Category Archives: Confederate States of America

Richmond referendum

As inflation was ravaging the Confederacy 150 years ago, the Virginia state legislature was mulling over a “maximum bill” to regulate prices on a variety of goods. The Richmond city council called a referendum so that Richmond legislators would know … Continue reading

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buried treasure

As the Confederate economy was increasingly squeezed Southerners had to make due with less and come up with creative product substitutes. 150 years ago today evidence was published of another way to find supplies – digging up the graves of … Continue reading

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price ceilings sound great

experience shows they don’t work out In last week’s post about price controls and the money supply I focused on the money printing. However, the price control part of the Richmond editorial was apparently alluding to a “maximum bill” to … Continue reading

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“marred in the transmission”

President Davis got out of the office for a bit in October 1863 and toured South Carolina, Georgia, and General Bragg’s recently victorious Army of Tennessee on Missionary Ridge outside Chattanooga. Here’s a report that focuses on his speech to … Continue reading

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“Be he miser or patriot”

Here’s an example of an individual state trying to deal with the Confederacy’s rapid increase in the money supply. The Virginia Legislature was working on a scheme that would allow the national government to slow the printing of money by … Continue reading

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job security

According to a chart published in the October 5, 2013 issue of The Economist, 80% of the U.S. Treasury workforce was furloughed during the government shutdown in 2013. However, “Money printers/engravers” were kept hard at it. We sure can relate … Continue reading

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beware protruding lips

Richmond was alive with the “never ending sound” of the Confederate government’s stamping presses manufacturing paper currency. But it wasn’t just the government – counterfeiters were a big problem for the CSA. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch October 7, 1863: … Continue reading

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the looming winter

In the following letter, “O.K.” details scarcity, inflation, and speculation in Lynchburg, Virginia. The correspondent also echoes the Richmond press in his concern about how the poor can possibly cope during the coming winter given the bad economic situation. “O.K.” … Continue reading

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general review

From The New-York Times October 6, 1863: Lee’s Report. The specific object of LEE’s Summer invasion of Pennsylvania was a matter of profound mystery and endless speculation at the time; and the mystery is not perfectly cleared up by his … Continue reading

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“gracious gifts”

150 years ago today President Lincoln proclaimed another day of thanksgiving for 1863. From The Papers And Writings Of Abraham Lincoln, Volume Six: PROCLAMATION FOR THANKSGIVING, OCTOBER 3, 1863. BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AMERICA: A Proclamation. The … Continue reading

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