The Van Buren press., 1861-09-11
Letter from Paymaster Duval
Foar SMITH. ARKs.. Sept. 10.

1lR EDT7OR My attention mas peen call
ed to an article in the last issue Of the Van
Buren, Press, over the signature OF Private
which does me gross injustice. desire
only to state the facts relative to the funds
in my hands. and my conduct in paying
them out, which will, trust. not only
convince Private. but, all others, that there
| is nothing to censurc, so far as l am con-
| cerned.
| In the latter part of. July was appoint
ed by the Military Board. Paymaster and
Mr.. R. NJ. johnson. of this place, assistant
paymaster Of the LIST Division of the army
of Arkansas and warrant was given me
for $5O, 900 in bonds and 80, 500 il specie
to make change. To make payment to the
| soldiers. it was necessary to have large
number OF small bends The Treasurer in
formed me that he could only issue two
hundred bonds per day. AS it would take
some time to issue the amount. l returned
home to make preparations to proceed to
the field to make payment, and on the 10th
Of August, sent Mr.. w. A. Porter to Lit
tic Rock for tho residue of the $50, 900.
brought with mo from Little Rock 81,
900 in bqaas zoos. Sos and 20s) designed
to be ust in paying officers. as they were
moetly u , large size. l left here about
10Th Of August, for the army expecting to
find it in Missouri, and as had to go pre-
pared for cncampment. expected MIR. Por-
ter would overtake me before arriving at
Springfield. On my arrival at Fayetteville
l learned that the State troops were under
orders to return to Camp Walker, and this
information being confirmed by Maj. Cline,
Gen Pearce's aid, l went to that place ex-
pecting to meet the soldiers there. On the
way to Camp Walker, my wife was
taken sick. and was SO dangerously ill,
while there. that sent messenger to Fay
etteville to telegraph to DIR. Duval, at this
place, to come Immediately. Having heard
that the troops were to be encamped at ol
near Usage Mills, went to Gen. Pearce to
know where they would be discharged OIL
transferred. He wrote me in reply that he
would commence Oh the following day
Monday at their cncampment near Usage
Mills. MIR. johnson repaired to General
formed Gen. Pearce personally that we had
but about $4,000, and that in large bonds,
but were in daily expectation of Mr.. Por-
ter's return with additional funds, at least
enough to pay one infantry regiment. The
illness of Mrs. Duval alone prevented me
from visiting the camps to greet the gallant
soldiers, who had SO recently won bright
laurels upon the glorious battle of Oak
Hills, many of whom are my warm perso
nal friends. If I had had the bonds OF
funds in my possession to pay with would
not have withheld them one hour, that they
were not in my possession is not my fault
On Friday, the Both day of August, tht
day the troops were disbanded, went te
Usage Mills, and learned that most of then
had left the ground for their homes. Mr.
johnson went to the cncampment and founC
none. Gen. Pearce called upon me while
l was camped near his residence and pait
him at his request, the pay due him as Brig
adler, using the war bonds for the purpose
Mr. Portex 1net, ms on the next day fSatur
dayCs I'm Sprihs. with S25, $50 in wa
bonds, and l paid off on the mex: day
: (Sunday) hvc companies, those farthes
g home, to-wit Dismukes, from Columbi;
county, Mcikean's and Arnold's iIom Sc
vier county, Whaling's. from Arkansas
and Woodrutf's artillery, which took al
:. but some two or three thousand of tn
funds on hand, which afterwards paid t.
the Neall company transferred to the Con
Tolerate service, and a portion of Hemp
stead Rifles. So it will be seen that pait
E out most of the money in about thirt,
hours after il came to my hands. My bro
ther, DIR. Duval paid by order of Genera
Pesrce. the residue Of the Hampstead Rife
at Van Buren on last Saturday, with tn
funds l had directed Mr. Porter to hav
here to pay Capt. Fosters company.
l have received from the State Trea sure
S37 900 in war bonds, and have paid then
all out. Many falsehoods were circulated i,
the camp to the effect that / had $50, 200
l do not charge these to have been wilful
and trust that those who have repeated
them to my injury will now correct them
The amount received by me up to this date
can be ascertained from the Treasurer.
Judge Totten, one of the Military Boart
is at Fayetteville with S37, 900 for me ano
l return there this morning to receive it ant
pay it out. Mr.. Porter will start, to-mor
row to Little Rock, for more funds whicl
will be paid out as fast as received Il,
those very -amiabie and interesting persons
who intend as Private intimate, to han.
me, might say that l forgive them, 70
they know not what they do.
There is one thing omitted to notice il
the proper place Private charges that my de
! lay in coming to the camps, cost the Stat
several Thousand dollars per day. This is
mistake; my presence was not necessar,
to disband the trOops, nor could pay then
until they were either disbandrd or trans
terred. Gil. Rector, the Adjutant- Genera
5 informed Ne. johnson that they would no
be ready to commence either until Thurs
day. l was there, notwithstanding the i'll
. ness OF 'sis. Duval, as early az could hav,
commenced payment. if had had money
to do IT,
can only make out the pay roll from
the muster roll furnished me from the Ad
jjntant's Office, and at the time Privat
wrote none Of the muster rolls had beer
; filed. BEN. r. DuvAL.
@ From an extract of letter, from
Fort Gibson. dated Sept Sd, we gather tn
e following in regard to the movements o
the CherokeeS
"The Cherokees are moving uobly in III
secession cause. If they were slow to star
they go with rush now 4 fine Aag wa
raised yesterday, amid the cheers of tn
people for. the Southern Confederacy an.
, jeff Davis. and another goes nm TODAY II