Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-11-07
"HEADouARrERs WESTERN DEPARTMENT,

Camp Lillis, Oct. 2, 1861.
"SIR 81 am requested by the commander
General to authorize Col. Degraf to take
any hay that has been contracted for by the
Government, his receipt for the same being
all the voucher you require.
Respectfully yours.
"LEONIDAS HASKELL.
Captain and A. D, c."
What does this mean? Contractors de-
liver forage direct to Quartermasters, who
issue the same. But here another party
steps in, and for the purpose, if a contractor
or the co-partner of one, of filling his own
contractor. 1t is difficult to suppose that
this double transaction is done without a
consideration. The accounts in this case
should be examined, and the price paid to
Degraf be compared with that paid to the
contractors, whose forage was seized. This
same Capt. Haskell, A. D. c., was a con-
tractor for mules He desired Capt. Turn
ley to receive his animals, "good, bad, and
Indifferent" as Capt. TURNKEY said. This
he would not do, but stated his prices for
the different classes of mules, ''wheel,"
'lead," &c. Besides, he had more mules
than he could possibly send to the army.
Notwithstanding all this, he received an or
der to inspect and receive Mr.. HaskelPs
mules rapidly as possible. Capt. Turnkey
very soon after received an order from Gen.
Fremont to leave st. Louis and go into the
interior of Missouri.
! By directions of Gen. Meigs, ADVERTISE
ments were published for proposals to
furnish grain and hay, and contracts we're
subsequently made for specific sums-28
cents per bushel for corn, 80 cents for oats,
and Sl8 95 cents per ton for hay. In face
of this. another party in st. Louis, Baird, or
Baird & Palmer Palmer being Of the old
firm in Californiu, Palmer, Cook & Co., Gen.
Fremont's agents in that State, were di-
rected to send to Jefferson City. where hay
and corn abound, as fast as possible,
! 100, 900 bushels of oats, with "a corresponding
amount of hay, at SO cents per bushel for
the grain, and $l9 per ton for hay.
Captain Edward NJ Davis, member of
his staff. received q contract by the direct
order Of General Fremont for blankets.
They were examined by board of army
officers, consisting of Captain Hendershott,
Fourth Artillery Captain Harris, Commits
sary of Subsistence, and Captain Turnkey,
Assistant Quartermaster. The blankets
were found to be rotten and worthless.
notwithstanding this decision, they were
| purchased and given to the sick and wound
ed soldiers at the hospital.
Among the supplies sent by General Fre-
mont to the army now in field may be emu
merated 500 half barrels, to carry water in
a country where water is abundant, and 500
| tons of ice.
We examined the barracks in course of
construction in St. Louis near and around
the private house occupied by him as quar-
ters-the Rraut house, which, by the by, is
rented for $4,000 per annum. These bar
racks have brick foundations and brick out
er walls, weatherboarded, and are sufficient
as quarters and stables for 1000 men.
Like those of Camp Centon these barracks
were built by contract on published propo-
sails. They are certainly more expensive
and more permanent than the quarters
temporary army would require, and the
precise cost of them, though diffcult TO be
got at, should be ascertained.
A pontoon bridge has been erected
across the Ohio river by Gen. Fremont, at
Paducah. A ferry boat, in a region where
such boats are readily procured, would be
just as efficient and much less expensive.
| Contracts, it will be seen, were given to
individuals without resorting to advertise
ments for bids, as is required by the law and
thearmy regulations.
Having received an intimation from anoth-
er quarter of an impropriety, / called on
(, Captain McKeever, A. A. g., for the facts,
which he gave me as follows: One week
after the receipt of the Presidents order
modifying General Fremont's proclamation
relative to the emancipation of slaves, Gen.
Fremont, by note to Captain McKeever, re-
quired him to have 200 copies of the orig
inal Proclamation and Address to the army
of the same date, printed and sent immedi-
ately to Ironton, for the use of Major Gar
rett, of the Indiana Cavalry, for distribution
through the country. Capt. McKeeyer had
the copies printed and delivered. Fremont's
order in this matter was as follows:
"Adjutant General will have 200 copies
| of Proclamation of Commander General. da-
ted Both of August, together with Address
to the army of the same date, sent immed-
ately to lronton, for the use of Maj. Garrett,
Indiana cavalry. Major Garrett will dis
tribute itthrough the country
"Sept. 23 1861 j. G. F., Com Gen."
We left St. Louis Oct. Q, for Gen. Fre-
mont's headquarters, e. Upton, l60 miles
distant, passing the night at Jefferson City,
the capital of Missouri, l25 miles from St.
Louis. General Price was in command of
the place, with a forcs of l,2c0 men. The
| Eighth Iowa was there, en- route for Upton.
| AT this place there were accumulated
large quantity of forage landed from steam
boats and other means of transportation
| also, the half-barrels for carrying the wa
ter, and number of mules, which Captain
| TURNKEY said he could not get forward; hay-
ing no control over the transportation by
| railroad.
We arrived in Upton at A. NJ, of the
18th. The Secretary of War was called
on by Gen. Fremont, and, upon his invita-
tion, accompanied him to Syracuse, FIVE
miles distant. to review Gen. McKinstry's
division. about 5000 strong. This body of
troops is said to be the best equipped and
best supplied of the whole army. They cer=
tainly are, as far as means of transportation
are concerned.
At Upton, beside Gen. Fremont and staff,
his body guard &c., | found part of Gen.
Hunters First Division and Gen. Ashboth's
Fourth Division.
The force designed to act against Price
consists of FIVE divisions, as follows,
lst Division Hunters at Upton 9750
I'd /" Pope's at Georgetown 9 ,22Q
Sd Sigel's " Sedala 1880
4th 90 Ashbotb's g Upton 6,45l
9Th (" McKintry's g Syracuse 5,3l8
Total 3S.789