Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1864-04-16

ii lie afmskFa pa,sefs. fllaa ths rebel Gen.
ersl s kirby AmiiA bad boon aegotGatina
|ss:ll. certain PARTIES Ia the unstsd States,
Under he sanction Of the C0nseactass GOV.
erbinesss, isr al exchange u cotton f;,f such
stlielss q Sic rebel troops were ID most
pssesine need The stateRcals teinr de-.
MED. appafsesly On osilciAi astAerits, she
meter WAS dropped.
The rev York 7fmss Of the sl1a. gives
saels pahlic documents touching the trade,
ae e leave 4 without doubt that supplies
have beea thus obtained. ten Smith mp.
piled for aalAsssty lfD.a Richmond to enter
into sacA transactions with one John T.
Chichester suf Arkaasa. The rebel Score.
tary Of War. on the 18th Of March, 1862,
replied BY saying that such trade was not
allowable hy the assges Of war, but ID con-
sIaeratloh of the pressing necessities Of the
army, Il weald Be justiaAble. We quote
ltpn tho document
eff is, Of course. not desirable TO resort to
such tfaffu With The United States, which,
nndee the laws Of Cungruas, when carried
on hY citizens. IL illicit, and the ground Of
penalties bat when necessities have com.
PEELED, the Gayerntnent has on MARY ocea-
kions resofted 20 Il 10 4 greater or less 81.
tent: and MY own Judgment much prefers
! the resort TO such trade rather than 10 al
low eur arnsies 20 auiIeF, or the people TO be
Jtnrhesl ly the withdrawal of their ncees-
safY supplies Tor the support Of the armies.
have not however, elt myself sufficiently
advised pfyour circumstances, or the ncces-
sitica uf y0ur armies 20 determine on the
! prerriety Of such contracts. and therefore ]
have preferred referring Mr. Chichester TO
yon, and 10 your discretion and better
knowledge Of the making Of such engage.
/ mems. Ii the wants OF your armies no
qnire it, even for The incidental relief Of the
/ people from serious pressure. have no hes
isRtion in both authorizing AID advisiug the
course. The terms aud conditions | must
/ likewise leave 90 your Judgment. Provisions
should bsobtained very low from the North.
western States, and cotton, when sent for
ward must pay very. largely.
This document il signed by Jas. A, Sed
doa, Secretary of War, I'D eountersigned
hy the varieas authorities Of the rebel War
Department
Gen Smith n once gave the matter bis
ntteution. and closed contract with Mr..
Chichester In ten articles Of agreement -
Mr.. Chichester was TO deliver at certain
points 30. 900 caps, 10000 jackets, $4,000
] pants, 1900 shirts, 30, 600 drawers, 10000
pairs Of shoes, 60,0eo woel socks, 10000
! great coats, 10000 pairs Of marine blankets,
] 7s,7ao yards Of army cloth. 100000 yards
I linsey, 3o,0oo yards Of drilling, 1850 gross
Of brass battons, etc, etc, though a long
/ Inst infinitely described as to color ndquan.
tity, with the price lie was 90 furnish ar
my tools, also, to.wit: ESQ dozen spades,
$50 dozen axes. 65o dozen hatchsts, $50
/ dozen camp kettles, 1900 dozen mess pans,
25e 600 yards Of Paiapsco Duck, etc, etc,
| with the quality and prices. In return the
said Chichester or his agent wss to have the
! privilege Of purchasing and Transporting
cotton anywhere within and outside of the
rebel lines. Tbs contract is drawn in good
! style. and signed By W II Haynes. Major
and @ " T. G. ssA., and John I. Chiehes.
ter and three witnesses.
+ There follows power ofattorney execu-
ted 20 an ageat by Mr. Chichester to net
for bin IN executing The. contract Farther
q orders were given M. Chichester from time
Il TO time, but the unfortunate @ turn Of mil
itary affairs greatly interferea with tho cx-
eention Of the contract, and on the Cd OF
Sept. 1868. the seeretarysof Var made the
following Endorsement on his original letter
20 Gen. Smith
,son tho representation of Mr.. Chichester
aF the slisllonilies iaferposesl by tie fad of
Kirksbnsg, and other nntoward events IN
s the Trans. Mississippi Department 20 the
delivery Of the goods contracted by him TO
, be delivered at points on the Arkansas and
Whits rivers. under an engagement made
. by him with the QnaFtefmasters and other
. officers ef the Mississippi Depart.
i fnent, with the approval Of Gen Smith,
. refer the matter again to the discretion OF
: Gen, Smith, with The Recommendation that
the privilege be accorded of delivering and
, receiving payment in eottO'l at one or more
. Of the ports on the coast Of Texas, or at
= points on the White aud Arkansas rivers.
JAMES A Seldom,
Secretary OF War.
II September 2, 1868.
How much was really done under their
/ contracts, II is impossible TO determine at
| present, but there is little doubt 'ha, i'm.
! ,nellsesupplles were thus obtained. Whether
any of the agents OF orr Gpvernmente or ia
! generals bad any connection With this pro.
/ tItaIls tralflc. wc have no means of know.
ing. The especial agents rent our to that
region undouhtcdly bad large powers con
adcd 10 theal IN regsrd to trade With the
! southern States, but II Is not probable thai
!. the tssssshnscnt was SHY enough 10 Al