From the Richmond Dispatch, 5/7/1862, p. 3

It has been deemed advisable, in case a necessity should arise for the destruction of the manufactured tobacco now stored in this city, that it should all be gathered together in certain prescribed warehouses, so that its destruction might certainly be assured if we are ever so unlucky as to have a visit from the Yankee vandals. When this course was determined on, all owners were notified that they could remove their tobacco from the city, but would not be permitted to spread it about in small lots for the purpose of retaining it here and evading the order respecting it. Yesterday, Assistant Provost Marshal Alexander caused a lot of it to be seized which was being distributed in the wrong way.

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