Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-12-02
Monday Evening, Dec. ., 1878.
THE LATE COMMIssARY.


Early in the month of August the
Citizens Relief Committee organized
a commissary department, established
it on South Court street and placed
Major j. G. Maccabe in charge. He
stood faithfully at his post, a trying
and dangerous position, until the end,
never missing an hour from duty,
proving himself a man of superior
nerve, powers of endurance and ex-
ecutive ability. He had an efficient
corps of assistants, some Of whom fell
at their posts and died Of the fever.
The operations of the commits
sary department have been sum
married. and furnished for publiea-
ton, and we make the following
itemized statement from it: During
the month of August 41,518 rations
were issued to 1912 benefciaries; for
the month of September 2l2,O27 ra-
lions to q ,S71 b~enefciaries, and during
the month of October, to the 18th in
elusive, 1872, 100 r%ations were issued to
Al 100 b%enefciaries; grand total, 49,
735 ~rations to 6S,022 people. The
totals Of articles issued in the three
months are footed up as follows. 81
can of oysters, 3l57 pounds Of fish,
2S,543 pounds Of shoulders, $685.
pounds of bacon, 27,S72 pounds
of hams, $50 cans of preserved
beef, 1896 fresh beef, l4 pounds
of fresh beef, 6737 pounds mutton,
23l2 bbls of -four, 1l23 barrels Of
corn meal, 1916 bbls potatoes, IA bbls
of onions. 1908 pounds of hard bread,
352 pounds of cheese, 23,222 pounds
of crackers, 1896 loaves Of soft bread,
4SO pounds of peas, 2O,O84 pounds Of
beans, 1921 pounds of rice, go
pounds Of hominy, 256 pounds of grits,
1920 pounds of tea, 32,S5S pounds Of
grain coffee, 1885 pounds Of roasted
coffee, $3.50 pounds Of sugar,
533 gallons of vinegar, l29 gallons
of coal oil, 2741 pounds Of
candles, 1901 pounds of soap, SOL
pounds of salt, 100 pounds Of mus
tard, 23O pounds Of pepper, 1853 pack
ages of preserves, $50 gallons of mo
~lasses, 124 pounds of soda, 259l pounds
Of lard, $40 pounds Of apples, 1893
bushels Of oats, 2225 pounds of ice,
1862 chickens, 437 dozen of eggs, lac
bottles of wine, 68,84O pounds of hay.
6l5 pounds of butter, 296 boxes Of
yeast powders, 80 pounds Of tobacco
1923 pounds of peaches, 379 cans o.
tomatoes, 269 cans Of beans, lO7 cans
condensed milk, II gallons Of brandy
and 200 gallons of whisky. A few
other articles issued in small quaint
ties are omitted. These items give al
idea of the immense quantity of sup
plies distributed in Memphis and sen
to the various camps and needy peopl,
in this vicinity. Toward the last
when all stores were closed, man,
people of means were compelled t
apply to the commissary department
for relief There were gross imposi
tions. Of course, but this was no faul
of the small force at the department
The immense issue Of rations towar
the last, when so few people RENAME
in the city, is in part, at leas
accounted for by the fact hat a
classes in reach Of Memphis had ru
out Of anything to eat. and that eve
hose who had money or credit foun
it difficult to purchase supplies, To
much praise cannot be accorded MajC
Maccabe and his assistants for the.
faithful discharge of duty in sue
dark, trying times. The books wei
kept as accurately as if the report ha
to be submitted to a committee
army officers, and we doubt not Woul
stand as rigid an examination as Il
accounts of any army commissar
They constitute an important recoI
which may serve useful purposes
the future.