A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary at the Confederate States Capital, By John Beauchamp Jones
    

A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

FEBRUARY 1st.—The Virginia Legislature, now in session, has a bill under discussion for the suppression of extortion. One of the members, Mr. Anderson, read the following table of the prices of

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE.

Before the war.

Now

White wheat, per bushel

$1 50

White wheat, per bushel

$4 50

Flour, per barrel

7 50

Flour, per barrel

22 00

Corn, per bushel

70

Corn, per bushel

3 50

Hay, per hundred

1 00

Hay, per hundred

3 50

Hides, per pound

7

Hides, per pound

40

Beef, per pound

8

Beef, per pound

50

Bacon, per pound

13

Bacon, per pound

60

Lard, per pound

15

Lard, per pound

1 00

Butter, per pound

30

Butter, per pound

1 50

Irish potatoes

1 00

Irish potatoes

5 00

Sweet potatoes

1 00

Sweet potatoes

6 00

Apple brandy

1 00

Apple brandy

15 00

Wool, per pound

30

Wool, per pound

2.00

MANUFACTURES.

Bar iron, per pound

4

Bar iron, per pound

20

Nails, per pound

4

Nails, per pound

60

Leather, sole, per pound

25

Leather, sole, per pound

2 50

“upper, per pound

33

“upper, per pound

3 50

COTTON GOODS.

Osnaburgs, per yard

10

Osnaburgs, per yard

75

Brown cotton, per yard

10

Brown cotton, per yard

75

Sheeting, per yard

15

Sheeting, per yard

1 25

WOOLEN GOODS.

Coarse jeanes

45

Coarse jeanes

4 00

Crenshaw’s gray

2 00

Crenshaw’s gray

28 00

MISCELLANEOUS.

Coarse shoes

1 50

Coarse shoes

15 00

High-quartered shoes

3 50

High-quartered shoes

25 00

Boots

7 50

Boots

60 00

Wool hats, per dozen

7 00

Wool hats, per dozen

50 00

 

STOCKS.

Dividends on stocks in cotton companies, worth in May, 1861, $25 to $50 per share, now from $112 to $140.

It is doubtful whether the bill will pass, as most of the members are agriculturists.

It is said and believed that several citizens from Illinois and Indiana, now in this city, have been sent hither by influential parties, to consult our government on the best means of terminating the war; or, that failing, to propose some mode of adjustment between the Northwestern States and the Confederacy, and new combination against the Yankee States and the Federal administration.

Burnside has at last been removed; and Franklin and Sumner have resigned. Gen. Hooker now commands the Federal Army of the Potomac–if it may be still called an army. Gen. R_____, who knows Hooker well, says he is deficient in talent and character; and many years ago gentlemen refused to associate with him. He resigned from the army, in California, and worked a potatoe patch, Yankee like, on speculation–and failed.

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