152 



CONFEDERATE STATES. 



Office Department at "Washington, and to re- 

 turn, at the same time, all postage stamps and 

 stamped envelopes belonging to the United 

 State, and to retain in their possession all the 

 revenue which should have accrued from the 

 postal service previous to the 1st of June, to 

 meet the orders of the Postmaster-General of 

 the United States for the payment of mail-ser- 

 vice within the Confederate States. 



Postmasters were forhidden to collect postage 

 on mail matter sent to or received from the 

 United States until a postal treaty should be 

 made by that Government with the Southern 

 Confederacy ; and, until postage stamps and 

 stamped envelopes were furnished, all mail mat- 

 ter was required to be paid for in money. 



Five cents were charged for every single seal- 

 ed letter conveyed over a distance of less than 

 five hundred miles within the limits of the Con- 

 federacy ; and for any distance exceeding that 

 point, double that rate. Newspapers published 

 within the Confederate States and sent from the 

 office to subscribers residing in the said States, 

 were charged as follows : weeklies, ten cents per 

 quarter ; semi-weeklies, double that amount ; tri- 

 weeklies, treble that amount ; papers published 

 six times a week, sixty cents; and dailies sev- 

 enty cents. Periodicals published oftener than 

 biennially were charged as newspapers. Books, 

 bound or unbound, not weighing over four 

 pounds, were charged at two cents an ounce for 

 any distance. Double the rates above specified 

 were to be charged upon all newspapers publish- 

 ed beyond the limits of the Confederate States. 



The new postage stamp did not make its 

 appearance until the 18th of October. It was 

 green, with a portrait of President Davis, 

 within a double oval border, surrounded with 

 the inscription, " Confederate States of Amer- 

 ica." Outside of the circle, and at the head of 

 the stamp, is the word " postage," and at the 

 lower edge its denomination, " five cents." 



The Courts of the United States were also 

 organized as courts of the Confederate States, 

 and the officers of the army and navy of the 

 United States, who resigned, became officers in 

 the army and navy of the Confederate States. 

 Eevenue officers in like manner continued as 

 such under the new Government. 



At the session of Congress in July at Rich- 

 mond, the report of the Secretary of War stated 

 the number of regiments of troops then accept- 

 ed was 194, and 32 battalions, besides various 

 detachments of artillery, and companies of cav- 

 alry. He urged the continued acceptance of 

 troops until the number reached 300 regiments. 

 The success at Bull Run awakened such a de- 

 gree of enthusiasm and confidence in the ulti- 

 mate triumph of the Confederacy, that the 

 army, in a short time, increased to a greater 

 number than had been anticipated. Forward 

 movements were made from Manassas and Cen- 

 treville, and the flag of the " Stars and Bars " 

 was flaunted from the summit of Munson's Hill, 

 where the inhabitants of the city of "Washing- 

 ton could see its folds proudly waving. At this 



time, a division of opinion existed even in the 

 Cabinet of President Davis, on the policy of a 

 forward movement of the army. It was ap- 

 prehended by those who were opposed, that 

 an attack upon and destruction of the Capital 

 would thoroughly arouse the North. Some 

 asserted that the true policy at that time, was 

 to await the action of the French and English 

 Governments, and thus the difficulties might be 

 arranged without further effusion of blood. At 

 the same time, the army was desirous of a for- 

 ward movement, the capture of "Washington, 

 the recovery of Maryland, and the possession 

 of Baltimore for their winter-quarters. The 

 final decision was adverse to a forward move- 

 ment. The rapid increase in the Federal force, 

 its improving discipline and reorganization, 

 rendered doubtful the result. A change was 

 also made in the war policy of the Federal 

 Government, the design of which now was to 

 attack the Confederate States elsewhere than in 

 Virginia. All these circumstances exerted a 

 controlling influence when united with others 

 which existed within the Confederacy itself. 

 These consisted in a lack of transportation, and 

 those more indispensable means to the success 

 of an attempt at invasion, an abundance of 

 money. Nevertheless, the military efforts of 

 the Government were on a most extensive 

 scale. Troops were organized and sent to in- 

 trenched camps in Kentucky. (See KENTUCKY.) 

 Forces were maintained in "Western Virginia, 

 and an active campaign carried on. (See VIK- 

 GINIA.) In Missouri, although left in a manner 

 by the Government to take care of herself, the 

 most active military operations took place. 

 (See MISSOURI.) The talents and skill of the 

 Commanding General, Price, enabled him to 

 sustain himself, and carry on an active cam- 

 paign with less assistance and encouragement 

 from the Government than any officer in the 

 army. 



At this moment, the solvent or specie-paying 

 banks refused to receive the Confederate Treas- 

 ury notes, and were calling in all their own 

 circulation. They also refused to receive the 

 bills of suspended banks, and both Treasury 

 notes and suspended bills sunk from eight to 

 fifteen per cent., and in the cities of the Gulf 

 States were refused by mechanics and trades- 

 men. Embarrassment, discouragement, and 

 uncertainty settled upon whole communities. 

 The valuable paper was rapidly decreasing and 

 disappearing, while the other was as rapidly in- 

 creasing. All who could, drew specie from the 

 banks, and millions of dollars were hid away 

 or buried. 



From this period, which was the month of 

 September, the favorable aspect of affairs in 

 the Confederate States began to decline, and 

 before the close of the year, the subject of 

 drafting soldiers to serve in the army was ac- 

 tively discussed. The entire forces in the field 

 at any time scarcely exceeded 290,000 men, and 

 many of those were militia, rather than sol- 

 diers enlisted for a long war. 



