1864 Trans-Mississippi Manuscript Commissary Document – San Antonio, TX

Description

1864 Trans-Mississippi Manuscript Commissary Document – San Antonio, TX
Offered for your consideration is a manuscript correspondence relating to the delivery of taxes in kind and their subsequent shipment. It is headlined
“Office Chf Pur Com Agt. 7
th
Dist / San Antonio, March 6
th
1864”
(Office Chief Purchasing Commission Agent 7
th
District) and is addressed to
“Adolf Weiss Esq / Pur Com Agt / Gillespie &c”
(Purchasing Commission Agent). It was penned by
“Jacob Waelder / Chf Pur Com Agt / 7
th
Dist of Tex”
and reads, in part,
“on the 28
th
ult. I sent you copy of orders from Capt. Graham, authorizing and requesting the producers of Gillespie and adjoining counties to deliver their tax in kind to my authorized agents … Capt. Graham informs me that Mr. Hunter has never given a bond, and he does not therefore consider him as an agent … You are thus the only person really authorized to receive the tiller tax, and I urge upon you the necessity of collecting all the grain, bacon and every other articles of Subsistence as rapidly as possible …”
. He instructs Weiss to
“… Have every thing you may collect ready for delivery whenever transportation is found. Or if you can obtain wagons and teams (conscripts) load and send them to this post. Up to this time I have not been able to procure transportation for the grain … But an officer has been detailed to impress teams …”
. This correspondence illustrates the apparent difficulties that agents were having in procuring and transporting supplies, especially in the western reaches of the Confederacy. These agents were actually lucky, since these were products to be received as payment of taxes, no form of re-imbursement, other than a receipt, would be expected by the individual. Many Confederate and state quartermasters were attempting to purchase the same items, but the individuals wanted some form of payment, which most government agents didn’t have at their disposal (notice the mention in the document about impressing teams). This interesting piece is written in period ink of blue paper, with the hand-writing being reasonably legible. This piece would make a great addition to any Trans-Mississippi or Texas related Civil War collection.
As expected, this piece exhibits several period folds and wrinkles from its wartime transmittal. Light toning can be seen across the surface, significantly more pronounced along the noted folds. Scattered foxing spots are mentioned for accuracy, as these do not detract from the overall eye appeal and legibility of the piece. Due to the thinness of the paper and the acidic nature of the period ink, bleed through and some erosion can be seen when the pages are viewed from the back. This interesting document measures 8⅛ x 10¼ inches, and will be shipped with a modern transcript for ease of decipherment.
A .95 charge will be added to the winning bid for postage and insurance.
If you have any questions regarding this item, please ask before purchasing.
Buy or Bid with Confidence – American Coins & Collectibles President Richie Self has worked 6 years as a paper money grader/authenticator. He has contributed to numerous reference books within the industry, as well as being a co-author of “The Comprehensive Catalog and History of Confederate Bonds, 2
nd
Edition” with Douglas B. Ball, Ph.D., Henry F. Simmons, M.D., Ph.D. and James R. Desabaye. Mr. Self is a life member of the American Numismatic Association, the Society of Paper Money Collectors, as well as numerous regional numismatic associations. He is an authorized submitter to NGC, PCGS, and PMG, a diamond founding member of Coin Dealers Helping Coin Dealers and a supporter of the Industry Council for Tangible Assets. American Coins and Collectibles can be found at many of the state and local coin shows.
American Coins and Collectibles
Shreveport, LA