The republic., 1851-07-14
GENERAL oRDERs-so. 80.
Wan DEPARTMENr,
ADJUTaET GEEERAL's OFFIcE,
WAsaINoroN- Iulv 10 1881

%, 1851, and of which Brevet Major General ID.
| II. Twiggs is president, was arraigned and tried
Brevet Bngadier General George Talcott, Col
onel of Ordnance, on the following charges and
specifications:
CHAReEI.
Violation of Le SD Article Of the Regulations for
the government ct ue Ordinances Department"
Specification. ''In this: That he the said Breyet
Brigadier General George Talcott, Colonel of the
Ordnance Department. in charge Of the Ordnance
Bureau of the War Department, did, without the
sanction of the Secretary Of War, at Washin gt5h,
November 6, 1850, write and transmit by the hands
of DR.. Edward Carmichael, to Breyet Colonel Ben
jamin Huger, captain in the Ordnance Depart
ment, commanding tho arsenal at Fort Monroe,
the following letter Of instructions. to wit:
"' Ordnance DEPARTMENT,
'WAsHIsoToN, November 6, 1850.
"' SIR II may be well to provide more shot and
shells, from time TO time, for the post of Fort
Monroe; and for this purpose you are authorized to
procure them 10 reasonable extent, it, as i sup
pose, (the price Of iron being low,) they
can be had on favorable terms. You will make
the necessary estimates of funds to meet the de-
liveries as they occur. They should be procured
by open purchase only.
40 lam. sir, respectfully, your obedient servant
az G. TALCOTT, Breyet Brig. General,
"' Colonel of Ordnance.
"'Colonel b. HUGER, Fort Monroe Arsenal
And the receipt whereof the said benjamin
Huger, having the Sth November, 1850, at Fort
Monroe Arsenal. given to the said Doctor Carmi-
chael order in writing, as follows:
"'FoRT MoNRoK ARSENAL,
90 November 8, 1885,
"'SIR: You will please furnish the Ordnance De-
partment with five hundred tons 80 FOUNDER solid
shot, at such times, within year from this date,
as shall be practicable, to be delivered the ord
nance wharf at Fort Monroe, subject to inspection,
and free of all cost to the United States.
/ 81 tnr tha chnf hon Ina ted NuIH he mai
three cents three and onefourth mills per lb., g
cents 81 mills,) with the understanding that the
| Department may, at any time within the year
| specified, order and receive from you shot and
ing five hundred tons, at the above-named price for
shot, and the rate of four cents and fourth of
mill per pound a cents ! mild for shells.
"BENJ. HUG Err, Brevet Colonel.
"' DR. EDWARD CARMICHAEL.'
| Which order the said Carmichael did then and
| there accept, and, upon the terms and conditions
thereof did contract with said Huger for shot and
shells; and the said Huger having thereafter-that
| is to say, on the 2lst November, lS50-at Wash
| ington, communicated TO the said George Talcott,
| Colonel of the Ordnance Department, that he had,
under the instructions contained in the aforesaid
| letter from said Talcott, dated the 9th November,
1850, given the said order to said Carmichael, and,
upon the terms and conditions thereof, concluded
contract with said Carmichael, he, the said Tai
colt, did allow and approve the said act of sad HUI
ger; thereby permitting and sanctioning con-
tract for supplies to be made and carried into eff.
feet, without the sanction of the Secretary of War,
and in violation of the 122d article of the regula-
tions for the government of the Ordnance Depart
ment.'
| CHARGE II.
"a TVilfI disobedience of Orders and Instructions
from The Secretary Of ppTar in relation 10 contract
| for supplies"
| Specifcation-" In this: That he, the said Bre-
vet Brigadier General George Talcott, Colonel OF
the Ordnance Department, in charge of the Ord
nance bureau of the War Department, having ac-
companied Doctor Edward Carmichael to the War
Department, on the lst Of November. 1885, and be-
ing then and there present in his official capacity
when said Carmichael presented to the Secretary
| of War an application for contract to furnish
shot and shells to the Ordnance Department, and
when said Secretary did then and there reject said
application, and refuse to make contract with
said Carmichael, and did moreover refuse to recog-
Mise one which said Carmichael alleged to
have been previously made with him, never
theless, he the said Talcot, did afterwards
that is to say, on the 9th November lS50--at
] Washington, write, and send by the hands of said
Carmichael to Brevet Colonel Benjamin Huger, a
captain in the Ordnance Department, command
| ing the arsenal at Fort Monroe, tbs letter Of in
strucons hercinbelore recited in the specification
to the first charge, with the design and purpose to
authorize and procure for said Carmichael a con-
for shot and Shells and thereby to evade and
disobey the aforesaid decision of the Secretary of
| War; by which means the said Carmichael did
procure from said Huger the order and contract for
shot and shells set forth in the said specification to
the lst charge. And the said Talcott being there
after--to wit, at Washington, on the 2lst Novem-
Der. 1550-informed by said Hugsr of said contract
and we'll knowing that the contrary to
the decision of the Secretary of War, in regard to
which decision he, the said Talcott was duly in
formed and instructed by the said Secretary, new
ertheless, he, the said Tacott, did allow and sane
ton said contract made by said Huger with said
| Carmichael; therein and in these premises, vio-
lating his duty, and disobeyng the orders and in
structions of the Secretary of War"
CHARGE III.
| "Conduct unbeconing an officer and gentleman" "
Specification lst.-'In this; That he, the said
Brevet Brigader General George Talcott, Colonel
of the Ordnance Department, in charge of the Ord
nance bureau Of the War Department, did, by the
means and contrvances set out in the specification
to the first charge, and in the specification to the
second charge-that is to say, by his letter of in
structions TO Brevet Colonel Huger, of the 9th No
|
and by his subsequent approval of the contract
made by said Huger with said Carmichael-autho-
rize and procure, and cause to be made, contract
for the purchase of large amount of ordnance
stores-to- wit, shot and shellswhich he, the sait
Talcott, knew, and had previously reported to the
Secretary of War, not needed for the pub
lie service: such conduct being an abuse of th'
authority of his office, breach Of the trust reposec
in him, and unbecoming officer and a gentle
man,
Specifcai 3D." In this That he, the sale
Brevet Brigadier General George Talcott, Colone
ofthe Ordnance Department, in charge of the Ord
nance bureau Of the War Department, did, by th
means and contrivances aforcsaid-that is to say
by his aforesaid letter of the 9th November, $780, Il
Brevet Colonel Huger, sent by the hands of Docto
Carmichael, and by his subsequent consent to th
contract aforesaid, made by said Huger with saic
Carmchael-authorize and procure, and cause Il
be made, and did confirm contract for larg
amount of ordnance stores to witt shot and shells-
with person-that is to say, with said Carmi
chael--who, as he, the said Talcott believed ant
! knew, not in capacity to execute the salt