USA > Georgia > The Confederate records of the State of Georgia, Vol 4 > Part 4
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62
CONFEDERATE RECORDS [Enclosure No. 5.]
MILLEDGEVILLE, October 30th, 1865.
His Excellency JAMES JOHNSON :
Provisional Governor.
SIR: In compliance with your request, I have the honor to hand you for the use of the convention, a state- ment of the cotton belonging to the State, which was burnt or captured by the Federal authorities, with the time and place of capture or destruction, together with a statement of the consignments of the cotton, and the drafts made on the assets arising from its sale.
The State appropriated the money to purchase the cotton, and the money was drawn from the Treasury upon Executive warrants, by the purchasing agents, who receipted for it. It is a well known fact, that the Gov- ernor can take no money from the Treasury. When an appropriation is made by the Legislature, he can draw his warrant in favor of the person or agent, entitled to receive it, and the person in possession of the warrant, draws the money giving his receipt for the warrant. It is equally true that when public money is paid into the Treasury, or made subject to the draft of the Treasurer, it cannot be taken out, except upon Executive warrant under an appropriation by the Legislature.
If then, the money arising from the sale of the cotton abroad, had been placed to the credit of the Treasurer, it could not have been used for the purchase of supplies, without another act of appropriation. I therefore directed that the money be placed to my credit as Gov- ernor of Georgia, when I ceased to be Governor, the
63
PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR JAMES JOHNSON
money, if not drawn, would have remained to the credit of my successor. This I thought safer than to have it deposited to the credit of an agent of the State, who might have no successor in office, which might cause em- barrassment in drawing upon it. I make this state- ment in response to that part of the resolution of the convention, which calls for information on this point. And I will here add, that all drafts upon the State's funds abroad, have been made in my name as Governor of Georgia.
The report made to the General Assembly in Novem- ber last, showed that there had been purchased on account of the State, under the appropriations prior to the date of the report, 4,048 bales of upland, and 383 bales of Sea Island cotton.
After that time, and prior to 1st March, 1865, the State agents had purchased 1,961 bales more of upland. There were also 40 bales purchased, in addition to the above number, which were not paid for, owing to the fact, that it was found to have been packed with bad cot- ton, and other material, or as is usually said, false packed. The owner, after this was discovered, has not so far as I know, applied for payment, and thus the matter stands.
The aggregate number of bales purchased is 6,049 of upland, and 383 of Sea Island.
This cotton has been disposed of as follows: - Shipped to Wilmington to George Harriss, State agent, 3,581 bales of upland and 208 of Sea Island. Of this 1,2721/2 bales were exported through the blockade, 2821/2 bales upon the steamer Index, under control of the Confederate Gov- ernment, at £40 sterling per ton, for freight to the
64
CONFEDERATE RECORDS
Islands, in consideration that the State would sell to the Confederacy, the same number of bales at what it had cost her to lay it down at Wilmington, making the whole cargo of the vessels 565 bales; one-half for the State, and one-half for the Confederacy. This was consigned by direction of the Confederate officer in control, to Chas. H. Reid & Co., London.
The Messrs Reid, acknowledged the receipt of the cotton, as will be seen by the annexed copy of their letter, and authorized me to draw upon it for £5,000. This was less than its full value, and I afterwards made two drafts upon it which will be hereinafter mentioned, which were both protested for non-payment; I am informed, upon the ground that they claim to own bonds and coupons of the State, now due, to an amount larger than the sum due for the cotton. I have been able to get no report of the amount realized by them, by the sale of the cotton. The other 990 bales, which were acknowledged by him as 1,008 bales, were consigned to Henry Lafone, of Liver- pool, who was one of the principal owners of the line of steamers chartered by the State, upon which the cotton was carried out. This was carried out, bale for bale, to the Islands. As will appear by the statement below, Mr. Lafone has refused to honor a large part of the drafts made upon him. The reason assigned by him is, that the State is indebted to him upon a contract made with Colonel Lamar, who was the agent of the company own- ing the steamers, and the principal agent of the State for the shipment of the cotton, for the value of the steamer Florie, which was lost near Charleston. I am fully satisfied, however, that he is neither legally nor equitably entitled to payment of the claim set up by him. It is said the company lost heavily about the time and
65
PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR JAMES JOHNSON
before our armies capitulated, and that Mr. Lafone's solvency is now probably questionable.
As above stated, 1,2721/ bales of the 3,581 shipped to Mr. Harriss, were exported, and 2821/ bales sold to the Confederate Government. There were burnt at Flor- ence, South Carolina, about the 5th of March last, where it had been removed for safety, when Wilmington was threatened by the enemy, 1,440 bales of upland, and 205 of Sea Island, by order of Lieut .- Colonel Williams, the Confederate officer in command, under the circumstances detailed by Messrs. Wing and Anderson, the conductors on the State trains, in their affidavits hereunto annexed.
Three hundred and sixty-one bales were turned over to Mr. L. G. Bowers, in payment of £1,675.10 shillings, due the steamers for freight on inner cargoes, leaving in the hands of Mr. Harriss, from the best information I have, 225 bales of upland, and three of Sea Island, when the city fell. Of this, I am informed 193 bales were burnt by our own troops, at the time of the evacuation of Wil- mington, and 32 bales were taken by the Federal au- thorities.
As Mr. Harriss's report has not yet reached me, I speak from information which I believe to be reliable. The report is expected by every express.
There were purchased by the agent at Savannah, 451 bales upland cotton, which he reports disposed of as fol- lows: Exported from the coast of Georgia, on different small vessels, 189 bales, of which 58 were lost at sea. Thirty-seven were burnt on the Atlantic and Gulf Rail- road, in April, 1864. Three were stolen from the ware- house and four were destroyed by becoming wet on board a small vessel at Savannah, while the vessel was detained
66
CONFEDERATE RECORDS
by the Confederate authorities, who refused to let her leave the port. Ninety-four bales were sold to Mr. H. Brigham, in the lot of 1,650 bales, of which your Excel- lency has a statement. Captured by the Federal authori- ties at Savannah, when General Sherman entered the city, 124 bales, for which warehouse receipt was returned with agent's report, submitted to the General Assembly in November last. This accounts for the whole number of 451 bales. There were also 96 bales of the Sea Island cotton above mentioned, in charge of the same agent, which he retained in lieu of 168 bales upland cotton under his control in Macon and Griffin, belonging to the Home Insurance Company, and others, which were taken by the agent of the State road and shipped for sale, while the road was purchasing and shipping for that purpose, and had not been paid for when the Federal army inter- vened.
This 96 bales was, however, captured and carried away by the Federal authorities.
There were in possession of Colonel C. A. L. Lamar, agent of the State, for exportation, 892 bales of upland. and 79 of Sea Island at Savannah. Of this, 832 bales of Upland, are included in the 1,650 bales sold to Mr. Brig- ham, by Colonel Wilbur, which Colonel Lamar's agent reported to Colonel Wilbur, as in danger of capture, when General Sherman was advancing. The other 60 bales of Upland, and the 79 of Sea Island, were stored with Mr. Lamar's cotton, and was, I am informed, car- ried away by the Federal authorities.
In this connection, I think it proper that I mention, that Colonel Lamar was not then in Savannah, and never was after that time. He was killed in battle at Colum-
67
PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR JAMES JOHNSON
bus, in April last. He had made no written report to me prior to the sudden termination of his life, which has caused some embarrassment in getting all the facts nec- essary for a correct report, and may be the cause of some slight inaccuracies. It is believed, however, that every statement is substantially correct.
Of the remainder of the cotton, 617 bales were burnt at Columbus, when General Wilson occupied the city in April last, and about the same time 346 bales were burnt at Butler, by the troops under his command. The ware- house receipts for these lots of cotton, are in the hands of the State agent, subject to the order of your Excellency.
Nine bales were burnt in the warehouse of Mr. Beall, of Augusta, as heretofore reported.
The original invoices, and all the papers pertaining to the purchase of the first named 4,048 bales, were sub- mitted to the Legislature, with the report of the agents, made last November. The like papers relating to the 1,961 bales, purchased since that time, are subject to the order of your Excellency or the Convention.
In addition to the exportations above mentioned, 153 bales were carried out for the State of Georgia, upon the steamer "Little Ada," which was so long blockaded by both Federal and Confederate authorities, in one of the inlets on the coast of South Carolina.
It was reported to me, that the troops located at the inlet, where the steamer lay, had cut off a large number of the ropes from the cotton for halters, which caused the cotton to reach Nassau in bad order. One-half the who !: cargo of the vessel was finally yielded to the Confederate Government before the steamer was permitted to clear, and the Confederate agent in Nassau, as reported to me
68
CONFEDERATE RECORDS
by Mr. G. B. Lamar, ordered the sale of the cargo at that place at auction. The State's part of the cargo brought £2,000 sterling, which Mr. Lamar informed me was placed to the credit of the State, with Mr. Lafone.
RECAPITULATION.
Whole number of bales purchased and paid for,
Upland, 6,009
Upland not paid for
40
Sea Island paid for 383
DISPOSED OF
Exported safely, Upland 1,5561/2
Lost at sea. 58
Sold to Confederate Government. 2821/2
Used in payment of freights on imports. 361
Sold to Mr. Brigham 926
Burnt, 2,642
Captured, 223
6,049
Sea Island burnt 205
Sea Island captured 82
Exchanged and lost by
owner, 96
383
There were also purchased for the State, 275 boxes of tobacco, which was shipped to Wilmington, and on the approach of the Federal armies removed to Timmons- ville, South Carolina, where the Troops of General John-
69
PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR JAMES JOHNSON
ston's army, on their return home, took possession of it. and distributed among themselves about 200 boxes. The balance is reported as sold by the conductors in charge of the trains, and used to make repairs upon the engines:, and to subsist upon, etc., as they were left in charge of the trains after the surrender of our armies, without funds which they could use for their support.
Of the 131 bales exported safely from the coast of Georgia, bale for bale, 83 bales were consigned to Beach, Root & Co., of Liverpool, shipped on the "Mary Agnes," and 25 bales on the sloop "Governor Brown." Part of the proceeds of this cotton was due them for freights imported on their vessels, for the State, at Wilmington, and the balance has been drawn upon, to meet in part, the drafts protested on Henry Lafone. I have not re- ceived the account of sales and account current from them. I saw both Mr. Beach and Mr. Root, in Atlanta, and Mr. Beach stated, that it would be sent out as soon as he reached Liverpool on his return. The other 23 bales were consigned to Messrs. Johnson and Brother, at Nassau, and the proceeds used in the purchase of blankets and expenses for storage, etc., of other goods stored by them for the State, as per account rendered.
I also hand you, with this report, the sale accounts of the cotton consigned to Mr. Lafone, which show that he sold 1,008 bales, one-half on account of the State, and one-half on account of the vessels. The net proceeds of the State's part amounted to £18,746, 7 shillings and 10 pence.
The following are the drafts made by me on fund- abroad, arising from the proceeds of cotton, which have been honored :
In favor of James G. Bailey, of Nassau,
.
.
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CONFEDERATE RECORDS
on Henry Lafone, to pay for blan- kets, cotton cards and freights, Aug. 23, 1864, at 60 days £1,000
September 29th, 1864, at 30 days 1,000
November Sth, 1864, at 60 days 500
November Sth, 1864, at 60 days 2,000
(See his account current herewith transmitted.) In favor of Andrew Low & Co., Sept. 29, 1864, at sight, to pay expenses of Col. Wm. Schley, State agent to England, 625
In favor of E. & S. L. Waitzfelder, of London, Oct. 6th, 1864, at 60 days, to pay on account of soldiers' cloth- ing, grey cloth, soldiers' shoes, hats, etc., 4,000
In favor of W. H. Gilliland, to pay freight on one shipment of cotton cards, draft dated Jan. 5, 1865, at 60 days 136 7s. 1d.
DRAFTS PROTESTED FOR NON-ACCEPTANCE.
January 12th, 1865, at 60 days, in favor of E. & S. L. Waitzfelder, on Henry Lafone, £4,000
February 14th, 1865, at 40 days, in favor of same, on same 3,850 11s. 4d.
February 11, 1865, at 60 days, in favor of same, on same 2,263
February 14, 1865, on Charles H. Reid & Co., in favor of same, at 40 days __ 3,747
.
71
.
PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR JAMES JOHNSON
May 9, 1865, in favor of same, on same,
at 30 days. 1,544 4s. 4d.
These drafts, amounting in the aggregate to £15,404 15s. Sd. in favor of the Messrs. Waitzfelder, of London. were drawn in payment for supplies of the kind above mentioned, furnished by them, and have been protested for non-acceptance, on the grounds already mentioned in this report.
The only other draft drawn by me on State cotton abroad was on Messrs. Beach, Root & Co., as above stated, for whatever amount the cotton in their hands may net, in favor of said E. & S. L. Waitzfelder, to pay as far as it will go on the protested drafts. It is sup- posed the account current when received, will show about £1,400 paid on draft by them.
I believe the only remaining point upon which the resolution asks information is, as to the probable value of the cotton destroyed and captured. Its original cost to the State in currency, was about $1,500,000.
As above stated, 926 bales of the cotton sold by Co !. Wilbur, State agent, to Mr. Brigham, on the approach of the Federal army, were purchased under the appropria- tions. The balance of the 1,650 bales embraced in the sale, to-wit .: 724 bales belonged to the Western & Atlan- tic Railroad. For a full statement of this transaction. your Excellency and the convention are referred to my report of it heretofore made at your request.
It will also be seen by reference to the affidavit of .1. A. Beall, of Augusta, hereto annexed, that 351 bales of cotton, belonging to the State Road, were burnt by the military authorities of the Confederate States, at Charles-
72
CONFEDERATE RECORDS
ton, South Carolina, about the time the city was evac- uated by our troops.
The whole amount in currency drawn from the Treas- ury by the Agents, for the purchase of cotton under the different appropriations made for the purchase of sol- diers clothing, cotton cards and such other supplies as were directed to be imported, was $3,069,639.21. Of this sum, $206,381.88 was returned to the Treasury by the agent, and $2,863,257.33, was expended in the purchase of the cotton and tobacco above mentioned, and in the payment of freights, export duties, bagging and rope, compressing cotton, storage, insurance, drayage, light- erage, commissions and other incidental expenses.
As the Legislature imposed upon me the heavy and delicate responsibility of purchasing and exporting cot- ton, and of purchasing and importing supplies, I have felt that justice to myself required that I should not con- fine this report to the points upon which information was asked by the resolution of the Convention, but that I should give a general statement of the amounts expended for the cotton and tobacco, the quantity purchased, as well as the quantity destroyed, and the disposition made of the whole.
The unwise and rash conduct of the Confederate mil- itary authorities in applying the torch to the cotton, and the like destruction of it by the Federal officers, has caused heavy losses.
This, however, was one of the results of the war which I had no power to control,
I am, very respectfully, Your obedient servant,
JOSEPH E. BROWN.
73
PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR JAMES JOHNSON
I beg leave to add, that I have only ascertained the true condition of some of the matters mentioned in this report within the last few days; hence they have not been communicated to you at an earlier period.
J. E. B.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31st, 1865.
The following message was transmitted to the con- vention, to-wit .:
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA,
MILLEDGEVILLE, October 31, 1865.
Gentlemen of the Convention: I have the honor herewith to transmit to you copies of telegrams sent by me on Friday last to the Secretary of State and His Ex- cellency, the President of the United States.
These telegrams and the replies to them, before com- municated, exhibit all the official intercourse I have had with the government or any of its officers in relation to the debt of Georgia.
JAMES JOHNSON,
Provisional Governor of Georgia.
74
CONFEDERATE RECORDS
(Copy of Telegram.)
To HON. W.M. H. SEWARD,
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
We are pressed on the war debt. What should the convention do ?
JAMES JOHNSON,
Governor, etc.
(Copy of Telegram.)
To His Excellency,
ANDREW JOHNSON, President United States, Washington, D. C.
We need some aid to reject the war debt. Send me some word on the subject. What should the convention do?
JAMES JOHNSON,
Provisional Governor of Georgia.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, PROVISIONAL GOV'T OF GEORGIA, MILLEDGEVILLE, October 31, 1865.
Upon the recommendation and appointment of J. C. Wells as Ordinary of the County of Clay to fill the unex- pired term of J. H. Jones, deceased, it is
Ordered, That a commission issue in the usual form
75
PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR JAMES JOHNSON
to said Wells to fill the same upon compliance with the requisition of the statute in such case made and pro- vided.
JAMES JOHNSON,
Provisional Governor of Georgia.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1st, 1865.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
PROVISIONAL GOV'T OF GEORGIA,
MILLEDGEVILLE, November 1, 1865.
Commissions having heretofore issued to Abraham McCullogh and E. Everett, and not having been received, it is hereby
Ordered, That new commissions issue in lieu of the original.
JAMES JOHNSON,
Provisional Governor of Georgia.
76
CONFEDERATE RECORDS
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2nd, 1865.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, PROVISIONAL GOV'T OF GEORGIA, November 2d, 1865.
It is hereby ordered, That the Comptroller-General and Treasurer of the State furnish this office, at as early a date as practicable, all information which they possess touching certain matters and things enquired of by the convention by a resolution this day passed by them.
JAMES JOHNSON,
Provisional Governor of Georgia.
1
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
PROVISIONAL GOV'T OF GEORGIA,
.
MILLEDGEVILLE, November 3, 1865.
Whereas, The undersigned, as Provisional Governor of the State of Georgia, has been authorized to negotiate certain loans of money for the use of the State by virtue of an ordinance of the convention of the State adopted on the first day of November A. D., 1865, entitled as fol- lows:
"An ordinance to request and authorize the Provis- ional Governor to borrow, on the credit of this State, a sufficient sum of money to pay what may be due on the civil list, and what may become due thereon, until, by the collection of taxes, the State may dispense with loans; and to extend the power to the Governor to be elected by the people in a certain contingency."
77.
PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR JAMES JOHNSON
It is ordered, That the Honorable John P. King, of the city of Augusta in this State, be, and he is hereby ap- pointed agent for the purposes in said ordinance set forth, and he is hereby fully authorized and empowered to negotiate said loan or loans subject to the conditions therein stated, on such terms and in such manner as in his discretion may be most conducive to the best interest of the State. And I do hereby confirm and ratify, in advance, all such agreements and arrangements as he may make in the discharge of his agency aforesaid.
Given under my hand and seal of the Executive De- partment, the day and year above mentioned.
JAMES JOHNSON,
Provisional Governor of Georgia.
By the Governor,
. L. H. BRISCOE, Secretary.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4th, 1865.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, PROVISIONAL GOV'T OF GEORGIA, MILLEDGEVILLE, November 4, 1865.
Ordered, That the several persons hereinafter named be, and they are hereby, appointed Commissioners of Deeds for the State of Georgia in the several States and cities in which they respectively reside, with full power
78
CONFEDERATE RECORDS
and authority to act in all such matters as by the laws in force they are authorized to do by reason of their official capacity aforesaid, and that commissions in usual form issue to each, to remain in force during good be- havior or until vacated by competent authority, viz .:
Name.
City and State.
John McClaren Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
L. W. Sloat New York, New York.
Sidney T. Douglass
Mobile, Alabama.
Henderson A. Morse New Orleans, Louisiana.
S. H. Sweatland Washington, D. C. -
L. H. BRISCOE, Secretary.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6th, 1865.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
PROVISIONAL GOV'T OF GEORGIA, MILLEDGEVILLE, November 6, 1865.
The following message was transmitted to the con- vention, to-wit .:
Gentlemen of the Convention: Upon being notified of the passage of your resolution of inquiry of the 2d instant, I directed the Comptroller and Treasurer to re- port to me all the information they, or either of them,
79
PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR JAMES JOHNSON
had in their possession touching the matters therein con- tained.
These reports* have been furnished me, and are here- with communicated. It is proper to add that I have no personal knowledge of any of the transactions alluded to, and that all the information now at my control has been furnished.
-
JAMES JOHNSON,
Provisional Governor of Georgia.
*[Enclosure No. 1.] ·
TREASURY OF GEORGIA,
MILLEDGEVILLE, November 3, 1865.
To His Excellency JAMES JOHNSON, .
Provisional Governor of Georgia.
SIR: In compliance with an executive order dated yesterday, I herewith submit my answers to certain en- quiries addressed to you by a resolution of the conven- tion now in session.
To the enquiry as to how much money has been drawn from the treasury for the purchase of cotton and tobacco, the answer will be found in a transcript of the warrant book in this office hereto attached, which should agree with the report of the Comptroller-General and the books of the financial Secretary of the Executive Department; and which shows for what these warrants were drawn and to whom they were paid. They were signed by the Governor upon authority of acts of the Legislature; were approved by the Comptroller-General whose duty it is to
80
CONFEDERATE RECORDS
keep the accounts of the different appropriations and see that the funds of the State are not misapplied. I have no recollection of the funds they were paid in, though I think mostly in Confederate Treasury Notes, except when they were presented at a time when I had no Confederate Notes in the treasury; in which case I was authorized and required by law to pay the notes of the State issued to meet any deficiency that might arise in funds to pay the appropriations of the Legislature. Having seen no necessity for it and not being required by law to keep a record of the amounts of different kinds of notes paid out, I have not done so and have no reliable recollection about the matter. I do not know that it is expected of me to answer the questions as to how the agents of the State disposed of the money entrusted to them; what they bought with it, at what price or what became of it; and I hope my answer will not be considered curt or dis- respectful when I say I do not know and have no means of knowing. I suppose their accounts were rendered to the Governor, or will be to the Legislature. How many agents or sub-agents or other persons may have been employed in the disbursement of money on account of the State, drawn from the treasury, how much cotton or tobacco was bought or sold, the prices paid, in what cur- rency or what was done with it, or became of it, I have no means whatever of knowing. The State Treasury Notes of all kinds were printed under the supervision and prepared for issue in the office of the Comptroller- General; when ready for issue they were turned over to me and I gave my receipts to him for them as follows:
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