The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-10-30
TIE SITUATION OF AFFAIRS at
THE SOUTH.
Observations Of a Former Citizen
Of st. Paul, who has been in
the Confederate Armv.
The Female Bread Riot at Mobile.

past. in Il personal interview las furnished nc
with some interesting information concerning
the condition of affairs in that section. While
here he was in the employ of Mr. Edmund
Rice and we are assured his statements may he
relied upon as intelligent and truthful. He left
St Paul in 1859, and when the war broke ont
was in Texas. where he was compelled TO enter
the Confederate service, cnl:sting in the Third
Texan Rangers (McCulloughs old reyimepA
He received n wound in fIacas with Confed-
crate soldier at Saltillo, Mississippi, in the
summer of 1862. and was discharged. In
August of that year he was sent to Mobile.
where he remained until September, 1863, when
he got q iircman's pass to run an engine and
on the night of Sept 4th, at Okolona, Mssis
sippi, he escaped. and made his way through
the swamps to Corinth He was sent to Gen.
fIurlbut, at Memphis. and thence to Gen.
Grant at Vicksburg. Gen Grant sent him to
Gen. Banks at New Orleans, to whom Mr..
Wagner communicated much important infDr
nation, and plans of the rebel works at Mobile,
the value of which is certified by note from
Gen. Banks, which is now in the possession of
Mr.. Wagner, and which we have seen.
Mr. Wagner witnessed the great female
bread lot at Mobile, which occurred on the
day of his departure. The women of that
city. rendered desperate by their suferings
met in large numbers with banners on which
were printed such devices as Bread or Blood
OF one side, and Bread and Peace" OH the
ether, and armed with knives and he chefs.
and marched down Dluphne street, breaking
open the stores III their progress, and taking
Gr their use such articles Of food or clothing
is they were in urgent Feed Of Il was IN
f.ct, y most formidable riot by long suffering
and desperate popul,tj0n. General Naury
commanding at Mobile, ordered tie Seven
tccnih AE'mma REG mcnt to put down the dis
turbaucc 10y force OF arms. The soldiers re
fHscd to Ohcy tie order saying that they w0"d
if they took any ACTON FATHER assist thr-c
starving wives. mothers. sisters and daughters
of men WHO had been forced to fi.ht The hat
ties of the rebellion Upon the rciii-al of Il q
1.lh. the Mobile Cadets were called up0n. The
Cadets are known Ear and wide us a. fancy n,
itiry company. organized fay the purpose 6
holiday show and parade, which has never ye'
seen service in any field and probably never
will. Tut being made of stcrner stuff than I'd,
17ih which is probably lar-ely made up o.
mutl>iil the Cadets undertook 10 force these
poor, desperate women TO re;rc p1accah!y tn
their hCmeS. QIitc little scrimnla"e cnsucd
resulting in the repul>c OF the gllIant fci
lows" who have figured in tho Mobile papers
for so many gears as capable of martial deeds
The Cadets were deilatc and taught to fly in
their first action, and the mob ruled the hour
appeared, and tried their powers Of persuasion
They promised the women that il they would
dispcrse, they should have everything they re
quired. This strategy was more successful
than open force. and the rioters went home
''promise cramned."
On the evening of Mr. Wagoner's escape,
however, the riot broke out again, more
fcrcely than ever.
Mr.. Wagner represents the latent Union
feeling in Mobile as very strong and thinks
more than half the people would rejoice to see
the stars and stripes flying over the Custom
House again; but this feeling cannot be ex-
pressed on account of the rigor of martial law.
Every street is guarded, and passes are required
in going from dwellings to places of business.
and on every train of cars that leaves the city.
The people are greatly discouraged, and are
only kept down by force. They have been de-
ceived so often by reports of Confederate sue
cesses, while they are well aware that the Ma
tional armies are steadily advancing, that they
have ceased to place much reliance in the state
ments of their newspapers.
Mr.. Wagner represents the defences of Mo-
bile, particularly in the rear, as much weaker
than have generally been supposed. He says
that if Col. Grierson had extended his celebrat-
ed raid to the city. it would have fallen into his
possession without much resistance, as it was
then almost entirely defenceless. Large forces
have passed through Mobile, bu: the regular
garrison has never exceeded two thousand
men. Mobile is we'll fortified in front, but can
not be made by any amount of labor, as strong
as Vicksburg was.
There has been great deal of blockade-run-
ming into the port; but this was mostly stop
ped before Mr.. Wagner left, and most of their
vessels engaged in this business have been cap
tured, and the business ended. In August,
$3.50 in gold would buy 800 in Confederate
scrip; there was q great demand for green
backs but exchanges were rarely made, as the
punishment for such transactions was very
severe; -four was 800 per barrel corn s. per
bushel; calico 81 to 80 per yard; sugar 81 to
81 so per pound beef 81 per pound and al
most everything else in proportion.
BY Confederate law, which is strictly ex.
ecuted, one-tenth of everything that is raised,
goes to support the army, and whatever may
be required of the balance is seized or "press-
ed. :" at fixed rates in scrip. There was scarcely
any business transacted, and no employment,
except for the government. A free market is
established, and many families of tradesmen
and mechanics, who were formerly in good
circumstances, are compelled to go there every
day for their food. Not many of the soldiers,
and not one in six of the people of Mobile,
have shoes to their feet, while such thing as
blanket is almost unknown in the army.
The paroled Vicksburg prisoners at Mobile
were suffering the greatest hardships for want