The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-07-04

Convened for The lridt o. Breost bPgddier General
-1aieou. Colonel and CHEF Of lie bureau Of. ord
j. nance
TENTH DAYS paocEEDIsGs-TH
The court me, all the members present.
The record "a yesterday was read.
Secretary OF War recalled.
Characterization resumed.
Question. Were your inquiries of General Tacot
10 the wants OF the service directed ascertain whether
small Quantities OF shot would probably be required from
time 10 lime during the year, at more OF lie arse
nails or were they not suggested by applications to ur
nish large or contract supplies aud cohhhea 10 ha'
object
ansuer. My applications to General Taco were gem
era no reference was made as 10 quantity nor 10 The
mode OF procuring them. :,
Question Was nor Mr. Green's application TO you in
behalf OF Mr. f. b Dean, for contract 10 furnish large
supplies of shot and shell and did not this occasion your
call upon General Tacou
dnscer Mr. Green did not refer to any quantity.
presume he would have preferred large contract to
small one, but he never nlimated that he would not take
small one His application did occasion one OF the calls
made General Talcott; but his the only ap
plcaon which caused me 10 converse with General Tai
colt on that subject,
Question. Referring TO your testimony in chief,
that upon Mr.. Green's first application you inquired OF
Gen. Taco whether the department would be in want
OF shot during The current fiscal year. oheh terminated
yesterday (3oth Jnne and that you answered that
The supply Tor The year was ample, are you not now
satisfied on reflection that you could not have repeated
the same question several occasions within short
period! and may not that impression have grown out OF
your conversation with The applicants!
dsstcerl do not say that | repeated The same ques'
ton IN direct form Tor information, considering his fist
answer, which well remember, satisfactory; but
number OF applications had been made, some in writing
and verbally 10 furnish shot and shell. | men.
toned these applications TO him as rather source of an
noyance, as had several OF them, and they very
importunale with view probably to ascertain positively
whether the department would not be making shot, that
might give them satisfactory answer.
Question. Were not your inquiries OF Gen. Talcott,
touching the making and delivery of shot by Mr. Ander
son. directed solely ascertain whether such making and
delivery were under contract with, by authority Of
the Ordnance bureau
Ansicer My inquiry general, whether any sho,
was making at Mr. Andersons works for the department.
taking II Tor granted, OF course, that could be
making without his knowledge and authority.
Question. Did you understand General Ialcotts dec
laraton that there was not word of truth i'll Mr..
Green's letter, as importing literally that there
truth in any part of the letter, applying to the
on or implication that large quantity Of shot had been
made by his ORDER or with his knowledge or authority
Judge Advocate objected 10 the witnesses answering
this question, the facts desired bad already been
brought out IN the previous testimony OF the witness, that
the meaning and intent OF the testimony were for the
court to Judge he said he would waive The objection
however, reservng the right 10 have the question re-
moved from the record.
.aaswr | understand that expression OF General Tai
colt 10 apply exclusively TO that portion OF the letter which
speaks OF the making OF shot at the Tedegar works for
the War Department, and OF the delivery OF portion
OF them at the Monroe Arsena-in fact all that in the
letter which relates TO making shot Tor the department
and the authority by which ii done Our conversation
had no reference TO any other part OF the letter. had
Aot, diic Reports 10 IetDOiest ol SViDR
contract TO Mr. Dean or any one else Tor making shot
OF course, General Taiools declaration that
mere was not word OF truth IN the letter which re-.
lated 10 Inc making OF shot at the Tredegar works
10 apply to all that said in the letter that subject
he said nothing 10 qualify the remark in any manner
Question. When, some time alter General Talco,ps
report OF 27h January enclosing copy OF his leter OF
9th November 10 Colonel huger II occurred TO you that
the large quantity OF shot, OF which Mr.. Green had in
formed YOU might have been made under that order and
you spoke General Talco,t on that subject, not
your inquiry confined that point and General
Ialcotrs reply 10 the effect that II was impossible that
Colonel HugSr could be procuring from MIR Anderson,
under that order anything than such few shot and
shells as he might be wanting Tor experiments and prac
lice
Ans,oer My attention was called to the generality
and vagueness OF the order, and called General Ialcois
attention to that point and asked him TO explain what he
intended by it-and suggested that possibly Colonel Hu
ger might cons,rue 1t 10 confer authority TO make shot
General Taco seemed 10 think Otherwise and stated
that Its object 10 enable Colonel Huger (as have
before stately procure small quantities, from time TO
time. they might be required, for experiments and
hliery practice, that II Was pos ble Colonel Huger might
be ordering some such small quantities, OF nfng
value. TINS is well as can Tecoect, the substance
OF what passed between us-l don't pretend 10 repeat
the language.
Question. Was the contract OF Johnston & Ashton,
mentioned in your testimony on yesterday, formal writ
ten contract, and for what amountl
Ansper. | know nothing oil the original contract 4:
never heard or saw except what was stated 10 Gen
Ialcolts report 10 me- took II for granted what was
stalled In thai report was correct
Question. The language OF your authority for extend
contract lne chief OF the ordnance bureau
will take measures 10 renew the contract for limited
supply OF pistols" Was there any specification OF the
amount by ysu did you leave TO his discretion to
require the pistols TO reasonable extent and do you
know whether the contract has been renewed and for
what amount =
daspn. There no amount specified by my or
der, as will be seen from IT, The words ''lmited sup
ply indicate that 1t was 10 be less quantity than the
original contract, and meant It, left the of
tina, supply To Gen. Taco's discretion do know
whether the contract has been extended not. have
recollection OF any contract having been presented
me Tor my signature or APPRECIATION only recoect that
difficulty to The parties with whom the
contract should be rene wed-the parties in the
having quauelled among themselves; consequence Of
which the order OF the 26lh March gwen have
the subject since. II is possible that the contract may
forgotten it,
Direct examination resumed.
Question Did you read the whole letter Of Mr. Green
TO General Talcot, and especial did you read these
words therein. /" Whatever authority for doing this work
exists probably given by the department it's Off
to Doctor L II. Carmichael, recently resident OF
recen, vs to Richmond, informed the work
was done by Mi Anderson, under assignment from
Doctor Carmichael" And do you 10 be under.
stood by the defence, IN your their
animation, that you shaped Your inquiries TO General
Iacot that his answer did cover and directly apply
to that part OF the letter.
Ansner will state sir, that read the entire letter 10
General Talcott, as have stated before from beginning
TO end, and delivered to him. and he had in his pos
session from the 10th 10 the 10th OF April when he made
report on it, certainly do not mean TO be understood