April 3, 1863, American Citizen (Canton, Mississippi)
The Columbus (Miss.) Republic, in commenting on the rascalities perpetrated by the speculators, and the frauds participated in by the railroad men, gives the following:
A little incident came to our knowledge of a certain party who had purchased a large amount of wool and a trifle over one thousand dollars worth of sugar. The wool was especially valuable and the sugar was also to be gotten through. After some maneuver on the part of the owner, he got a car and loaded it up, paying handsomely for the same, putting the sugar in sacks. When the car came to be switched on the track, the switchman demanded his part, and received, we believe, $40. Soon after the engineer came along and declared that he never would take that wool and sugar through without half the sugar. It was given him. Soon after the conductor came along, and stated that the wool could go, but he must have the other half of the sugar. There was no appeal, and the other half followed the first. The wool came through. The owner had also paid freight in advance for both wool and sugar. So we go. Our people may suffer for the necessaries of life–our soldiers are put on half rations for the want of supplies, and speculators and railroad men may make fortunes.