The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-06-26
The Court Martial or General Talcott.
wAsHrNoToS June 25, 1851


PARTMENr, BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
I.
yiolaon Of the 1921 Articles Of the Regulations for
the government OF the Ordnance Department
Sfecifoaion-In this That he, the said Brevet Bri-
gsder General George Taeot Colonel Of the Ordnance
Department, in charge of the Ordnance Bureau
q the War Department, did, without the sanction
of the Secretary Of War at Washington, November
1850 and transmit by the hands of Doctor Edward
Carmichael TO Brevet Colonel Benjamin Huger. a cap.
tain in the Ordnance Department commanding the Ar
sens at Fort Monroe the following letter OF nstruc
tions, TO wit -
ORDNarcE DEPARTMENT Washington Nov G. 1850
Colonel b HuosR, Fort Monroe Arsenal
Sir: 1t may be well TO provide more shot aud shells
from time to time for the post of Fort Monroe for
this purpose, you authorized TO procure them TO
reasonable extent, it. suppose, he price Of iron be-
ing now SO ow) they can be had on fayorabla terms
You Will make the necessary estimates of funds to meet
the deliveries they occur they should BE- procured by
open purchase only,
Il aia, sir, respectfully. your ODE iient servant,
(signed) q. TALC0rr, Breyet. Brig Gen,
Col of Ordnance
And the receipt whereof the said Benjamin IIuger
having the Sth November, is at Fort Gonroe Ar
sena given to the said Doctor Carmichael order in
writing, as follows:
FoRr MONROE Arsenal, NOV. g. 1850
DIR EDWARD CARMicHArL:-
Sir You will please furnish the Ordnance Department
with five hundred tons 50 FOUNDER solid shot at such
times within year from this date shall be practi
cable to be delivered on the Ordnance wharf at Fort
Monroe subject to Inspection and fee Of all cost to the
United States
For the shot when inspected will be paid three cents,
with the unde rstandng that the Department may at
any time within the year specified order and receive
ties not exceeding five hundred tons at the above named
price for shot ard mt the rate OF four cents and
fourth Of mill per lb a cents u miiu for shells
Respectfully your obedent servant
(Signed) BENZ. HUGER Brevet Colonel
Which order the said Carmichael did then and there
accept and upon the terms and conditions thereof did
contract with said uger for shot a,d shells said
Huger having thereafterthat il to say the 2lst
yember 1850, at Washington communicated to the said
1ale nf hp lr.ln nnpar ,nnt
that ne had, under the instructions contained in the
aforesaid letter from said Talcott dated 9th November
1850 given the said to said Carmichael and upon
the terms and conditions thereof concluded contract
with the said Carmichael he the said ralcott, did alo1
and approve the said act of said uger thereby permit
ting ard ssnctionng contract for ,ples be- made
and carried into effect without the Of the
retsry Of War and in violation OF the l3ld Article of
the Regulations for the government OF the ORDNANCE De-
lartment
"Wful disobeience of orders ard instructions from
the Secretary Of War; in relation to contract for
plies
speeifoaior-In this: That he the said Breyet Brira
dier General George Talcot Colonel cf the Ordnance
Department, in charge Of the Ordnance Bureau of the
War Department. having accompanied Doctor Ed ward
Carnicha, To the War Department, the lst Novem-
ber 1850 and being then and there in his official
capacity when said Carmichael presented the Secre-
taiy Of War an application for contract to furnish shot
and shells to the Ordnance Department and when said
81 cretary did then and there reject said application and
refuse to make contract with said Carmichael od dii
moreover refuse to recognise which said Carmichael
alleged to have been previously made with him. never
theiess, he the said Tscot did afterwards that is to say
on the 9TH November, 1850, "A; Washington, write and
send by the hands OF said Carmichael to Brevet Colonel
Benjamin luger Captain in the Ordnance Department
commanding the Arsenal at Fort Monroe the letter Of
Instructions hereinbcfore recitcd in the specific
the first charge with the design and purpose to sutho
rizc and procure for said Carmichael shot
and shells aud thereby TO cyads and dobey the af1rc
said decision o the Secretary OF War; by which
the said Carmichael did procure from said lIuger the
order and contract for shot and shells set forth in the
said specification the rst charge And the said ra
NaSlirntOn. he
November 1850 informed by said uger Of said
and well knowing that the same was contrary 10 the De-
cion Of the Secretary of War in regard viii IN dec
sion he, the said Tscott duly informed aud in
structed by the said secretary nevertheless he the said
said Huger with said Carmichse therein aud in these
premises violating his duty and dsobeying she orders
and instructions OF the Secretary Of War
Conduct unbccoming an officer and gentleman
Specification 1sf-In this That he the said Brevet Bril-
gadier General George Tac0t Colonel uf the Ordinance
Department in charge of the Ordnance Bureau the
War Department, did. by the means and contriTances
set out IN the specification to the first charge In
specification to the second charge that Is by his
letter Cf instructions TO Breyet Colonel user OF the 9th
November 1850 sent by the hands OF Doctor Carmichael
and by has subsequent approval Of the contract made 10y
said uger WITH said Carmichael authorzs and procure
and cause 20 be made contract for the purchase Of
large amount Of ordnance stores To wit sao and shells
which he the said Talcot kn W and had previously
ported TO the Secretary Of War needed for the
public seryice-such conduct being abuse Of the au
thoTi,y Il his Office hrrach of the trust reoosed in hun
and uubecCmiug an ofhcer and a gentleman.
Specification 2iln ths That he, the said Brevet Bri.
gndier General u,orgc Taco,t, Colonel II the Ordnance
Department. In charge OF the Ordnance Burau OF the
War Department, did, by the means aud contrvaucrs
gorotHd that s 20 ay hy his aforesaid letter OF the 9th
November 1850, T. Brcyct Colonel lugcr, sent by the
hands II Doctor Carmichael aud 10y his ubsequenl con.
cent 10 the contract sfor siid made by aid Iuger with
said Caiich sell authorize aud procure. an1 10 be
made, and did confirm contract for large am1Int Of
ordnance st0ge 20 WI. shot aud shells with per.on.
that H. 20 say, With sell Csrmichae who the said
Thlcott, t'Atud and knew. was not Ia capacity to
OK fNgN Nas1 az lat
u otherwise tEun through sale snmcat "a the
contract 70 some other person, thereby wfally AMI
knowingly exposing IN government tolpss ani the pub
lc service und.r hs charge 70 the dcrcj arising fom
the sac q public contract in consequence Wherccf
contract va mode, which was sub cluently Ho't ana
trsuseirt3 Tor ltvee lum t. wit .tN tala.Sul ave
hundred liars aud - which Ucntrac. the Foverament
was made liable 81 pay or certain sAo. and shells
~ that amount than n vouiI have raid for tho same b.
eenittci made directly Win the aiuisctartr-sush
conf uct being an abuse q hs oaciai authority
trrnch = the nut rtpo.rt - nlm aul aa5comlng "a
Sgerte.3aps sl-in thi That b.. the sail Brev,t
Rr.Rtler oenesal George Tacott. Colonel of tho ora
rater cjnfinrt II charge q the ordnpuce Bureau Il
the War ~ rartmcut va kpowlrE = Tie ~ aesaid con.
traet "a Dcc,os C4uaeha, uu1 that rasj Ca.mi.ha3
bad ,ugte,dJ \ Auistou proprietor q the Csc igtr
itcn NoIhs IN icAm8ro 70 execute The sai cCatrtct
wc moving Eis Urieai dug not o. conceal bat a.
u.Ghc LOvu tur caBtrart o. e Secretary uf War di1
NH'stlc vtluly and ae-igurdly luen4l u and aii
krty'pas th.~au tUn tle secondary ~ war FROM th
.l.t Ncft MI 90 d % the tith Atfl 1851, Nnj more
particularly n tc fg!ostrs in.tauce "a occtsions. thts
e. ~ A41 n tNh A%t1 8AhNfN 1901 Mntn th' SeertttrY
~ Nar 9l iug Uire g him the War Department sud
dl tbtu aud there ru1eavus - Ttain feom hlm
whether the ai3r, aid Ttydeyu works. IN ichmoud hal
contract Ia makiuy sit shells Tor The Ordnance
Department, aud again On the 81 January. 1891 Ia
written IMPORT lroia the Ordinance Bureau, mai by h.
TIE sad talcUtts order g. the Secretary of Wsr tn
answer g. call am said sees ary for ng lrmaton of Al
existing contracts ChAl GAte upon the appr pyisii1n
r the arnsmtnt - iurt catons aud 0r ordnance and
ordnance stotes and supplrs aud af,n, 90 the -fth
Jantay lS.l IN written pbrl q THAI date made -
the Secretary - lac en the suteet and n rury
e. further Inquire nom aid secretary wAN wsstherrby
again erg tu ateefaiu whether any ouch contracts
NcFe outstanding, ard again. IN psrnnal iatcrvew
With the Secretary Uf Nar. 10 the War Department
the oCth January 1851 WHEN Qutsaue1 b. said Secrs
tsfy - g. thn meaning Or mUUcn Oi letter
IL hrcvet Joioucl liuEer dated 9th November, 1870
whereof copy enclosed said report q tia y n
dNluury, 1851; 01d again, about the q MtrCA
1851 Whom the Secretary q War dil again luire of
hm In regard 20 tbis matter ia personal ntervicS az
tie War Department sad dd rndssvor 20 ascertain nom
LIN whether any shot shells btirg mad for tue
Of6tadce Department 90 the Tredtgsr r,n Wof's, anI
again. ~ thu lolh Api 10 tAn war Department when
the Secretary g War read 70 him letter from rhomi'
Gfctn Gated the Jth prl ISL alleging bat the rrede
etr lFcu WORKS were making shot aud shells f'r the otI