The New York herald., 1864-02-21
THE FOOD QUESTION IN THE SOUTH
Important Confidential Circular Of q
Rebel CommisSary.
The Rebel Armies Suffering for
Want Of Food,
&C., &C.. &c.

A Rebel WatI-Tne handwriting Al
ready ON tho WaiI-Tmportant Conn
denttal Circular. &c., sc.
Orlcs op CaiKy CoxmssARr,
| QUINCY. Fla, Nov. z, 1858 (
II has been subject OF anxious consideration how
could without injury to our cause expose TO the people
army To do this through the public press would point
out our source Of danger to enemies. To each
IN person or even sufficient number to effect tho
object contemplated. is impossible yet the necessity OF
general and immediate action Is imperative TO
army and with it our cause from disaster The issues Of
this contest transferred to the people at home
they fda 10 do their duty and sustain ne army It's
present position, ta fau back. II the enemy break
through present line OF desoasion may roll
to the shores OF tho Gult and Atlantic In ilsc.
phe vaor and the skll'of its lenders, our army has
proven more than match for the enemy But the best
appointed army maintain its position without sup.
port a. home The people shonld never suaer II to
be said that they valued their cattle and hogs
honor and that they had TO compelled to support an
army they had to battle Ia their dcence. We hope
among people fighting their existence and defence
o. their homes and country and institutions We prefer
te love thew bear rh.y and y anu
by the memory OF the heroic dad and the tutu glory
and Independence OF their country to come TO its
| In this darkest hour o! Its peril
country which can afford to send forth in its defence
the flower Of its youth and the best OF its manhood
afford and honor bound sustain them at any
cost aud sacrifice OF and property. They have
sacrificed home and and suffered untold ardshps
and with their lives are now do ending everything we
hold sacred. Florida has done nobly in this csn
test Her have achieved tho highest character
their Stae and won mpershabe honors for themselves
Thsc brave suffering jor toant of too Not
only The nsn from Florida t The ,ohoe army Of the Sou
ar IN a's condition Our honor as people dmanis taa
~ do our duty 10 he Tey must be fed. Tho fol owing
extracts from official letters possession do but par
TALLY represent the present condition OF the armies OF
Generals Bragg aud Beauregard and their gloomy prospect
Major J. +. Cumming. who supplies Gene al Drasg's
army, wrtes;-"it Is absolutely aud vitaly impo tant
that all the cattle that possibly be brought here sna
be brought as promptly possible and again, the
9th OF October he says caunot too strongly urge upon
you the necessity yes, The argent ncesg, of sending for
ward cattle promptly appears that ali other resources
are exhausted ana ttds ,pe dependent upon
beef tor the ury large army Of General Bragg
know you will leave stone unturnad and must
all now dependent on your exerons, far beet is
concerned IN regard 10 bacon o. stoc& Is about e1tau
efhence beet Is only hope know the prospect very
dscouragng, and It only remains h those OF having
charge OF this most important work TO do all 10
exhaust our rcsources and when have done this
country cannot complain Of II fail to do all tina.
can be done andour cause shall TAIL upon VIII rest
the rcsInnsibty therefore lot us employ every meaas
At our command /" Again, on the 6,h he says:-Maor
A. explain to you the great aud absolute necessity
for prompt action in the matter lor Maor assure you
that nearly all now depends on you Aud oa tho 10Th
October he says:-"6aptan Townsend, A. c. $ having
leave OF absence for thirty days from the army OF ren
nessee have prevailed him TO you aud explain
you straitened conditon, aud the imminent danger
o. our army sutcring for tho want of bcet" And IN the
10th Octetr he soOse- 7he army day haU
0fbref and fear vth,n reo days wfn hao: nothing
but bread Tsi truly dark hosr Nth n.. AMI
Is /" do all We can. ana Thea We viii h.ys acsar con
science. no matter what the world may say :" s'-s
ha;or Locke. Cnief Commissrry oF Georgia wrote'tI
pray you Major 10 put every agency in motion that you
can 10 seod cattle without monia,s delay towards tho
Georgia bordars Tketooas II rhureson yreat
yta erhauatd.n
Major Guerin, Chief Commissary U South Carolina.
wroe:-"We are almost entirely depeptent Florida.
aud II is OF the last Importance at ths time tnat the
troops here should be subsised' Ag,la he says
AS u.s. our situation IS ~ Of dimoer FROM 'ea"' Of
Disaster" And the 9th OF October he say ys-. We
hare nor 40 900 rcops ana iaborrs 70 subs,a Tc suy
bacon hand the city IS 20 900 pound. and the
cae furnished by his State Is not onsenh Of ioha
required NY dnriet'es ana dpneh ,sioas, a 70" may
Naor B,llen, OF Savannah. on the 10th Of October
mys assure you. Major, that the stock OF aud
beet OF the ederatc states
hausted, and we must depead enti ely sSp what
muy gather weekly. Starvation starcs the army tho
tober he ssys"Irom tho best information have the
resources OF food (me OF both the tennessee aud VIZ
equal 20 South Carolina and 1oorgia and the
army must henceforth depend upon the enorgy o tue
purchasing commssaries through their daiIy weekly
collections. hdpe erhaasted he beet cauie. ard
Oh, ,ged 10 kiHs ock cattle"
From thcse you perceive that muca cause
deep s0lcitude by the writer's. They
should excite the and approximations oil lover
Of his country Truly tive responsibility upou us IS great
expected iced these vast armios whether
The producers will sell to not rhs slightest reiec
zion would teach any one that 1t Is Impossible to
ople checrfuiy yieid their supp ,e make eir
minds 10 Surrender f.r efWe IL Is their Cause. u Is
not the OF the go, ernmen The government is
theirs. The army the government. and J. md every
one, and everything have, staked this
test To tai total and irretrevabc rum universal
conhsca ION of everything, AMI djed AMI sgaomssts
suLHtssion and stdrery q, He most decde and tnoroS
Garth. Whoever has any other thought bat to
iight cost OF eand property until we achieve
Independence all perish iu the struggle deserves
to be the slave oi such enemy. But under the gud
ance Il Providence our cause Ia hands our
or "A
will net heip people VINO iot help themselves. Cur
eucmics have no hope Of sonaueriue BY arms. Taer
only hore is. that viii be untrue OURSELVES,
In tbe biind pursu: o gain lose sight OF oo,n
try and thus suffer army, and with our GAUGE 10
perish How stands the case fou kno'o The s~soar-
OF Tennessee lost 10 as fe hog cholera onaother
haw eat snor TIE prospect Georg,d AM other
about e1haustsd and Is certain thai the crop % this
tcii much saey than tsat of year. Now twoiarge
article subsistence. ihe entire surplus this years
crop OF bacn throughout the confederacy. when
nan S S' ,ns r, WI, a uu s
duty o. every man to ccopofrse much possibleto
sell not pound to any one else whilst there is dan
ger ot army suffering. and 10 pledge schedule
hts enstre surpusbacon, beet, sugar and syrup
TO the govcsnment ! sal, nniy beiere hope
less unless Jsopie cap b, brought 10 this MONT.
have tbought IL my duty TO address this confidential
circular he principal men in sections the
state. and invoke their Aid and operation with tue pur
chasing comnissaries and agents their dis
trsts IN inaguraing aud putting operation
system by which axmies be more promptly sap
Piled, and all Of resources which arc necessary
secured 90 the government The appeals me
and urgent every cay the pressure upon
very great Snond she respond ,he call made
upon her has upun the bloodest battle
seds Of The war tho measure Of her eorJ VIII he ruiL
But withhold cur supplies, cripplo our army ana
render impossible for hem advance after achieving
signal victories The people home rsnst put
themselves upon a footing This they have never
YET DONE They must SOW and plant and gather
government. Thsu, and not til then. will the bright
rays peace break through the CLOUDS Of war which
overhang us.
T.. W. WHITE. Major and Chisf Comnissary
T. Syou specially requested ALLOW this cir
crar 20 your but read u TO such
persons know be and prudent TO begin
the cOnismpIa,,d immediately.
Restrictions on Food.
CIRCULAR.
HEApQrArrERs, DISTRICT EASTERN ELoRisA. I
LAKE CRY, Jan. L., 1854 I