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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875

Journal of the Confederate Congress --TUESDAY, February 21, 1865.

Journal of the Congress of the Confederate States of America, 1861-1865 [Volume 4]
TUESDAY, February 21, 1865.

OPEN SESSION.

A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Dalton:

Mr. President: The House of Representatives have passed bills of the following titles; in which they ask the concurrence of the Senate:

• H. R. 378. An act to provide for the immediate payment of arrears due to the Army and Navy; and
• H. R. 382. An act to amend the thirteenth section of an act entitled "An act to reduce the currency and to authorize a new issue of notes and bonds."

And they have passed the bill of the Senate (S. 187) to regulate the business of conscription.

The House of Representatives agree to the amendments of the Senate to the amendments of the House to the bill (S. 84) to regulate, for a limited period, the compensation of the officers, clerks, and employees of the civil departments of the Government in the city of Richmond.

The President pro tempore laid before the Senate a communication from the Secretary of the Treasury in relation to making the First Auditor the recorder and custodian of all navy accounts, and recommending the appointment of two additional clerks in the Register's Office; which was read.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

The President pro tempore laid before the Senate a communication from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting the report of the agent of the Treasury in the Trans-Mississippi Department; which was read.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Mr. Johnson of Georgia presented a series of resolutions passed at a meeting of the officers and men of Cook's brigade of Georgia troops in relation to the condition of the country and the prosecution of the war; which were read.

Ordered, That they lie upon the table and be printed.

Mr. Semmes presented a series of resolutions passed by Capt. C. A. Green's Louisiana battery and certain Virginia artillery companies, composing Stark's battalion, in relation to the prosecution of the war; which were read.

Ordered, That they lie upon the table and be printed.

Mr. Semmes submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

Resolved, That the President of the Confederate States be requested to communicate to the Senate, if not incompatible with the public interest, the official report of Gen. John B. Hood, of the operations of the Army of Tennessee while under his command.

On motion by Mr. Semmes,

Ordered, That the Committee on Finance be discharged from the further consideration of the bill (H. R. 381) to provide for the redemption of the old issue of Treasury notes held by certain Indian tribes, and that it be referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

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Mr. Semmes, from the Committee on Finance, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 375) authorizing proof to be received of the loss or destruction of vouchers necessary in the settlement of accounts, reported it without amendment.

The Senate proceeded, as in Committee of the Whole, to the consideration of the said bill; and no amendment being proposed, it was reported to the Senate.

Ordered, That it pass to a third reading.

The said bill was read the third time.

Resolved, That it pass.

Ordered, That the Secretary inform the House of Representatives thereof.

Mr. Semmes, from the Committee on Finance, to whom was referred the joint resolution (S. 32) construing the act of May 31, 1864, to provide for the appointment of a disbursing clerk in the War Department, reported it without amendment.

The Senate proceeded, as in Committee of the Whole, to the consideration of the said resolution; and no amendment being made, it was reported to the Senate.

Ordered, That it be engrossed and read a third time.

The said resolution was read the third time.

Resolved, That it pass, and that the title thereof be as aforesaid.

Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the House of Representatives therein.

Mr. Semmes, from the Committee on Finance, to whom were referred the bill (H. R. 376) making an appropriation for the exchange or redemption of mutilated Treasury notes of the new issue, and the bill (S. 198) to amend the thirteenth section of an act entitled "An act to reduce the currency and to authorize a new issue of notes and bonds," approved February 17, 1864, reported them severally, without amendment.

On motion by Mr. Semmes,

Ordered, That they lie upon the table.

On motion by Mr. Semmes,

Ordered, That the Committee on Finance be discharged from the further consideration of the memorial of G. G. Steever.

The bill (H. R. 382) to amend the thirteenth section of an act entitled "An act to reduce the currency and to authorize a new issue of notes and bonds," was read the first and second times and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and no amendment being proposed, it was reported to the Senate.

Ordered, That it pass to a third reading.

The said bill was read the third time.

Resolved, That it pass.

Ordered, That the Secretary inform the House of Representatives thereof.

The bill (H. R. 378) to provide for the immediate payment of arrears due to the Army and Navy was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Mr. Garland (by leave) introduced

A bill (S. 203) for the relief of Thomas Lanigan;
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Claims.

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On motion by Mr. Semmes,

The Senate resolved into secret legislative session.

The doors having been opened,

The following messages were received from the President of the Confederate States, by Mr. B. N. Harrison, his Secretary:

Richmond, Va., February 20, 1865.

To the Senate of the Confederate States:

In further response to your resolution of the 24th ultimo, I herewith transmit a communication from the Secretary of War relative to the number of white men between the ages of 18 and 45, and of negroes, who, in addition to their own officers, are required to carry on the operations of the several bureaus of his Department to which your inquiries refer, and of the railroad companies of the country; and indicating the railroads which he considers most necessary for military purposes, and of which the repairs or construction should be effected by appropriations by the Government. In connection with the latter subject, he makes a suggestion to which I invite your special attention.

JEFFERSON DAVIS.

Richmond, Va., February 20, 1865.

To the Senate and House of Representatives:

I herewith transmit for your consideration a communication from the Secretary of War, covering an estimate for an additional appropriation required by the Department.

JEFFERSON DAVIS.

The messages were severally read.

Ordered, That they be referred to the Committee on Finance.

On motion by Mr. Johnson of Georgia,

The Senate adjourned.

SECRET SESSION.

A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Dalton:

Mr. President: The House of Representatives have passed a bill (H. R. 367) to increase the military force of the Confederate States; in which they request the concurrence of the Senate.

Mr. Semmes, from the Committee on Finance, to whom was referred the bill (S. 200) to provide transportation for Senators and Representatives in Congress to their respective homes, and to increase, for a limited time, their salaries, reported it with an amendment.

The Senate proceeded, as in Committee of the Whole, to the consideration of the said bill; and the reported amendment having been agreed to, the bill was reported to the Senate and the amendment was concurred in.

Ordered, That the bill be engrossed and read a third time.

The said bill was read the third time and the title was amended.

Resolved, That it pass, and that the title thereof be "An act to provide transportation for Senators, Representatives, and Delegates in Congress to their respective places of residence, and to increase, for a limited time, their salaries."

Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the House of Representatives therein.

Mr. Caperton, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, to whom was referred the joint resolution (H. R. 29) in relation to the services of Manuel and Rafael Armijo and Julian Tesorio, reported it without amendment.

The bill (H. R. 367) to increase the military force of the Confederate States was read the first and second times; and

On motion by Mr. Oldham,

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Ordered, That it lie upon the table.

The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill (S. 190) to provide for raising 200,000 negro troops; and

After debate,

On the question to agree to the motion submitted by Mr. Garland on Friday last, that the further consideration of the bill be postponed indefinitely,

It was determined in the affirmative,
• Yeas ... 11
• Nays ... 10

On motion by Mr. Semmes,

The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the Senators present,

Those who voted in the affirmative are,

Messrs. Baker, Barnwell, Caperton, Garland, Graham, Hunter, Johnson of Georgia, Johnson of Missouri, Maxwell, Orr, and Wigfall.

Those who voted in the negative are,

Messrs. Brown, Burnett, Haynes, Henry, Oldham, Semmes, Simms, Vest, Walker, and Watson.

So it was

Ordered, That the further consideration of the bill be postponed indefinitely.

On motion by Mr. Graham,

The Senate resolved into executive session.

EXECUTIVE SESSION.

Mr. Burnett, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom were referred (on the 14th December last) the nominations of J. T. Holtzclaw, W. F. Brantly, J. H. Sharp, G. D. Johnston, W. H. Wallace, and C. M. Shelby, to be brigadier-generals, with temporary rank (under act approved May 31, 1864), reported, with the recommendation that all of said nominations be confirmed.

The Senate proceeded to consider said report; and in concurrence therewith, it was

Resolved, That the Senate do advise and consent to their appointment, agreeably to the nomination of the President.

The following messages were received from the President of the Confederate States, by Mr. B. N. Harrison, his Secretary:

Executive Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, February 20, 1865.

To the Senate of the Confederate States:

Agreeably to the recommendation of the Secretary of War, I nominate the officers on the accompanying list to the grades affixed to their names, respectively.

JEFFERSON DAVIS.

No. 206.]War Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, February 17, 1865.

Sir: I have the linnet to recommend the following nominations for promotion in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America:

Colonels.
• Lieut. Col. Jos. T. Tucker, of Kentucky, to be colonel Eleventh Kentucky Cavalry Regiment, vice Colonel Chenault, killed, to rank from July 4, 1863.
• Capt. W. G. Foster, of Georgia, to be colonel Sixty-fifth Georgia Regiment, vice Colonel Moore, Lieutenant-Colonel Pearcy, and Major Williams, resigned, to rank from February 6, 1864.

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• Lieut. Col. E. M. Feild, of Virginia, to be colonel Twelfth Virginia Regiment, vice Colonel Weisiger, appointed brigadier-general, to rank from July 30, 1864.
• Lieut. Col. G. F. Whitfield, of North Carolina, to be colonel Twenty-seventh North Carolina Regiment, vice Colonel Gilmer, retired, to rank from January 11, 1865.
• Lieut. Col. K. Otey, of Virginia, to be colonel Eleventh Virginia Regiment, vice Colonel Langhorne, retired, to rank from December 20, 1864.
• Lieut. Col. Thomas H. Owen, of Virginia, to be colonel Third Virginia Cavalry Regiment, vice Colonel Goode, resigned, to rank from November 18, 1862.

Lieutenant-colonels.
• Maj. James B. McCreary, of Kentucky, to be lieutenant-colonel Eleventh Kentucky Cavalry Regiment, vice Lieutenant-Colonel Tucker, promoted, to rank from July 4, 1863.
• Maj. James T. Gee, of Alabama, to be lieutenant-colonel First Alabama Battalion Artillery, vice Lieutenant-Colonel Forsyth, resigned, to rank from July 13, 1864.
• Maj. W. C. Oates, of Alabama, to be lieutenant-colonel Fifteenth Alabama Regiment, vice Lieutenant-Colonel Feagin, retired, to rank from December 7, 1864.
• Maj. J. R. Lewellen, of Virginia, to be lieutenant-colonel Twelfth Virginia Regiment, vice Lieutenant-Colonel Feild, promoted, to rank from July 30, 1864.
• Maj. John G. Webb, of Georgia, to be lieutenant-colonel Ninth Georgia Regiment, vice Lieutenant-Colonel Hoge, promoted, to rank from October 26, 1864.
• Maj. Jos. C. Webb, of North Carolina, to be lieutenant-colonel Twenty-seventh North Carolina Regiment, vice Lieutenant-Colonel Whitfield, promoted, to rank from January 11, 1865.
• Capt. William M. Feild, of Virginia, to be lieutenant-colonel Third Virginia Cavalry Regiment, vice Lieutenant-Colonel Owen, promoted, and Major Carter, killed, to rank from February 4, 1865.

Majors.
• Capt. R. W. Jones, of Virginia, to be major Twelfth Virginia Regiment, vice Major Lewellen, promoted, to rank from July 30, 1864.
• Capt. J. W. Arnold, of Georgia, to be major Ninth Georgia Regiment, vice Major Webb, promoted, to rank from October 26, 1864.
• Capt. W. W. Humphreys, of South Carolina, to be major Palmetto Sharpshooters, vice Major Kilpatrick, appointed colonel First South Carolina Regiment, to rank from January 31, 1863.
• Capt. W. H. McKamy, of Tennessee, to be major Forty-third Tennessee Regiment, vice Major Guthrie, resigned, to rank from January 22, 1864.
• Capt. E. Hutton, of Virginia, to be major Twentieth Virginia Cavalry Regiment, vice Major Lady, promoted, to rank from November 22, 1864.
• Capt. C. Herring, of North Carolina, to be major Twenty-seventh North Carolina Regiment, vice Major Webb, promoted, to rank from January 11, 1865.
• Capt. R. P. Jerome, of North Carolina, to be major Fifteenth North Carolina Regiment, vice Major Hammond, promoted, to rank from November 4, 1864.

I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN C. BRECKINRIDGE,
Secretary of War.

To His Excellency Jefferson Davis,
President, etc.

Executive Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, February 20, 1865.

To the Senate of the Confederate States:

Agreeably to the recommendation of the Secretary of War, I nominate Robert Turner, of Texas, to be assistant commissary, with the rank of captain in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America.

JEFFERSON DAVIS.

No. 204.]War Department, Confederate States of America,

Richmond, February 18, 1865.

Sir: I have the honor to recommend the nomination of Robert Turner, of Texas, to be assistant commissary, with the rank of captain in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America, for duty with Major Maclin, chief commissary of Tennessee [Texas], to date from January 27, 1865.

I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN C. BRECKINRIDGE,
Secretary of War.

To His Excellency Jefferson Davis,
President, etc.

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Executive Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, February 20, 1865.

To the Senate of the Confederate States:

Agreeably to the recommendation of the Secretary of War, I nominate the officers on the accompanying list to the grades affixed to their names, respectively.

JEFFERSON DAVIS.

No. 205.]War Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, February 17, 1865.

Sir: I have the honor to recommend the following nominations for appointment in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America:

Colonel.
• C. R. Barteau, of Tennessee, to be colonel Twenty-second Tennessee Cavalry Regiment (formed, by order, of unattached companies), to rank from May 10, 1864.

Lieutenant-colonel.
• G. H. Morton, of Tennessee, to be lieutenant-colonel Twenty-second Tennessee Cavalry Regiment (see explanation under Colonel Barteau's nomination), to rank from May 10, 1864.

Major.
• O. B. Farris, of Tennessee, to be major Twenty-second Tennessee Cavalry Regiment (see explanation under Colonel Barteau's nomination), to rank from May 10, 1864.

I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN C. BRECKINRIDGE,
Secretary of War.

To His Excellency Jefferson Davis,
President, etc.

Executive Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, February 20, 1865.

To the Senate of the Confederate States:

Agreeably to the recommendation of the Secretary of War, I nominate the officers on the accompanying list to the grades affixed to their names, respectively.

JEFFERSON DAVIS.

No. 207.]War Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, February 17, 1865.

Sir: I have the honor to recommend the following nominations for appointment in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America:

First lieutenants and adjutants.
• E. T. Reynolds, of Missouri, to be adjutant Sixteenth Missouri Regiment, vice Adjutant Warburg, resigned, to rank from November 30, 1864.
• R. H. Beazley, of Virginia, to be adjutant Second Regiment, Troops Local Defense (Richmond) (an original vacancy), to rank from August 29, 1864.
• C. Gray, of North Carolina, to be adjutant Sixth North Carolina Regiment Reserves (an original vacancy), to rank from December 7, 1864.
• William McConnell, of Tennessee, to be adjutant Twelfth Tennessee Battalion Cavalry, vice Adjutant Marriner, transferred, to rank from November 22, 1864.
• B. Levy, of Alabama, to be adjutant Seventh Alabama Cavalry Regiment, vice Adjutant Charles, resigned, to rank from December 13, 1864.

I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN C. BRECKINRIDGE,
Secretary of War.

To His Excellency Jefferson Davis,
President, etc.

The messages were read.

Ordered, That they be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

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The following message was received from the President of the Confederate States, by Mr. B. N. Harrison, his Secretary:

Executive Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, February 20, 1865.

To the Senate of the Confederate States:

Agreeably to the recommendation of the Postmaster-General, I hereby nominate A. C. Hege, to be postmaster at Lexington, N. C.

JEFFERSON DAVIS.

Post-Office Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, February 18, 1865.

To the President.

Sir: I have the honor to recommend for confirmation by the Senate the following appointment made since the opening of the present adjourned session of Congress:

A. C. Hege, postmaster at Lexington, Davidson County, N. C., February 18, 1865.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN H. REAGAN,
Postmaster-General.

The message was read.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads.

The Senate resumed the consideration of [the nomination of] F. H. Robertson, to be brigadier-general, with temporary rank, etc.; and

After debate,

On motion by Mr. Burnett,

The Senate resolved into open legislative session.

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