Hey, civilians have to eat, too
From the Richmond Daily Dispatch January 6, 1864:
The meat Market,
in 17th street, was the scene of no little excitement yesterday morning, caused by the appearance of a C. S. officer, who purchased between fifty and seventy quarters of fresh beef, leaving but a limited supply for individual purposes. Surely, the Government does not intend to come into the city markets to get supplies at a time like this. If its agents do not furnish meats, with all the railroads and other public highways at their command, how is it possible for the butchers in the city markets to supply them? The Secretary of War has had the matter brought to his attention by the City Council, and will no doubt give our people protection for the future.
Here is evidence that the officer might have been a Mr. Moffitt buying for the Army of Northern Virginia.
If the agent was paying with Confederate currency, it was an increasingly bad deal for the butcher. According to the Dispatch paper money was only worth a fourth as much as a year earlier.
The sign was really from Kenner, Louisiana.
