Adjutant and Inspector General’s Office, 
Richmond, October 1, 1863. 
GENERAL ORDERS, ? 
No. 129. 5 
I. The following schedules of prices for articles named therein, adopted 
by commissioners appointed pursuant to law, for the State of Virginia, 
are announced for the information of all concerned; and the special at- 
tention of officers and agents of the government is directed thereto: 
Hon. Jas. A. Seddon, Sec’y of War: 
Richmond, October 1, 1863. 
The commissioners appointed under section sth of the biD 
recently passed by the confederate congress, regulating impressments, 
being required to agree upon and publish a schedule of prices every two 
months, or oftener, if they should deem it proper, in accordance with the 
foregoing requisition, we respectfully lay before you the following sche- 
dules of prices, marked A and B, for the ensuing month. Owing to the 
difficulty of obtaining satisfactory information as to pork, we have post- 
poned the appraisement till our next assessment. 
The following schedule presents the maximum prices to be paid for the 
articles appraised, at all cities and usual places of sale, and when im- 
pressed elsewhere, the same prices are to be paid elsewhere, less the cost 
of transportation to the city or usual place of sale to which the arncle 
would go ordinarily for sale from that neighborhood, or less the cost of 
transportation to the point at which the government needs the article, and 
wishes it to be sent; provided, that in no case the amount deducted for 
transportation as above, shall exceed 25 cents per bushel for grain, and 
25 cents per cwt. for long forage, flour, bacon, iron, &c. In addition to 
established price of transportation, the government to pay all legal 
tolls; and where farmers cannot procure nails for baling forage, govern- 
ment to furnish the same at cost, which will be deducted from the estab- 
lished price of baling: 
Sir, 2 
Schedule A. 
ARTICLES. 
QUALITY. 
DESCRIPTION. 
QUANTITY. 
PRICE. 
1 Wheat, 
Prime, 
White or red, 
Per bus. of 60 lbs. 
$5 00 
2 Flour, 
Good, 
Fine, 
bbl. of 196 lbs. 
22 00 
“ 
Superfine, 
Family, 
U 
<( 
“ 196 lbs. 
“ 196 lbs. 
26 50 
28 00 
3 Corn, 
Prime, 
White oryel’w, 
il 
bus of 56 lbs. 
4 00 
4 Unshelled corn, 
“ 
“ 56 lbs. 
3 y5 
5 Corn meal, 
Good. 
- 
“ 50 lbs. 
4 20 
G Rye, 
Prime, 
- 
“ 56 lbs. 
3 20 
7 Cleaned oats, 
- 
“ 32 lbs. 
2 00 
8 Wheat bran, 
Good, 
- 
“ 17 lbs. 
50 
9 Shorts, 
- 
“ 22 lbs. 
70 
10 Brown stuff, 
“ 
- * 
0 
“ 28 lbs. 
90 
11 Ship stuff, 
U 
— 
“ 37 lbs. 
1 40 
12 Bacon, 
13 Salt pork, 
it 
Hog round, 
pound, 
1 00 
Pat and 
- 
U 
1 00 
Fresh “ 
45 
good, 
- 
Per lb. net weight, 
14 Lard, 
Good, 
- 
pound, 
1 00 
15 Horses, 
First class, 
Artillery, &c. 
Av’ge price per head, 
350 00 
16 Wool, 
Fair or 
3 00 
Merino, 
Washed, 
Per 
pound. 
17 Wool, 
Fair or 
2 00 
Merino, 
Unwashed, 
U 
18 Peas, 
Good, 
- 
U 
bus. of 60 lbs. 
4 00 
19 Beans, 
“ 
— 
11 
“ 60 lbs. 
4 00 
20 Potatoes, 
“ 
Irish, 
“ 
“ 60 lbs. 
4 00 
21 Potatoes, 
Sweet, 
“ 60 lbs. 
5 00 
22 Onions, 
- 
“ 60 lbs. 
5 00 
23 Dried peaches, 
“ 
Pealed, 
“ 
“ 38 lbs. 
8 00 
24 Dried peaches, 
** 
Un pealed, 
° 
“ 38 lbs. 
4 .>0 
25 Dried apples, 
“ 
Pealed, 
“ 28 lbs. 
3 00 
26 Hay, baled, 
** 
Timothy 
100 pounds, 
3 00 
or clover, 
27jfHay, baled, 
Orchard or 
herd grass, 
« 
100 “ 
3 00 
28 Hay, unbaled, 
Orchard or 
100 “ 
2 70 
herd grass, 
n 
29 Sheaf oats, baled, 
" 
- 
100 “ 
4 00 
30 “ “ unb’d, 
- 
“ 
100 
3 70 
31 Blade fodder,baled, 
- 
U 
100 
3 00 
32 “ “ unb’J, 
- 
a 
100 
2 70 
33 Shucks, baled, 
- 
100 
2 00 
34 “ unbaled, 
- 
100 “ 
1 70 
35 Wheat straw, bl’d. 
- 
100 “ 
1 00 
<C 
— 
100 “ 
70 
37 Pasturage, 
38 
tt 
Interior, 
u 
head per month, 
3 00 
Superior, 
U 
4 00 
31) 
40 “ 
First rate, 
U 
5 00 
Good, 
Near cities, 
a 
5 00 
41 
Superior, 
U 
U 
6 00 
42 “ 
First rate, 
bus. of 50 lbs. 
7 00 
43 Salt, 
Good, 
- 
tl 
5 00 
44 Soap, 
« 
- 
it 
pound, 
40 
45 Candles, 
Tallow, 
n 
gallon. 
1 00 
46 Vinegar, 
Cider, 
1 00 
47 Whiskey, 
K 
Trade, 
pound, 
3 00 
48 Sugar, 
Brown, 
New Orleans, 
1 00 
49 Molasses, 
*< 
n 
gallon, 
8 00 
50 Rice. 
- 
pound, 
20 3 
Schedule A—Continued 
articles. 
QUALITY. 
DESCRIPTION. 
QUANTITY. 
PRICE. 
51 Coffee, 
Good, 
Rio, 
Per pound, 
$ 3 00 
52 
Tea, 
it 
Trade, 
44 44 
7 00 
53 
Vinegar, 
u 
Manufactured, 
“ gallon, 
50 
54 
Pig iron, 
If 
No. 1 quality, 
“ ton, 
125 00 
55 Pig iron, 
No. 2 quality, 
44 44 
110 00 
5« 
“ 
No. 3 quality, 
It U * 
100 00 
57 
Bloom iron, 
— 
180 00 
58 Smith's iron, 
it 
Round, plate 
and bar, 
It It 
380 80 
69 
Rail road iron, 
it 
- 
190 00 
60 
Leather, 
ft 
Harness, 
“ pound, 
2 60 
61 
“ 
if 
Sole, 
. 2 40 
62 
“ 
it 
Upper, 
2 80 
63 
Beef cattle, 
Gross weight, 
“ 100 pounds, 
16 00 
64 
“ “ 
Superior, 
“ 100 “ 
18 00 
65 
44 44 
First rate, 
ft ft 
“ 100 
20 00 
66 Sheep, 
Pair, 
“ head, 
30 00 
67 Army woolen cl’th 
i yard, 
Good, 
10 oz. per yd. 
“ yard, 
4 50 
68 Army woolen cl’tb. 
44 
Pro rata as to 
greater or less 
Width or weight. 
69 Army woolen cl’th. 
* 
6-4 yard, 
44 
20 oz. per yd. 
Per yard, 
9 00 
70 Army woolen cl’th. 
“ 
Pro rata as to 
greater or less 
Width or weight. 
71 
Flannels, J 
44 
6 oz. per yd. 
Per yard, 
3 00 
72 
Cotton shirting, f 
44 
41 yds. to lb. 
U ft 
42 
73 
“ 1. 
44 
3£ yds. to lb. 
50 
74 
“ sheet’gs, 4-4 
44 
3 yds. to lb. 
60 
75 
“ oznab’gs, $ 
44 
6 oz. per yd. 
60 
76 
it “ I 
44 
8 oz. per yd. 
70 
77 
“ drills, 
44 
3 yds. to lb. 
t. u 
70 
78 Cot. shirt’g stripes, 
44 
3 yds. to lb. 
It <. 
70 
79 
“ tent cloths, 
44 
10 oz per yd. 
tt it 
87 
80 On the above enu 
merated cot 
ton cloths, pro 
rata as to greater or le 
ss width 
or weight. 
81 
Corron warps, 
Good, 
- 
Per pound, 
1 63 
82 Army shoes. 
44 
- 
44 pair, 
10 00 
8.3 
Shoe thread, 
44 
- 
“ pound, 
2 00 
84 
Wool socks, men’s, 
ft 
- 
44 pair, 
1 25 
85 Mules, . 
First rate, 
Wagon, &c. 
Av’ge price per head. 
300 00 
In assessing the average value of “first class artillery and wagon 
horses at $ 350,” we designed that the term should he accepted and acted 
upon according to its obvious common sense import. In other words, 
that horses should be selected, and then impressed accordingly as their 
working qualities and adaptation to army service, together with their in- 
trinsic value, would warrant a judicious purchaser in considering them 
as coming within the contemplation of the commissioners when they 
assessed the average value of such horses as the government needed, at 
$350. But cases might arise, however, when the public exigencies 
would be so urgent as to demand that all horses at hand should be im- 4 
horses, or brood mares of admitted high value are impressed, we respect- 
fully suggest to the Secretary of War to have instructions forwarded to 
the impressing officers to propose and allow the owners to substitute in 
their stead such strong, sound and serviceable horses or mules as shall 
be considered- and valued by competent and disinterested parties as first 
class artillery horses, or first rate wagon mules. 
pressed. Yet under ordinary circumstances, when family or extra blooded 
The term “ average value per head” was used in contradistinction to a 
fixed and uniform price for each horse or mule. We supposed that in 
impressing a number of horses or mules, whether owned by several per- 
sons,'or one individual, that some might be estimated at $250, or even 
at less, and others at different advanced rates, according to their worth, 
up as high as $ 450, or above that amount—thus making an average 
value or price for a number of good, sound and efficient horses, $350 
each, and mules $ 300 each. 
In illustration of our views, we will add, that a horse with only one 
eye sound, might, in all other respects, be classed as a first rate artillery 
horse, yet the loss of one eye wmuld justly and considerably curtail his 
value. So a horse from 10 to 18 years of age might be deemed in all 
other particulars as a first class artillery horse, but of course, however 
efficient or able to render good service for a year or so, yet his advanced 
age would justly and materially impair his value. Any horse, however 
he may approximate the standard of a first class artillery horse, must, 
according to deficiencies, fall below the maximum price; and as few 
comparatively exactly come up to the standard, and therefore are entitled 
to the maximum price, so of course in all other instances the price should 
be proportionately reduced, as imperfections place them below the standard 
of first class, &c. 
E. W. Hubard, 
Kobert Gibboney, 
Commissioners for Va. 5 
Schedule B.—Hire of Labor, Teams, Wagons and Drivers 
QUANTITY AND TIME. 
PRICE. 
1 Baling’ long forage, ... 
Per 100 pounds, 
$0 30 
2 Shelling and bagging corn, sacks fur- 
nished by government, 
“ 56 “ 
05 
3 Hauling, - - - 
“ cwt. per mile, 
“ bus. “ 
08 
4 Hauling grain, - - 
5 Hire of two-horse team, wagon and 
driver, rations furnished by owner, - 
03 
“ day, 
10 00 
6 Hire of same, rations furnished by the 
government, ... 
“ day, 
5 00 
7 Hire of four-horse team, wagon and 
driver, rations furnished by owner, - 
“ day, 
13 00 
8 Hire of same, rations furnished by the 
government, - 
“ day, 
6 50 
9 Hire of six-horse team, wagon and driver, 
rations furnished by owner, 
10 Hire of same, rations furnished by the 
“ day, 
16 00 
government, ... 
“ day, 
8 00 
11 Hire of laborer, rations furnished by 
owner, - - - - 
12 Hire of same, rations furnished by the 
government, ... 
“ day, 
2 00 
“ day, 
1 25 
13 Hire of same, rations furnished by- 
owner, - 
14 Hire of same, rations furnished by the 
government, ... 
“ month, 
40 00 
“ month, 
20 00 
E. W. Hubard, 
Robert Gibboney, 
Commissioners for Va. 
order. 
S. COOPER, 
Adjutant and Inspector General.