papers closed and mail disrupted
The success of the Union armies is putting a big crimp in the newspaper business. Even though everything was reported quiet at Petersburg (although “consolidation” was imminent), the Southern mail wasn’t able to leave Richmond because postal workers had to perform guard duty.
From the Richmond Daily Dispatch March 23, 1865:
The Newspaper Press in the Confederacy.
–The Danville Register remarks that the recent movements of Sherman and Sheridan have greatly decreased the number of newspapers published in the country. In Virginia, we have daily papers issued from four points — Richmond, Lynchburg. Danville and Petersburg — and one weekly at Clarksville. The number has been largely curtailed in North Carolina. Wilmington, Fayetteville, Newbern, etc., are in the hands of the enemy. The Yankees now publish a paper at Wilmington. Some think that Raleigh, too, may go by, then Goldsboro’ and Charlotte, and some smaller places will be alone left. In South Carolina, it is even worse. The Mercury was removed from Charleston some time before the occupation of the city by the enemy; and the Courier, which remained, was taken in charge by the Yankees, notwithstanding it opposed nullification in and is now issued as a Yankee newspaper. All the papers in Columbia have been discontinued.
In Georgia, the number of public journals has proportionally diminished, and the same may be said of the remaining Southern States.
From the Richmond Daily Dispatch March 24, 1865:
From the Petersburg lines.
[Correspondence of the Richmond Daily Dispatch.]
Petersburg, Va., March 22, 1865.
All is now quiet along the lines. Yesterday evening for a while there was quite an artillery duel, in which, however, but little damage was done. Only one or two shots were fired into the city, and they without effect.
Consolidation is about to prove a reality with us, and no longer a subject of doubtful discussion.
Great doubt is entertained as to the justness of the treatment of those efficient officers who have been so fortunate as to fall into the hands of the enemy, and who are not yet exchanged.
I see from the papers that recruiting offices are already open for the reception of “colored volunteers” in your city. Not to discuss the subject of placing in service the negro, I desire to state the fact that even now, after all the arrangements that have been “talked of,” but not “acted upon,” by Congress, there are connected with every division of this army numbers of stout, able bodied men, detailed as teamsters, blacksmiths, etc., etc., whose places might easily be supplied by negroes. This is a fact worthy the consideration of those who desire to place the negro where he can most successfully aid in prosecuting the war. I only advert the fact.
From the Richmond Daily Dispatch March 24, 1865:
Pretty State of affairs.
–We were informed last evening that the mails for the South, which should have been forwarded this morning, were not prepared for transmission in consequence of the clerks being ordered out to perform guard duty. Will not the Secretary of War prevent such interruptions for the future?
