USA > Georgia > The Confederate records of the State of Georgia, Vol 2 pt 2 > Part 26
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28
I also beg leave again to revert to the fact that the military appropriation already made is entirely insuf- ficient. If the State pays none of the expenses of the militia, it will take at least $3,000,000 more to support the State Line, provide the clothing necessary for the Georgia troops in service, and purchase and support the wagons and teams which the Quartermaster-General must have to enable him to do the military transporta- tion, and haul the corn to the most destitute section. If these appropriations and the impressment power are withheld, it will be necessary for me again to convene the General Assembly at an early day.
JOSEPH E. BROWN.
865
STATE PAPERS OF GOVERNOR JOS. E. BROWN.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
MACON, GEORGIA,
March 6th, 1865.
Special Orders.
The Battalion commanded by Lieut. Col. John B. Beall is for the present attached to the Brigade of Brig- adier-General H. R. McCoy, and is hereby furloughed until further orders.
JOSEPH E. BROWN,
Governor and Commander-in-Chief.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
MACON, GEORGIA,
March 7th, 1865.
Capt. R. L. Rodgers,
You will take charge of the wagon train ordered to Jonesboro to haul corn for the destitute in the county of Fulton and adjoining counties. You will receive the corn from Capt. J. A. R. Hanks and receipt for it and haul it to Atlanta and store it in the State store house built by the Quartermaster-General, or in the store room under the Masonic Hall. From this you will issue it in such quantities as may be necessary to prevent suf- fering, to the counties of DeKalb, Fulton, Cobb, Camp- bell and Paulding, to such agents as the Inferior Court shall appoint in each county, to be approved by you, till the appointment is reported to and ratified by me or the
866
CONFEDERATE RECORDS
Quartermaster-General. You will take the receipt of the county agent, who will distribute the corn to such per- sons as the Inferior Court shall say are in actual need and cannot procure and haul in corn for want of a team or conveyance. Such persons as the court shall certify to be unable to pay for the corn will receive it gratis. All others will pay for it, on delivery, the price which Capt. Hanks shall certify is necessary to pay cost and transportation to Atlanta.
Each agent must be a man of as high standing and character as any in his county, and must make a report to you every month of the quantity of corn distributed, the name of each person to whom distributed, and the amount received for corn, which the agent will pay over monthly to you, to be returned to the Quartermaster- General. You will make a report every month of your operations.
Energy and activity is necessary. It is also neces- sary that you see that special care is taken of the teams.
I would suggest as suitable county agents, Col. A. J. Hansell or Thomas H. Moore, of Cobb; Perino Brown or Judge Green of Fulton; Mr. Edwards, the Represen- tative of Paulding; Maj. Flowers of DeKalb, and Thomas H. Bullard or John Carlton, who is a Repre- sentative from Campbell. These, or men of this class, must be selected as county agents.
You will furnish each agent with a copy of this order, and will continue to act till the Quartermaster-General returns and makes other arrangements.
867
STATE PAPERS OF GOVERNOR JOS. E. BROWN.
Each agent must return promptly all sacks, or the value will be deducted from the amount of money which would go to the county.
JOSEPH E. BROWN.
The following message was transmitted to the Gen- eral Assembly, to-wit:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
MACON, GEORGIA,
March 9th, 1865.
To the General Assembly :
While my mind has undergone no change as to the propriety of calling a convention of the people of this State, for the purposes specified in my message of 15th ultimo, which I am satisfied the people will require in future, and which I fear they may imperatively demand, at a time less favorable to calm deliberation in the selec- tion of delegates of known patriotism and loyalty to our cause, and when less could be accomplished by its delib- erations, I do not pretend to call into question the integ- rity or patriotism of the majority of the members of the General Assembly who have refused to adopt my suggestions upon this subject. The difference of opin- ions is doubtless an honest one, and I am content that the question, who is right, shall be answered by the de- velopments of the future and the decision of the people, whom I am willing to trust with the management of their own affairs, and whose judgment, when pronounced, I am prepared to abide.
868
CONFEDERATE RECORDS
In the meantime it affords me much gratification to find that the General Assembly concurs with me, so far as I can judge from the action of the body, and the ex- pression of members, upon almost every other recommen- dation and statement contained in the message in refer- ence to our Confederate relations. While we may differ upon the question of the expediency of holding a conven- tion at the present time, as the best corrective for abuses which are admitted by all to exist, it is the duty of every patriot to do all in his power to fill up, strengthen and sustain our gallant armies in the field, and to provide for the comfort of the families of our troops while in active service.
I have repeatedly ordered the civil and military offi- cers of this State, with the police force in each county, to aid in the arrest and return of deserters and strag- glers to their commands. But a short time since several hundred were arrested and sent forward under my or- ders in a single week. I find, however, that the civil officers of this State, who are by the statute exempt from military service, have responded too tardily to calls made upon them to discharge this important duty. I there- fore recommend the adoption of a resolution, by this General Assembly, requiring all civil officers in this State, created by statute, to discharge this duty faith- fully and promptly, and withdrawing from such as fail or refuse, all protection against Confederate or State military service. No class of persons can do more to rid their respective counties of deserters and stragglers than the civil officers, and they should be required to do this duty or to take, in the field, the places of those who by their neglect, are permitted to avoid the discharge of duty in this crisis of our fate.
869
STATE PAPERS OF. GOVERNOR JOS. E. BROWN.
I cannot refrain, before closing this communication, from congratulating the General Assembly, the country, and the army, upon the reported restoration of General Joseph E. Johnston to the command of which he was so unwisely deprived, at a most unfortunate period.
This act of justice to him and the country has been too long delayed, after it was demanded by the neces- sities of the service, by the army, the Congress, and the whole people. Yielding reluctantly it seems, to a de- mand which could no longer be resisted, the President has, as the public press informs us, again placed him at the head of the remnant of an army which was once raised by him from a condition of demoralization, to a high state of efficiency. While he assumes the respon- sibility with a devotion of a self-sacrificing patriot, under circumstances of a most trying character, the drooping spirits of the people are revived and their hopes reani- mated by his return to the field. It is believed that thousands of his old companions in arms, who are now absent, will again rally around his standard, and cling- ing the more closely to him on account of the injustice which has been done him, will confront the enemy with renewed energy and determination.
Let the Conscript Act be repealed, as you have wisely resolved that it should be; let us return to the principles upon which we entered the contest; and let the whole country, with the spirit of freedom which animated them in 1861, rally around our glorious leaders, Lee, Johnston and Beauregard, who should be untrammeled by Presi- dential interference in the management of military cam- paigns, and we shall again triumph in battle and roll
.
870
CONFEDERATE RECORDS
back the dark cloud of despondency which has so long darkened our horizon and blighted our hopes.
Georgia has done her whole duty from the com- mencement of the struggle. She has furnished more than her quota of troops, clothed them when naked, in Confederate service, and provided subsistence for their families at home. Official reports show that she has lost more men, and paid more tax than any other State in the Confederacy. However much she may be misrep- resented, and the motives of those who have conducted her councils and administered her Government, may be maligned by artful and designing politicians, both she and her public servants may proudly point to the sac- rifices made and the results achieved as the highest evi- dence of loyalty to the cause.
I now appeal, doubtless with your concurrence, to Georgians, at home and in the field, while they demand the correction of abuses and maintain in sunshine and in shade, the old landmarks of State sovereignty and republican liberty against foes without and within, never to permit her proud banner to trail in the dust, nor the cause to suffer on account of their failure to strike with heroic valor in the thickest of the fight, till freedom is won and Constitutional liberty firmly established.
JOSEPH E. BROWN.
The following message was transmitted to the House of Representatives, to-wit:
STATE PAPERS OF GOVERNOR JOS. E. BROWN.
871
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
MACON, GEORGIA,
March 11th, 1865.
To the House of Representatives :
I hereby return without my approval, the bill entitled "an Act to allow heads of families or their representa- tives to distill certain quantities of spirituous liquors in this State and for other purposes.".
The scarcity of grain is so great and the sufferings of the destitute in portions of the State likely to be so extreme, that I feel unwilling to give my sanction to the conversion of bread into spirituous liquors, except what may be absolutely necessary for medicinal uses. And I am satisfied that the quantity allowed by the bill is greater than the absolute necessities of the people for stimulants of this character demand.
I am also entirely satisfied that this bill, if it becomes a law, will operate a virtual repeal of the whole law of the State against illegal distillation, as it affords so conven- ient a pretext for the evasion of the law that it is not probable any conviction could be had in the courts after its passage.
Want of time, at this late hour of the session, pre- vents me from giving my reasons against the bill more in detail.
I return it and respectfully ask its reconsideration by the General Assembly.
JOSEPH E. BROWN.
872
CONFEDERATE RECORDS
The following message was transmitted to the Gen- eral Assembly, to-wit :
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
MACON, GEORGIA,
March 11th, 1865.
To the General Assembly :
In response to your resolution of inquiry upon the subject of the purchase and shipment of cotton for the State, I beg leave to refer you to my message to the House of Representatives of 17th November last, which will give all the information in my power at present to furnish. Other purchases have been made since the date of said message, but the agents have not yet re- ported particulars to this Department, and as one of them is in Madison, it will not be in my power to com- municate with him and receive the information prior to your adjournment. Full and accurate statements will be made up and submitted to the General Assembly at its annual session, in accordance with the usual customs in such cases.
No cotton has been shipped through the blockade since your adjournment in November, nor has any been lost since that date, in the effort to run out.
Cotton cards and blankets for the State have been
1 shipped upon six vessels from foreign ports for Con- federate ports. Four of these vessels have arrived safely and two have been lost.
JOSEPH E. BROWN.
STATE PAPERS OF GOVERNOR JOS. E. BROWN. S73
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA,
1 March 20th, 1865.
Ordered, That so soon as the railroad is completed to Atlanta, Captain Rodgers put the State teams to haul- ing from there to Marietta, where he will store and have guarded, corn for the destitute counties above there, to-wit: Paulding, Bartow, Cherokee and Milton, to the extent that they have been eaten out by the enemy. The corn to be delivered to the county agents in each case, as in case of former order, and that he notify the Inferior Court of each county that he can furnish a limited quan- tity to aid those now absolutely destitute. The part in- tended for Bartow he may haul to Allatoona, or as much of it as he can get storage for.
.
JOSEPH E. BROWN.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA,
March 20th, 1865.
Ordered, That all Quartermasters of the State who have corn in their possession in store, turn over to Cap- tain R. L. Rodgers, on his application, such quantity from time to time, as may be necessary to keep the State teams under his charge constantly engaged hauling, and that forage enough for his teams be shipped to him by Capt. Hanks without delay, and that Capt. Hanks see in fu-
-
874
CONFEDERATE RECORDS
ture that enough is kept on hand at the upper terminus of the railroad for that purpose.
JOSEPH E. BROWN.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA,
March 22d, 1865.
Mr. A. Alexander, of Muscogee county, Georgia, has been appointed agent of the State of Georgia to ship from Nassau to Georgia, by way of the mouth of the Chattahoochee river, on any vessel which he is satisfied can safely enter there, all the cloth, ready-made clothing, shoes, blankets, buttons, thread, etc., which the State has stored at Nassau.
All persons with whom such goods are stored will deliver them to Mr. Alexander on his application. If he can not arrange storage at the time, he will carry out cotton to pay the storage, and the faith of the State is pledged for its payment, and if insisted on, a quantity of the goods sufficient to cover the storage may be re- tained till it is paid, but not more than enough, if sold, to bring the storage and other incidental expenses due on the goods.
In witness whereof I have here- unto set my hand and the Great Seal of the State, the day and year above mentioned.
JOSEPH E. BROWN.
STATE PAPERS OF GOVERNOR JOS. E. BROWN.
875
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA,
March 23d, 1865.
William T. Amos, of Randolph county, having re- sponded to my call as a militiaman and having been de- tailed for duty in the Adjutant-General's office, and hav- ing been again ordered to report to Maj .- Genl. G. W. Smith as soon as his health will permit, is a member of the 1st Division Ga. Militia, in service, and is not sub- ject to conscription while so in the service of the State. He is now on furlough and will obey orders only from State officers.
JOSEPH E. BROWN.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA,
April 7th, 1865.
M. L. Felton, having given bond and security payable to the Governor of the State for the faithful disburse- ment of whatever moneys may be placed in his hands to buy corn to be distributed under the 12th Section of the Act of Nov. 18th, 1864, and to purchase meat and other stores for the Commissary Department of this State, to be delivered at such times during the year as the same may be called for, is hereby detailed for twelve months next ensuing, for the militia service of the State of Georgia; and he is hereby appointed agent of the
876
CONFEDERATE RECORDS
State to make such purchases of corn for distribution among the destitute families in certain portions of the State as contemplated in said Section of said Act; and I do certify that said agency is necessary for the proper execution of the laws of the State of Georgia, for the purposes above named, and such agent is not subject to Confederate conscription while he holds this commis- sion and acts as such agent.
Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the State, the day and year first above written.
JOSEPH E. BROWN,
Governor.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA,
April 13th, 1865.
D. G. Hughes, having given bond and security, pay- able to the Governor of the State, for the faithful dis- bursement of whatever moneys may be placed in his hands to buy corn to be distributed under the 12th Sec- tion of the Act of Nov. 18th, 1864, and to purchase mneat and other stores for the Commissary Department of this State, to be delivered at such times during the year as the same may be called for, is hereby detailed for twelve months next ensuing, for the militia service of the State of Georgia, and he is hereby appointed agent of the State to make such purchases of corn for distribution
877
STATE PAPERS OF GOVERNOR JOS. E. BROWN
among the destitute families in certain portions of the State, as contemplated in said Section of said Act; and I do certify that said agency is necessary for the proper execution of the laws of the State of Georgia, for the purposes above named, and such agent is not subject to Confederate conscription while he holds this commission and acts as such agent.
Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the State, the day and year above written.
JOSEPH E. BROWN,
Governor.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA,
April 14th, 1865.
CONTRACT.
It is hereby agreed between Joseph E. Brown, as Governor of Georgia, and C. B. Munday, that said Mun- day with Frank Hancock as assistant, shaall take charge of the telegraph line between Milledgeville and Macon, which is, by agreement with the company owning said line, under the control of said Brown, and shall keep it in good working order and send promptly over said line all dispatches on State business of the different de- partments, and all dispatches directed to or sent by said Brown, free of charge. As compensation for ser-
878
CONFEDERATE RECORDS
vices and keeping up the line, they are to have all the proceeds of the line received from business other than the business of the Government and State departments, as above mentioned.
Governor Brown retains the right and power to ter- minate this contract and resume control of the line when- ever he thinks proper.
They are also to keep him posted on the latest army news.
JOSEPH E. BROWN, Governor of Georgia.
(Signed) C. B. MUNDAY, For Munday & Hancock.
PROCLAMATION.
To the Officers and Members of the General Assembly :
The magnitude of the events that have occurred since your late adjournment and are now transpiring in our public affairs, affecting as they do so seriously the safety, security and welfare of the people of the State, render it highly proper and expedient that the General Assembly should be in session again at an early day to consider of the existing state of things, and to provide the best means which they in their wisdom, may be able to devise for meeting the exigencies of the times. The two most distinguished Generals of the Confederacy, commanding the armies upon which we mainly relied
879
STATE PAPERS OF GOVERNOR JOS. E. BROWN
for the defence and maintenance of our cause, having been compelled by overwhelming numbers to capitulate, it now devolves upon statesmen and patriots in the civil department of Government to do all in their power to prevent anarchy, restore and preserve order, and save what they can of liberty and civilization.
You are therefore hereby required to convene in ex- traordinary session at the Capitol in Milledgeville on Monday, the twenty-second day of this present month.
Given under my hand and the Great Seal, at the Capitol of the State this third day of May, 1865.
JOSEPH E. BROWN,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA,
May 5th, 1865.
I hereby appoint and commission Leopold Waitz- felder as agent of the State of Georgia to proceed to England and by himself, or such agent as he may ap- point, to ask, demand, sue for and receive from Henry Lafone of Liverpool, all moneys due to the State of Georgia for cotton shipped to said Lafone on vessels controlled by Col. C. A. L. Lamar as agent, or on any other vessels, and to do all lawful acts and things neces-
$80
CONFEDERATE RECORDS
sary to the recovery of all sums of money due by said Lafone to the State of Georgia.
Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the State, at the Cap- itol in Milledgeville the day and date above mentioned.
JOSEPH E. BROWN,
Governor of Georgia.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA,
May 5th, 1865.
I hereby appoint and commission Leopold Waitz- felder as the agent of the State of Georgia to proceed to Nassau and have shipped to Europe, or such other place as in his opinion will enable him to get the best price for them, all blankets, shoes, cloth, soldier's cloth- ing, buttons, trimmings and all other property of the State of Georgia stored with any one in Nassau, Ber- muda, or other place abroad, and to sell and dispose of said goods to the best advantage.
In case any of the State's blankets, or other goods have been removed from Nassau, or other place where they were stored, by any one professing to act as an agent of the State, said Waitzfelder will demand and receive such blankets or other property from such agent; or if any of them have been sold, will demand
881
STATE PAPERS OF GOVERNOR JOS. E. BROWN
and receive the proceeds immediately, which said person is hereby ordered to pay over to him.
Said agent will first apply such part of the proceeds as may be necessary to pay off certain drafts on Henry Lafone, of Liverpool, which were drawn in payment for goods purchased of E. & L. S. Waitzfelder & Co., which are understood to be protested for non-acceptance, and he will hold the balance subject to my order.
Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the State, at the Cap- itol in Milledgeville, the day and date above written.
JOSEPH E. BROWN, Governor of Georgia.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA,
May 5th, 1865.
Mr. L. Waitzfelder, who has this day been appointed agent of the State of Georgia to collect from Henry La- fone of Liverpool, England, all sums of money due the State of Georgia on account of cotton shipped to said Lafone, is hereby authorized, if he finds that it is not possible to collect all that is due on account of the fail- ing circumstances of Lafone, or on account of the claim which he sets up against the State for the value of the Steamer Florrie, to make the best and most advanta-
882
CONFEDERATE RECORDS
geous compromise in his power with him, and save all he can for the State, and to give such receipts and exe- cute such papers as may be necessary for that purpose.
Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the State, at the Cap- itol in Milledgeville, the day and year above written.
JOSEPH E. BROWN, Governor of Georgia.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA,
May 5th, 1865.
Leopold Waitzfelder, of the city of Milledgeville and State of Georgia, is hereby appointed the agent of said ` State to proceed to England and ask, demand, sue for and recover all money or moneys in the hands of Charles H. Reid & Co., of the city of London, which they hold on account of cotton shipped to them by the State of Georgia and sold or held by them, and all sums due by them to said State on any account whatever.
Said Waitzfelder, as agent, is authorized to appoint an agent or agents under him, and to employ attorneys or solicitors, if necessary to the recovery, in the name
883
STATE PAPERS OF GOVERNOR JOS. E. BROWN
of the State or of her executive, of all sums of money due by said Charles H. Reid & Co., to said State.
In witness whereof I have here- unto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of said State to be af- fixed, the day and year above writ- ten.
JOSEPH E. BROWN,
Governor of Georgia.
MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA,
May 8th, 1865.
In accordance with on Act of the General Assembly, assented to December 14th, 1863, authorizing the Treas- urer and Comptroller-General to cancel certain Georgia Treasury Notes by issuing Treasury Certificates of De- . posit for the same, (the Governor being absent, and by a joint resolution of the General Assembly, assented to November 14th, 1864, we being authorized to witness the burning of any Treasury Notes or change bills in the Treasury) the Treasurer and Comptroller-General this day exhibited to us forty-five thousand dollars of what are called eight per cent. Treasury Notes, and twenty- five thousand dollars of what are called six per cent. Treasury Notes, for which certificates of deposit have been issued by the Treasurer in terms of the law; and said Treasury Notes having been reported to us as can- celled on the books of the Comptroller-General's office, we hereby certify that the above described Treasury
884
CONFEDERATE RECORDS
Notes amounting to seventy thousand dollars, were this day burned by the Treasurer in our presence.
N. C. BARNETT, Secty. of State
B. B. DE GRAFFENRIED,
J. I. C., B. C.
A. W. CALLAWAY, J. I. C., B. C.
On the night of the 9th of May, 1865, Governor Brown was arrested by a detachment of Federal soldiers in the Executive Mansion and was carried, under guard to Washington City and there imprisoned, as were the Gov- ernors of other Southern States. Prior to said arrest Governor Brown had surrendered the State troops under his command and had given his parole, as Commander- in-Chief of said troops, not to conduct further hostili- ties against the United States Government till released from the obligation or exchanged and had received from Maj-Genl. Wilson, commanding Federal forces, the us- ual pledge of the faith of that Government that he should not be molested by the military authorities of the United States while he kept the parole and obeyed the laws of force prior to 1st January, 1861.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.