Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1861-06-08
ofic al Report on the Plunder
of the Soldiers.

Oh tu6 SOlulSlS o.
The righteous Indignation of the people
against the plumber of our brave soldiers
has at last penetrated the Executive Cham
Der of the State, and produce some effect
there. The proof of this will be found in
letter and tolegraphip report between
Governor Curtin and Mr.. Haywood, which
we publish in our news columns. On the
oath instant Governor Curtin, driven by
the gathering storm indicated by every
mail from all parts of the State, as well as
from the camps in Washington, wrote to
Mr.. Haywood, of Schuylkill county, to
ezamine into the matter of worthless sup.
plies furnished to the Pennsylvania Regi.
ments now in Washington. "Ascertain,"
the Governor instructs Mr.. H., "the dc.
" ficiencies of every kind, defect of mate
" rial, irregularity of color, and faulty
" manufacture, and at once telegraph me
"what is requisite to make the men CON-
" Portable in any and every way" &c.
This is all very well, as far as it goes
but it does not, by any means, 60 half way
as remedy. 1t is, doubtless, a very grand
thing for the Governor, after placing the
military business of the Commonwealth in
such incompetent and corrupt hands that
a large portion of the supplies are useless
and have to be Instantly renewed, to order
an examination, and, with great show Of
rigor and vigor, order new equipments to
be furnished at once. But why was this
vital portion of the business of the Com
monwealth placed in charge of persons
whose unftness and rapacity render such
course necessary! And why did not the
Governor instruct Mr.. Haywood to "ascer-
tain" rho Furnished these rotton garments
which have to be so soon supplied by
others to save our brave troops from shame
and disgrace? ? Why is there no instruction
that looks to compelling the robbers to
make restitution, and to bring the derclict
and guilty "agents" in the bad business to
punishment The reader will look in vain
through this elcvcnth-hour letter for any
indications of purpose to deal out justice
to the perpetrators of this great wrong
But we pass that.
Mr.. Haywood has been to Washington,
and the tclcgraphic summary of his report
says, that "thc Fourth Regiment. Colonel
Hartranfts, and the Fifth regiment, Col.
" Dowell's are suffering badly. Their
"blousos and pants are of all colors made of
damaged goods of inferior quality mostly
of 'shoddy,' and some of'Kcntucky Jean
The blankets are of the quality of ice
blankets, not fit for horses. The shoes
care of wretchcd material. The heels
come off, and they are constantly rip
"ping. Many are Utmost barefoot, The
report among the troops is that their
"appearance was SO bad, that General
Mansfield said they were not fit to take
" the field"
Such is the report OF one of Governor
Curtin's agents upon the malfeasancc of
his other "agcnts." Will he now act and
expose and punish the rascals who have
brought this deep humiliation to our SOL
dicrs-who have robbed them and the
State, and disgraced both before the as
sembled nation This great wrong can
never be put at rest by grandiloquent let
ters. In the name of the soldiers and the
people, VIC demand the exposure of the
guilty, that the rapacious middlemcn and
dishonest traders shall be compelled to
make restitution, and that all who have
brought themselves within reach of the
law shall be punished.
Phalqhlphia InQuS'ey.