Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-02-12
For tie STANDARD

| -AS 0ue VI the Incidents of fha
ana Inc times, pernit me to inform the povernS
neI' "Ifoagh yeuri ool0mns if it viii be informei
!ne whereabouts and dOings of one of its cayalrv
s'sauea congress appears to be greatly concern
Gu 70 raise an army-Or1 should rather say tn in
Sr;a1s our already large force and believing the
PRESIDENT and the Secretary Of War be lost or mis-.
iaIu, hereby give notice to all whom it NAV con-
Germ, that Gen. Hodges brigade of Kentucky cav
Hiry mas oeen found. The other day our Quiet val
,ey OF the fadkIn, in Caldwell county, was startled
oy the martial sound Of the bugle and heavy tramp
of war horses, accompanied by artillery and all the
aaPPendages of "grim visaged war;" learn that
Sen. Hodge has been marching some thirty or
i0rty days through Georgia, South Carolina. and
North-Carona, in order to reach some point where
the enemy may be found and that it is probable he
VIM VIM teAcn MS destination some time during the
present year.
Your correspondent had the honor Of an intro-
ducuon to General Hodge and staff The General
appears TO be very proper nice gentlemen, and
his stall likewise; Of their achievements the writer
not prepared to speak, never having seen or heard
ei'ner OF the gentlemen warriors before but if
were allowed to judge of the Generals predomi-
nant trait would say he is fully impressed with
ms own greatness and power; and Of his command
lWould say of them as Falstaff said Of his motly
crew, many of them are proper food for powder"
whle others appear all that soldiers should he and
ms command, taken a whole, are cei lain.y fine
nected with Gen. Hodges command that might
esteem 1t inVdious in the writer were they not no
tced IN this communication, therefore take great
pleasure IN commencing them to Secretary Mem
mInger for their financial ability in the pecuniary
affairs OF the Confederacy, and hope that Mr. Mem
niger will not overlook the claim of Quartermaster
hall, and his su5ordinateS to promotion for their
ability and tact in aid to the Treasury department;
and as these gentlemen may feel delicacy in speak
Ing Tor themselves, deem it not improper to speak
Tor them and trust my motives will be duly appre-
clated In their behalf
Ii am not mistaken, Mr. Editor, the Congress Of
the Confederate States enacted law appointing q
Commissioner of Appraisement for North Carolina.
ana the prices fixed by them for all articles needed
.loT the government should be paid by its agents
when taken from the citizens for the use of the army
Inc commissioners appointed for the purpose
have performed their duty and published schedule
OF prices. Corn is put at five dollars per bushel
Still, Mr.. Quartermaster Hall, and his subordi-
mates, with the schedule before their eyes, refuse
to pay the citizen what the government agents say
they shall receive for their produce. Gen. Hodges
brigade encamped one night in the writer's neigh
borhood and it is within his knowledge that Quar-
termaster Hall and his agents paid one man three
dollars and sixty cents, another man two dollars
and fifty cents, and third man they allowed only
two dollars per bushel for corn believe they al
lowed the schedule price for fodder. When asked
the reason for not paying the schedule price for
corn, which is five dollars per bushel they said,
when they went to settle with the War Depart
ment they were only allowed certain sum, and
all excess they paid would be charged against
them that the Department would not allow them
five dollars per bushe If that were true, of course
no one would desire these gentlemen to sustain any
individual loss; but ask them, and l ask you,
Mr.. Editor, if it is true? believe it is not true
1t l am mistaken, l am sorry to do them the
slightest injustice.
Why do these QuaTtermasters and their agents
request men of whom they buy forage and food, to
sign blank receipts to quantity and price, if it is
not to afford them margin to speculate on the
government? And is it not probable Mr.. Quar-
termaster Hall will charge the schedule price for
corn, and pocket the nett gain himself? But, Mr.
Editor, let suppose them to be honest and fair
with the government-it brings me back 20 the
original point made in this article to wit: that Mr..
Quartermaster Hall ought to be promoted for his
aolity in relieving the Treasury of Mr.. Secretary
Meminger, and prove his claim thus: Owing to
the scarcity of grain in many portions of this State
the 1.-THE or tax in kind has been RENTED, and
money taken in its stead SUCH is the case in this
district The Confederate tax collector charges the
people five dollars per bushel for corn and the man
is glad to be allowed to pay his tenth in money,
and keep his grain. Then comes along some brig
ade of the aTmy-they have to be fed Mr.. Quar-
termaster seizes your corn though it may be needed
to keep the poor from want and hunger and in
stead of paying you the government price, as all
have right TO demand, he tells you, nO-the War
Department authorises him to pay you only two
dollars and fifty cents per bushel. See what nice
operation it is for the government; you pay the
government five dollars, and the government pays
you two dollars and fifty cents-a clear profit to
the government of one hundred per cent but,
alas! fear Mr.. Secretary Memmnger never realizes
the profit. Mr. Quartermaster holds the trump
cards in his own hands, and plays them we'll.
Then, how nice and fair it works amongst neigh
bors and communities; Mr.. A lives on the public
road and has barely corn sufficient to sustain his
family it is seized by army officers, and he receives,
say two dollars and fifty cents per bushel. Mr..
lives mile or so off the road on an adjoining farm:
he has corn to sell, which he is selling to soldiers
families at from eight to ten dollars busheL Mr..
is forced pay first to the government the differ
ence between two dollars and fifty cents, and hVe
dollars then he has to pay Mr.. B. say ten dollars
bushel Mr. A loses in the operation just seven
dollars and fifty cents the bushel for bread to
sustain his family, while Mr. makes five dollars
clear profit out of government corn, which ne mas
been allowed to retain.
Mr. Editor it is an old saying, that " beauty 10
as beauty does" wonder SO many people that
have done all in their power to sustain govern,
ment in whose army they have sons, brothers and
friends are ready to exclsim, is this my country
this the Justice and humanity we are to expect rom
our rulers-or is it not more properly so 10 speak,
the winning ways of a reckless party to lure the
people on to have less confidence in our laws, our
government and our rulers IADAlN.
Caldwell Co., Feb. l, 1854.
For the Standard,