The republic., 1851-07-14
GENERAL oRDERs-So. 30.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
AD5UT&NT GEEERAL's OFFICE
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%, 1851, and of which Brevet Major General d.
e. Twiggs is president, was arTaigned and tried
Brevet Brigadier General George Talcott, Col
onel of Ordnance, on the following charges and
specifications:
CHAReEI.
Violation Of lie SID article of the Regulations for
| the government Of The 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 Washington,
November 6, 1885, write and transmit by the hands
of DR.. Edward Carmichael, to Breyet Colonel Ben
jamin Huger, captain in the Ordnance Depart
ment, commanding the arsenal at Fort Monroe,
the following letter Of instructions. to witt
"' Ordnance DEPARTMENT,
"'WAsHINGToN, November G, 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 authorized to
procure them to reasonable extent, if, as 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.
'' ! am, sir, respectfully your obedient servant
"'G TALCoTT, Breyet Brig. General.
''f Colonel of Ordnance.
"'Colonel b. HUeER, Fort Monroe Arsenal
Huger, having on the sth November, 1850. at Fort
Monroe Arsenal. given to the said Doctor Carmi-
chael an order in writing, as follows:
'''F FoRT MONROE ARSENAL,
90 Nov vember 8, 1850.
"'SIR: You will please furnish the Ordnance De-
| partment with five hundred tons 32-pounder solid
shot, at such times, within one 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.
"' For the shot, when inspected, will be paid
three cents three and one fourth 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 aud
ing five hundred tons, at the above named price for
shot, and at the rate of four cents and fourth of
mill per pound a cents ! MILL for shells
go Respectfully, your obedient servant,
| "BENJ. HUG Err, Brevet Colonel.
$50 DR. EDWARD CARDucHAEL.'
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, l650-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
cott did allow and approve the said act of said HUI
ger; thereby permitting and sanctioning con-
tract for supplies to be made and carried into ef
feet, without the sanction of the Secretary of War
and in violation of the l22d article of the regula-
tions for the government of the Ordnance Depart
ment.'
| CHARGE III.
:" IViLful diSobedisnce Of Orders and Instructions
| from the Secretary Of Var in relation TO a 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, 1850, 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 rccog-
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, the letter of in
structons hereinbefore recited in the specification
to the first charge, with the design and purpose to
authorize and procure for said Carmichael con-
tract 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
| ftor 10 AZ sbi pcrto, tt,a let
Der. 1650-informed by said Huger of said contract,
and we'll knowing that the same was contrary to
the decision of the Secretary of War, in regard to
which decision he, the said Talcott, 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 promises, vio-
lating his duty, and disobeyng the orders and in
structions of the Secretary of War"
CHARGE III.
| "Conduct unbecoming officer and a gentleman -
Specif fcdtiOn 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 fret 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
lOoO, sent Dy the Ol LII.
and by his subsequent approval of the contract
made by said Huger with said Carmichael-eutho-
rize and procure, and cause to be made, contract
for the purchase of large amount of ordnance
stores-to- wit shot and shells-which he, the said
Talcott, knew, and had previously reported TO tn,
Secretary of War, were not needed for the pub
lie service: such conduct being an abuse of the
authority of his office, breach of the trust reposec
in him, and unbeooming officer and gentle
man,
Speci fcation 3D." In this: That he, the sale
Brevet Brigadier General George Talcott, Colone
the Ordnance Department, in charge of the Ord
nance bureau Of the War Department, did, by th'
means and contrivances aforesaid-that is to say
by his aforesaid letter of the 9th November, 1850, t
Brevet Colonel Huger sent by the hands of Doctor
Carmichael, and by his subsequent consent to th'
contract aforesaid, made by said Huger with saic
Carmichael-authorize and procure, and cause tt
be made, and did confirm contract for larg'
amount Of ordnance stores, TO witt shot and shes-
with a person-that is to say, with said Carmi
chael-who, as he, the said Talcott, believed anC
| knew was not in n cnnncitv 10 erccute the sai(