Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-11-13

wounded All bu, "A of Colonel Fouke's
regiment answered to the roll call yesterday.
Loss in Buford's regiment not ascertained, but
is supposed not heavy. In Taylor artillery
only slightly wounded. Prisoners taken l34.
All accounts concur in placing the loss OF the
enemy much heavier thsn ours. Belmont has
been abandoned by the rebels. They have
$50 prisoners, and acknowledge $50 killed.
FRAUDS IN THE WESTERN DEPARTMENT.
The part of the committee who have been
in session in ST. Louis since the 18th of OctO-
Der, working twelve hours day, and exam in
ing one hundred and twenty three witnesses,
are Messrs. Washburne, Holman, Davis and
Steele. The Ingnirer's abstract OF the testimo
ny, which fills book 2, ,480 pages, gives part
bearing on the different heads Of fraud
summed up in the committees report. The
entire testimony has been sent to Washington
to be laid before Congress at its next session.
SILVER SERVICE TO MRS. A'KINsrRY.-The
Hrst act of fraud was the presentation TO Mrs.
Brigadier General McKinstry, on the Goth OF
September, OF a complete set of silver service
OF the Jenny Lind pattern, which service cost
So 900 and upward, and being the finest ever
made in the West. took the premium at the
State Agricultural Fair held in St. Louis.
This service was presented by parties exclu-
sively interested in Government contracts,
among whom were Maj jOr Selover, Leonidas
Haskell, JOnn M. Ofun, e. Il. Dearu, OF Call-
fornia, and others. General M'KiDstry was
Quartermaster General OF the Western Depart
ment by appointment of Major General John
C.. Fremont, and as such QuartermaSter General
controlled the horse and mule contracts, build
ing of barracks, and all supplies and purchases
pertaining to that Department. The committee
in their report say, ssThe frauds in contracts
in the Quartermaster's Department are num-r-
ous, and have been clearly proven, and extend
through all branches OF his control and super
vision.'
GIGANTIC Horse AND MULE FRAUDs.-In re-
lation to the purchase of horses-the second
act of fraud-the testimony is extensive as to
the various species of imposition practiced,
the ssold English jockey tricks" as they are
called, being in this case of the lesser magni-
tude. A party contracts to furnish one thou
sand head of horses, at $ll9 so per head: to
the Government, through the Quartermaster
The contractors agent, who is approved by
the Quartermaster, has charge of the field
where the contractors horses are TO be passed
upon. countryman, having horses to sell
to the Government, pays $40 entrance fee to
the field, where his horses examined, and,
upon the payment OF another fee of So they
are recommended to the contractor, who pur-
chases the same at the very lowest figure,
which, throughout the entire evidence, never
exceed $50 and $50 per head.
The contractor takes his purchases to the
inspector, who is also reimbursed by fee,
which amount is computed according to the
quality of the animal. The contractor, on
obtaining q certificate from the Inspector, de-
mands the money of the Quartermaster, who
pays the same, when the bonus for said pay
ment is guaranteed. The evidence discloses
several such schemes and many other ways in
which horses and mules are obtained The
testimony also shows that the horses in ma
jority of instances, of the most inferior
l..
the road. Around the depots where horses
were kept thus purchased, numerous dead
carcasses have been found. Omnibus and
stage horses have been trotted out, ssfull of
bran and peppered' by contractors, who re-
ceved S1l5 Sl30 for each horse they fur
nished.
Hay AND WAGON FRAuDs.-The abstract has
a great deal more under the horse and mule
head, while the testimony shows that over half
million of dollars was sunk in hay contracts.
The Quartermaster paid S17 so per ton for hay
in bales, which on examination is found to be
prairie grass, and hay OF very poor quality.
The cost of transportation between st. Louis
and Sedalia is abont So per ton, or S25 per ton
delivered at Sedalia. The Committee have
accumulative evidence that fresh hay from the
stacks, and in abundance along the entire
route to Warsaw can be obtained at Sc and SS
per ton.
In Government wagons the evidence shows
that large numbers are here without any owners
until after they have been pressed into the
service, and then the builders present their
claims. A majority of these wagons are unfit
for service. The axles reach holsters, ,spok es,
hubs, &c. are found to have been cracked, and
the cracks filled with leather ard putty and
painted over. Where the fraud was patent,
several of the wagons were condemned. The
Committee will report that number of the
wagons thus received by the Quartermaster
h.
army had proceeded far, and that the wagons
will be useless after few weeks service
The ST. LOUIS FoRTIFIcArIos FRAUp.-Thc
third act of fraud is in the building of fortifica-
tions at st. Louis. On the 18th of August
Colonel Hassendeuble, by order of Gen. Ere
mont, engineered and surveyed the points
within the limits of ST. Louis for the erection
of eleven (ll) forts. Under Major HIS super
intendence five (5) were built directly for the
government without any intervening contract
or. The wages of the laborers were sixty
cents per day and the cost of each fortification
not to exceed $4,000. The revelations on
this score are frghtful. When the forts were
completed Gen. Fremont contracted with a
Mr. Beard from California. to build six ad-
ditonal forts in the most extravagant manner
already set forth. The total cost of the six
Notifications figures upward of $500. .OOO, upon
which Mr.. Beard has received $l70,0UO An
additional payment OF an order for $50 900
from Gen. Fremont was stopped by the Sec
retary of War when in ST. Louis The evil
dence sets forth that notwithstanding Beard has
receiued already three times the original cost of
the works, the laborers are clamorou, at the gop-
ernmenf officers for heir pay.
FREMoNT's g sPALArIALMANsIoN ANpBARRAoKs.
The fourth act of fraud is the house rent
first in the palatial mansion of Mrs. Beaut
cousin of Mrs. Jessie Fremont, rented to Gen.
Fremont for headquarters of Major General.
his Private Secretary, and Chief of Staff, at
the rate Of S6 600 ner annnm Qther alatial