But “An Army Marches On Its Stomach”

Harvesting wheat

Impressing Slaves, Wagons, and Teams for Rebel Army Means Smaller Wheat Crop

From The New-York Times December 1, 1861:

GRIEVANCE.

The Richmond Whig complains bitterly of the grievance suffered by the farming community from the impressment of negroes, and wagons and teams for the use of the rebel army. It says: “We have received many letters, complaining of individual grievances at the hands of agents of the Government, from the peninsula and from the whole region of country from Manassas along the foot of the mountains to James River in Albemarle and Nelson. The complaints from below relate mainly to the pressing negroes for the service of the Government at Yorktown and vicinity, and the treatment which the negroes receive at the hands of the authorities. It is alleged that a much greater number of negroes have been pressed than were needed, and have not had sufficient food, and are without shelter to protect them from the weather. The effect of this press, without regard to the injury to the health of the negroes, has been to diminish the wheat crops sown in the Counties of Charles City, New-Kent, King William, &c., fully one-third. The complaints from the Piedmont region relates to the pressing teams for the Quartermaster’s Departments, and the insolence of many of the government agents. In all this region the wheat crop is fully a third less than usual, in consequence of this abstraction of the teams of the farmers.”

The Whig concludes: “If this system is continued it will bring the government into such detestation among the people, that, in no great while, a Quartermaster’s agent will receive very little better treatment at the hands of the people than would one of Mr. LINCOLN’s emissaries.”