Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-07-05

November To one o. these copies there was note append
ed in the handwriting Of General Tscoti Witness sup
posel yesterday that this copy with the appended to it,
was ne copy sent to him in the report OF General Tacot
dated he 9th January. He quite satisfied that this
copy n the report from the Ordnance bureau dated
the 18th April Mr.. Green's letter and the other copy,
WIN no note, was the copy accompanying the report OF
the 9Th January. The witness desired make this
ton and, if Necessary, show the evidence which
was made but the defence had doubt of its accuracy and
admitted the correction now made.
Question Did YOU, any time before the lst November,
1850, give to General Tacot any instructions authority
make purchases for the Ordnance department
without obtaining your previous sanction thereto II 50,
state when and how.
Ansuer. No, sir; gave no such authority instruc-
tons.
Question. Did you give General Talco any instructions
regard CONTRACT, about this time, the st
November 1861 other than the testimony you have
already given in regard to the Carmichael contract :
Ans,cer. find that few days prior to the conversation
between Doctor Carmichael and myself referred my
previous tesmonyihat is to say, the Gath October,
1868 letter addressed to by Johnston & Ashton,
Of Connecticut requesting that they might be allowed to
they had previously had with the Department
year or two before for making pistols This letter
erred to the Ordnance bureau On the Gath October Gene
raj Tacott reported this letter that the writers of the letter
had contracted for thirty thousand pistols and that the con-
would be completed year; that they desired
extension Of their contract He says, ha this course has
been pursued frequently in like The only question,
however, is whether proposals shall be invited or the
old be extended and this is point for your dec
sion." find this report the following endorsement in
my hand, dated the 5h of November: is not deemed
expedent present. at all events, to renew the contract
with Messs Johnston Ashton trials and experiments are
being made of various species Of psosoms of recent
inventions and besides is deemed safer, considering the
length of time which has elapsed since the contract with the
above individuals made, advertise for proposals for
contract. Signed c. M Conrad Secretary Of War"
This oder by endorsement appears have been received
the Ordnance department on the day. Perhaps it is
adj
brought of the individuals with whom the contract had
been made the Office and stated that they young
chancs whohad embarked in this undertaking without
that they had put up costly works relying upon the contract
being extended is customary and that the work they had
done cheap could have been done elsewhere
state also that the experiments which had ordered in fire.
had taken place the time. In consideration of
these circumstances and the verbal recommendation Of Gen.
Tacot authorized him, the Goth March, extend the
contract for limited amount.
Letter of Johnston Ashton to General Talco read his
reference Of to the Secretary, and the Secreas decision
endorsed thereon authorizing extension the contract for
a limited supply Of pistols
Question When General Talcot as you state, few days
after his report you Of the 9th January, 1851 explained
you verbally the object and meaning Of his letter COL
Huger dated November g. $780, Of which he had you
copy in his said report did he tell you how COL Huge had
construed that letter, what he had done under it
ans,cer No, sir he made the slightest ausion then,
at any me any action that had been taken under his
letter to Colonel Huger except, as stated in my examna
on yesterdays he did at one time to me that perhaps
COL Huger might procure inconsderable quantity Of
shot or shells for experiments.
Question Did he inform you Of the existence of that
order to Carmichael before the visit of Mr. Anderson
Ans,er He informed me Of that recolect until
his report of the 10th April The first that heard of
any order contract or did not that time know
the form of order from Mr. Green and repeat
ed in his letter of the 5.h April In the interview with Mr.
Anderson, said to General Tacot "Then there is con-
trac or There is shot making to which he answered.
an order from Huger to Carmichael.
Question. When did you first learn Of the letter from Col
Huge to General Taco reporting the number of 32pounder
balls which might be provided for the armament Of Fort Mon
roe '
AnsOer learned the existence Of this letter Saturday
evening last was informed by gentleman who is not in
connected with the department that he had strong
for believing that letter existed the records of
the department from COL Huger Gen. Taco in relation
to the subject of the shot, informed the Judge Advocate
of that fact and requested him apply to the acting head Of
the bureau Of Ordnance whether any such letter existed in
that bureau. On last Monday morning, when arrived at
the department. the acting head of the bureau handed
letter-the first ever of il. ".r'
Question Upon what points in Mr.. Green's letter was
Gen. Talcott directed TO report to you
AnsUer. The only point which wished any report,
and the only subject which Gen. Tacott and myself
versed, in relation that part of which stated that
shot were being made at the Tedegar works at Richmond
and that some had been delivered at the Monroe arsenal
Question In your letter Gen. Talco you that
you inquired Of him about the actual making of shot and
at the Tredegar works. time after his report to you of
the 27h January and your testimony you appear refer
this conversation to point of time previous to that
port Of the 9th January How does your recollection
stand on this point : or is positive! .l"
Ascer. My recollection Of these various conversations
with Gen. Talcott is quite distinct but have had some diff
cuy fixing the precise dates which they severay
cured having made memorandum and not supposing
the time that would be called upon to testify in regard to
them. The first conversation, in which told him that
informed that existed and held by some
one in Richmond took place, pretty confident, some
time in December The next action Of the department. Of
the date of which there be doubt is the order Of the
goth Of January In regard the conversation in which
informed him that shot had been made and piled up
the foundry, my memory is not accurate, and find
aid it. When the letter of the lst
Of May to Gen. Talco supposed that that conversation
occurred subsequently the 9th of January and that may
possibly correct believe that this conversation
CURED some time prior the 27h Of January, and
sibly, in part, have occasioned that order.
Crosseramined.
Question Be pleased fix as nearly you the date
Of your first inquiry Of Gen. Tacot whether supplies Of
shot and shell were required by the department.
Anssoer. have endeavored to fix my memory on that
point but cannot do with any degree Of accuracy Short
y after took charge Of the department, which the
10th l7h Of August last and during the three four fol-
lowing months applications made let them make
shot, Some members Of Congress spoke to behalf Of
their constituents One of the FIRST applcantsf the
rst-was Mr. Green but cannot state the time at which
his first application made My first inquiry of Gen.
Talco probably made shortly after the first application
received d-probably the the next day.
Question: Is your impression that this inquiry made
in the month of August September or in what month
Anscer. It was certainly made in August. It may
have been made in September early in October. was
absent from the city during greater part of the month of
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