Early on they hung those who traded with the enemy nearly on the spot. The Mississippi authorities learned that it was truly helpful to the cause to let the trade continue. They found they could supply their troops with the goods brought in across the lines better than relying on Richmond to replenish them. They also noted it demoralized the Union soldiers and turned them into thinking only about making money instead of war. The Confederate government tried to squash this trade, but the Mississippi government ignored them and even promoted it. It was said a farmer could bring in two sacks of cotton on a mule and get the same price he would have got for a whole bale. In South Mississippi it was turpentine, lumber and other pineywood products that was bringing in good money and goods. It is said that most of these traders were more patriotic to the cause than those who refrained from trading, -- I don't know about that, but it sure needs more research.

But the fact that at Port Hudson, Natchez, Woodville, and the beaches of Lake Pontchartrain a steady stream of wagons loaded with goods, coming and going from Confederate Mississippi was a big draw to those who wanted to make money in 1864, and possibly contributed to the large number of deserters in the Southern half of that state is fascinating to me.

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David Upton