| From the Vicksburg Whig |
| |
| February 13, 1863 |
| |
| The Rail Roads |
| On Sunday morning we published a dispatch
from Richmond stating that all transportation is under the control of
Colonel Wadley, and that "Neither General Pemberton nor General
Buckner is authorized to control it." This is the decision of the
War Department. Here is a copy of a dispatch received by Colonel
Fleming yesterday. |
| Macon |
| February 9th, 1863 |
| From L T Fleming, Superintendent |
| To Major I. Mims, Chief Quartermaster at Jackson |
| Telegraphs W. B. Lucas, Assistant
Quarter-Master at this place, not to allow any corn to be carried out
of this State, unless through Lieutenant General Pemberton's Order. I
am forbid by Lucas to ship corn out of the State. |
| J. E. Holt, Agent at Macon |
| General Pemberton, therefore, is
responsible and acting contrary to the decision of the Government.
There seems to be some misunderstanding on the subject which, we
trust, will be reconciled before the people of this community get to
the perishing point. As the matter now stands, General Pemberton will
have to bear the odium of enforcing an arbitrary act, to the general
injury of the people of this City, without the slightest excuse of
military necessity. The {Mobile & Ohio} Rail
road is prepared and ready to perform all that is due by it to the
Government, and at the same time supply our people with the food that
they need. General Pemberton doubtless aware of this fact, and yet he
is resolved that the case shall run empty, where there is an absence
of the material of subsistence waiting along the route for
transportation to market. The hand of military power is heavy enough
even when lightest and when used with the utmost circumspection; but
when it voluntarily increases the burden without any possible
resulting public good, it becomes wanton tyranny, such as no part of
these Confederate States is accustomed to, or without, like dumb
hearts, it will submit to patiently. But, we are slow to believe that
the Civil consequences of this supererogatory Act is fully
comprehended by General Pemberton; And we, therefore, hope that he
will, without delay, lift the blockade which, if much longer
continued, will carry us to the verge of absolute starvation. |
| Mobile Tribune |
|