 22, 1865
March 22, 1865. Major-General WEBB: A scouting party on the Jerusalem plank road was yesterday ambuseaded by some guerrillas, and lost 3 men killed and 5 captured. The enemy were finally driven off. I sent out a large force this a. m. to thoroughly scout the country and drive out these men. Nothing else of moment occurred. H. E. DAVIES, J. R., Brigadier-General, Commanding. Hpers. DEPT. OF Virginia, ARMY OF THE JAMES, In the Field, March 22, 1865—4.20 p.m. Brigadier-General RAWLINS, Chief of Staff, Hdqrs. Armies of the United States, City Point: General Gordon sends the following information, received through a deserter from the Twenty-fourth Virginia Cavalry, who reports that the pusition which he occupied at Weldon afforded him a good opportunity to observe the amount of supplies passing through that place, the sources from whence they came, and their final destination: All of the forage for General Lee’s army passes through Weldon. It is brought there on the Seaboard, Raleigh and Gaston, and Weldon and Wilmington Railroads. Forage very scarce. All sugar and coffee lately issued to General Lee’s army has been carried through Weldon, and most of it came via Murfree’s Depot. Four hundred bales of cotton stored in Weldon when informant left. Cotton seized by Confederate Government is turned over to commissary of subsistence, who appoints agents to carry it into our lines and dispose of it. 78 “W. AND S. E. V. A., W. V. A., M. D., AND P. A. (Cuar. LVIIL These agents are obliged to give security to amount of $20,000, and are then allowed to take that amount of cotton out of the Confederacy and exchange it for coffee, sugar, and bacon. From 6,000 to 12,000 pounds of bacon usually passed through Weldon daily, and most of it came from blockade-runners, who gave it in exchange for cotton. Cotton trade dull since late restrictions on all trade. Cannot be disposed of, and is no longer sent to Murfree’s Depot. Weldon is defended by one company, with five pieces of artillery stationed north side of Roanoke River near railroad bridge. Bridge is good and very substantial; is used for carriages and foot passengers; is only bridge over river there. There are three companies of cavalry between Suffolk and Weldon, called Twelfth North Oarolina Battalion, commanded by Captain Holliday, two companies at Borgan’s Depot, and one, with headquarters at Murfree’s, pickets the Chowan and Blackwater. When General Sherman was last heard from he was at Fayetteville.
THEODORE READ,
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