The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-11-08

date, but directed payment, IN some cases
a month or two anterior thereto. He wal
then without funds, excepting a small
amount.
The principal commissary, Captain
Haines, had no outstanding debts. He
expected funds soon.
Major Allen, principal Quartermaster
had recently taken charge at st. Louis, but
reported great irregularities in his depart.
ment, and requested special instructions
This he deemed important, as orders wers
communicated by variety of persons, in
an irregular manner, all requiring disburse-
ments of money. These orders were FREE
quently given verbally. (See Exhibit No
} He was sending, under General Ere
mont's orders, large amounts of forage from
st. Louis to the army at Upton, where
corn was abundant and cheap. The dis
lance was one hundred ard sixty miles. He
stated the indebtedness to the Quartermas,
ter's Department at st. Louis to be 81 $780,
300 % 100.
In regard to the contracts. Without an
examination of the accounts it will be diff
cult to arrive at the facts. 1t is the ex-
pressed belief of many intelligent gentlemen
in st. Louis that General Fremont has
around him, and in his staff, persons directly
and indirectly concerned in furnishing SUP.
plies. The following is copy of letter
signed by Leonidas Haskell, Captain and
Ado. He, though on General Fremont's
staff, is said to be contractor for hay aud
forage and mules. The person named in
his note, Colonel Degraf, is bis partner.
HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT,
Camp Lille, October 2, 1861.
Sir--I am requested by the Commanding
General to authorize Colonel 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. G.
(See Exhibit No. 6.)
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 contract
or or the copartner of one. of filing his
own contract 1t is difficult to suppose
that this double transaction is done with
out 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 Captain Haskell, A. d. c., was
a contractor for mules. He desired Capt
Turnkey to receive his animals, good, bad
and Indifferent" as Capt. Turnkey said.
This he would do, but stated his prices for
the different classes of mules, "wheel,"
lead," &c. Bssides be had more mules
than he could possibly send to the army.
Notwithstanding all this he received an or
der to inspect and receive Mr.. Haskell's
mules as rapidly as possible. Capt. Turn~
ley very soon after received an order from
General Fremont to leave St. Louis and
60 into the interior of Missouri. (See ex.
hibit No. Z, showing his great labor and
responsibility
By direction of General Meigs, adver.
vertisements we're published for proposals
to furnish grain and hay, and contracts
were subsequently made for specific sums
twenty-eight cents per bushel for corn,
thirty cents for oats, and $17.95 per ton
for hay. In face of this, another party in
st. Louis, Baird, or Baird & Palmer,
Palmer being of the old firm in California,
Palmer, Cook & Co., General Fremont's
agents in that State,) were directed to send
to Jefferson City, where hay and corn
abound, as fast as possible, 100000 bushels
of oats, with a corresponding amount of
hay at thirty-three cents per bushel for the
grain, and $l9 per ton for hay. (See
voucher No. ~
Captain Edward M. Davis, member of
bis staff, received contract, by the direct
order of General Fremont, for blankets.
They we're examined by board of army
officers consisting of Captain Hendershott
Fourth Artillery Captain Harris, Com.
missary of Subsistence, and Captain Turn
ley, Assistant Quartermaster. The blan.
kets were found to be mostly of cotton, and
to be rotten and worthless. Notwithstand-
ing this decision they were purchased and
given to the eick and wounded soldiers in
the hospital.
Among the supplies sent by General Ere.
mont to the army now in the field, may be
enumerated one hundred half barrels, to
carry water in country where water is
abundant, and five hundred tons of ice.
We examined the barracks in course of
construction in st. Louis near and around
the private house occupied by him as
quarters-the Brant House, which, blythe.
by, is rented for $4,000 per annum. These
barracks have brick foundations and brick
outer walls, weather boarded, and are sufi.
Gent as quarters and stables for 1000 men.
Like those of Camp Benton, these barracks
were built by contract on published pro-
posals. They are certainly more expensive
and more permanent than the quarters a
temporary army would require, and the
precise cost of them, though difficult to be
got at, should be ascertaiped.
A pontoon bridge had been erected across
the Ohio river by General Fremont, at
Paducah. A ferry boat in 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 law and
the army regulations.
Having received an intimation from
smother quarter of an improperly, called
on Captain McKeever, A. A. g., for the
facts, which he gave me as follows: OBe
week after the receipt of the Presidents
order modifying General Fremont's pro-
clamation relative to the emancipation of
slaves, General Fremont, BY note to Cant.