Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1856-10-02
Vote unanimous-see Journal, page 226.
JANUARY II, 1854.
c. F.sMITH, Col. U. s. Army.
claim of Mr. Vallejo, No. o '"' 0' ''''

President 0fthe Board.
Claim of Mr.. Vallejo, No. 0.
Here again the Col. certifeS that the
prices charged are reasonable, and did not
excel the value of the property when fur
nished The Board call before them the
Quartermaster of the battalion, and prove by
him that the 500 horses of 1st quality charg-
ed at 500 each should have been charged at
$40 each; that the 300 horses charged at $75
each, should have been charged at S25 each;
that $50 wild mares charged at S25 each,
should have have been charged at SO each;
that saddles charged at $50 each, should
have been charged at $50 each. And the
Board Of Officers add, that the prices allowed
by them are the highest that was paid by the
Quartermaster, or any other official, for horses
&C., for the service of the California battall-
ion.
The next claim of Vallejo is still more
startling. 200 horses are charged and GER
tilted as above by the Col. at S130 each,
when it is claimed that they should have
been charged at $50 each; 240 horses charg-
ed at 500 each, should have been charged
at $50 each; rifles charged at $500 each,
should have been charged at $50 each; pistols
charged at 500 each, should have been
charged at $50 each; mares charged at $50
each, should have been charged at SO each.
And thus, from an account of $50, 100, de-
duction is made of $41, 400, and only $11,7OO
found to be really due, notwithstanding the
certificate ''on honor of Col. Fremont. And
in this manner the 1863 claims filed and certi-
fed by Col. Fremont, amounting to $685.
1929, were by the Board reduced to S149, :
1861 Let us take a plain business view OF
this transaction. The United States employ
Col. Fremont as their agent to provide sub
sistence for battalion of 800 men in Califor.
mia, for six months. At the expiration of the
six months he reports to his employer, that
he has incurred liabilities amounting to $685.
1852 for the support of these 300 men, and
he certi6es upon his honor that the account
amounting to this sum, is correct and justly
due. The Secretary of the Treasury is shock
ed at the enormity of this expenditure-over
$17 day for every man. He refers the
matter to Congress, who authorize the ap-
pointment of a Board of Officers to examine
the account. The Board is appointed, COM
posed of the most distinguished officers of
the army. With that esprit du crops which
prompts every officer of the army to render
unto his fellow officers exact justice, these
gentlemen enter upon the discharge of their
delicate task. And the painful result of their
investigation is, that Col. Fremont has, either
through gross negligence, or from corrupt and
interested motives, certified, on his honor,
that which is not true; that he had certified
accounts against the Government amounting
nearly to a million of dollars, when in fact
the claims allowed amount to less than $50,
600.
NOTE: Averaging each of the 1000 cows
charged in the first of the above accounts,
at 400 lbs, it appears that every volunteer
under Col. FREMoNT's command consumed
daily during his six months service, nearly
10 1bse beet, exclusive of mutton, &c. Again,
each man, besides his clothing and ordinary
monthly pay, cost the government for his dai-
ly support $17-being equal to the entire
compensation paid to the Commander-in- CHIEF
of the y. S. Arny! Rather an expensive
force this, and it was well for the Treasury
that it only mustered 300, or it would have
bankrupted the country.