, 1861-10-18

e.. Abe0t WoFsss.
Editors Chicago Tribune:
In your article to-day On Col Fstaswozth's
Cavalry Regiment, the portion relating TO the
horses seems, in my opinion, open to some
comments. .... -: =
: Those horses may "desaE4s especial men.
tion,n comparatively, but yentuselto affirm
that any good Judge, entirely dlsinterested -
to this Or any other similar Government CON
.tact, would pronounce them at least twenty
per cent. poorer than they need o. should
have been, for the enes, and price {s11U paid
BY Government.
Iwas In Chicago on Saturday, aad saw for
myself the detachment that passed through,
and heard tho remarks Of few fair judges
upon them have also had the opinion OF
ii able farmer from this vieinity-noW mem.
her OF. the reeimeut--Who himself oWns
good horsee, He says the men OF the regiment
who know good animals from bad, are not
satisfied With the lot IS whole, declaring #
some Of the poor ones fall to them, they shall
not feel bound to take any especial care Of the
lives Of such brutes. Once dead, every chance
will be for better ones next time, aud animals
nm ;;;h;.h men csu serve their county, and not
simply throw away time OF life.
They nav be " q much better lot than any
Jet bought for Government service" though
sicompsny COMMANDERS" natural desire for
appearances have seen some other late
lots Of cavalry horses, in nay opinion, equal to
them. The average is oil the tiaae too poor, and
viii be while bought under the present style
Of contrsct, which somehow lets aQ the bus
iness fill Into the hands Of class of men
whose patriotism allows them to gouge ont Of
Uncle Sam every possible dime unforbidden
by the inspectors, themt elves sometimes BUS
pected BY the uncharitable Of incompatency
Or coll1Eion.
4 body OF cavalry requires IN enormous ex-
pEnditure In the raising and N aintena1ce. +
Is tso bad that uHscrupulous men should
be able to rob it Of so much Of Its efficiency.
Plenty Of the right c!Ass of horses ca8 be-
bought in this State for 8 little under the
price paid By Government, Say &105, bnt com-
paratiTe1Y few men will sell such aniIns1s as the
service requires, the best class Of good sfzsd,
strong, sound, active saddle horses, fof 80 to
$50, And those, from all accounts, are about
The consequence is plain: Many poor beasts
are taken that the contractors and Inspectors
ought to eat and digest morally. The name
even OF the gentleman who gave his services
to bis country in fitting ont Col. F. fs not
known to me, and Of course this is written
With no personal reference. He bought in the
usual way, which way the Colonel of another
regiment ia reported-to approve. It Is IN
derstood, that tram twenty to forty Thousand
dollars, are thus pocketed on the stock con-
ilaCt 81 one IeBimtnts IoF c!ass Oh ta1e4LA
and amount Of Services that would be ronndly
raid with FIVE hundred! Who doubts that
there are plenty OF competent judges Of horse
flesh, willing to supply regiment in the best
manner possible for the consideration of three
to five hundred dollars? Why should not
| within less than five dollars per head of the
| price allowed by Government be paid for such
| animals as are needed, and such as can be got
only for fair price? Why must the country
| and the men who offer their services and lives,
be imposed upon, the good cause suffer loss,
| and sharpers make forty times what their Ia.
| bor would be worth, If they were patriots
| VIII not those interested in raising the next
cavalry regiment, See to it, that this abuse is
| atated, to their oWn interest and credit? !
| am aware that horse contractors are far from
being the only class who have made this 1ar
| their opportunity to draw from distressed
country, millions, to which they were not en-,
titled upon any principles Of patriotism, re-
| lgion, or JUSTICE.
! Norris Ill, Oct 18th,