The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-06-20
NO. 60.
The provision question IN the south.

The Provision Question in the south.
We have recently conyorsed with an
intelligent gentleman who resided in the
South and as late as the middle Of last
month was intimately connected with
the Commissary Department of portion
of Beauregard's army ON the Mississippi
river. This gentleman is Northern man
by birth, and was forced into the service
Of the Confederate States by circum-
stances which he could not control,
and which involved the loss of his entire
property in the South. lie confirms, in
the strongest manner, the reports con-
corning the alleged scarcity Of provisions
in Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and
Louisiana. The Southern army were toler-
ably we'll supplied until the fall Of Donel-
son and the loss Of Nashville, the latter
place being the chief reliance OF the
whole Coniedoraoy west of the seahaard
States, for provisions. The scarcity Of
provisions has increased ever since that
event The next additional pressure oc-
CURED when the COnfederates leard of
the capture of New Orleans and tho
steady progress of the gunboats up the
Mississippi. The Red River country and
Arkansas were hereby cut of, and the
price of provisions enhanced Immediately.
Our informant was at Fort Pillow early
in May, when orders came from General
Beauregard TO send 10 COrinth all the
provisions at Fort Pillow, excepting
enough for ten days rations. The oili-
GERS were expected 20 supply themselves
by other means. The Contederacy had
agents securing the country in every di-
rection for beef cattle, bacon, aud other
supplies, but their success was generally
poor.
Rebel sympathizers have managed for
many months to send to the rebel army
small lots Of provisions in wagons, from
Kentucky ana Middle Tennessee, where
food is comparatively abundant The
Southern Generals have at all times man
aged 10 find small amounts Of specie, to
be used for purchasing supplies outside
of their military lines, and TO pay the
expenses Of smuggling these stocks
through the country konthward.
The scarcity Of forage has compelled
Beauregard TO dispense almost en- rely
with cavalry. While RaanlegerS yya---stt-
Corinth the short supply of provisions
was admitted in Memphis, and every ex-
ertion made to increase the stock.
The lack of food is also seriously
complained of In The South In the Gulf
States, Notwithstanding the most strenu-
Gus cxertions to plant grain aud dispense
with cotton, many planters have put IN
half cotton and half grain. The cotton
soil does not seem TO grow grain success
fully, and, according 20 our informant,
the grain yield will be very small. In
some localities accounted among the best,
the grain yield will be less than five
bushels 20 the acre We hardly need
thig testimony to convince loyal readers
at the intense suffering for food likely TO
prevail in the South this summer Tho
starvation reported in the vicinity of Cor
NTH, 70 relieve which our citizens are
now pouring out money and provisions
so literally, is an indication OF what we
may expect TO find in many districts
which will fall within the Union lines
within a short time. This state Of dcs-
| titution must exercise an important in
! huence on the final termination Of the
rebellion. After q while the people will
see starvation, as well as the military
superiority of the Government staring
them in the face, and their common sense
will soon teach them the folly Of longer
opposing the authority Of the Union.--&.
Louis Republican.