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IMPRESSMENT AGENTS STARVE SOUTH CAROLINA

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ELLISON L. KEITT Confederate Captain of the 19th SC Batt'n Cavalry and the 20th SC Infantry. Fine content war-date A.L.S., 1p. Legal folio, [South Carolina], Oct. 5, 1863 to SC Gov. MILLEDGE LUKE BONHAM in Columbia. In part: "...In my passage through Columbia I found all articles of provision selling at enormous prices...I have learned possible the true cause. No one pretends to send anything to market because the impressing officers block every avenue to the city. If action is not taken in the matter you will soon find the People of Columbia without provisions...the people will become careless about gathering if all the highways are to be blockaded. Instead of the Government agents receiving one tenth which all the planters are anxious to turn in, and more if need be, they house themselves upon all the avenues to the cities and stop and plunder all wagons they can. Sir, if some remedy is not applied we must expect fearful results...". Endorsed by Bonham on verso: "Cap. Ellison Keitt Oct. 5/63 As to impressions &c.". Slight toning, else very good. Impressement agents were the bane of Southern farmers - at this point in the war, they were rapidly depleting farms throughout South Carolina, offering worthless scrip in exchange for provisions.

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