No news of battles yet. But we have a rumor of the burning
of the fine government steamer R. E. Lee, chased by the blockaders. That makes
two this week.
Gen. Lee dispatched the President, yesterday, as follows:
“Orange C. H., Nov. 12th. — For the last five days we have
only received three pounds of corn per horse, from Richmond, per day. We depend
on Richmond for corn. At this rate, the horses will die, and cannot do hard
work. The enemy is very active, and we must be prepared for hard work any day. —
R. E. Lee.”
On the back of which the President indorsed: "Have the
forage sent up in preference to anything else. The necessity is so absolute as
to call for every possible exertion.—Jefferson Davis."
Perhaps this may rouse the department. Horses starving in
the midst of corn-fields ready for gathering! Alas, what mismanagement!
I cut the following from the Dispatch:
“Flour. — We heard yesterday of sales of
flour at $110 per barrel. We do not, however, give this as the standard price;
for, if the article was in market, we believe that even a higher figure would
be reached. A few days since a load of flour was sent to an auction-house on
Cary Street to be sold at auction. The proprietors of the house very properly
declined to receive it, refusing to dispose of breadstuffs under the hammer,
where men of money, and destitute of souls, would have an opportunity of buying
it up and withdrawing it from market.
“corn-meal. — This
article is bringing from $18 to $20 per bushel, and scarce at that.
“Country Produce And
Vegetables. — We give the following as the wholesale rates: Bacon,
hoground, $2.75 to $3; lard, $2.25 to $2.30; butter, $3.75 to $4; eggs, $2 to
$2.25; Irish potatoes, $7.50 to $8; sweet potatoes, $10.50 to $12; tallow candles,
$4 per pound; salt, 45 cents per pound.
“groceries. — Coffee
— wholesale, $9 per pound, retail, $10; sugar, $2.85 to $3.25; sorghum
molasses, wholesale, $10, and $14 to $15 at retail; rice, 30 to 35 cents.
“liquors. — Whisky,
$55 to $70 per gallon, according to quality, apple brandy, $50; high proof rum,
$50; French brandy, $80 to $100.
"In the city markets fresh meats are worth $1.25 to
$1.50 for beef and mutton, and $2 for pork; chickens, $6 to $8 per pair; ducks,
$7 to $8 per pair; butter, $4.50 to $5 per pound; sweet potatoes, $2.50 per
half peck; Irish potatoes, $2 per half peck.
“leather. — Sole
leather, $6.50 to $7.50 per pound; upper leather, $7.50 to $8; harness leather,
$5.50 to $6; hides are quoted at $2.50 to $2.75 for dry, and $1.50 for salted green;
tanners' oil, $4 to $5 per gallon.
“tobacco. — Common
article, not sound, $1 to $1.25; medium, pounds, dark, $1.30 to $2; good medium
bright, $2 to $2.75; fine bright, $2 to $4; sweet 5's and 10's scarce and in
demand, with an advance."
My friend Capt. Jackson Warner sent me, to-day, two bushels
of meal at government price, $5 per bushel. The price in market is $20. Also
nine pounds of good beef, and a shank—for which he charged nothing, it being
part of a present to him from a butcher.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's
Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p.
96-7
