The New York herald., 1862-03-10
shoddy contractors.
CORRESPONDENCE BBTwKEN GENERAL HALLuCK AND

wear out in four days. pair OF boots were presented
few days ago which had been only worn three days. and
Between the outer and inner soes the space Aed in
with pieces Of old plate ron which work loose and cut
the stitches II s outrage our troops TO issue such
shoes and clothing at all, and stu greater that tney
sho be charged at full price. have already urged
Ieiuction OF prices. must be done, the governments
hopes 70 keep this Army Of the West together.
Much Of this worthless trash has been received through
ne Governors OF States and there no way OF tracing
tn troops here preyed upon by all the rascay con-
r cors in the United States This must be stopped 1t
" II not be endured much longer. urged the Importance
q sending good materials here, and that shoes and
clio hing bo manufactured in st. Louis thus giving OPP
tunity detect and prevent Frauds and at the
time afford employ 10 the wives and families OF vo
nteers, who by closing the workshops are left in des
ttute and suffering condition.
amount OF inferior supplies now on hani, which have
been paid for by the government. You say that the in
spectors at the Philadelphia Arsenal where these great
frauds committed, wore appointed against your
wishes and that you used every argument in your
power TO prevent such appointment No one charges you
with blame but ii rests upon the War Department and
the government should the consequences the
poor soldiers II the government will employ incompe
tent and dishonest agents in the termasers Depart
ment and against your advice you say forewarned
tae secretary Of the resu the Treasury and not tho
amy should bear the consequence OF tho frauds Of these
agents II her fore ems TO me that these inferior
shoes and clothing should be condemned and sold and the
workshops OF 81. Louis reopened.
absoluey necessary to issue inferior articles, the
tariff Of prices should fixed by the actual value OF the
articles issued and not by what the government paid
for them in Philadelphia. / respectfully request that
tls letter be laid before General Mcclellan and the Secre
tary Of War Very respectfully yor obedient servant.
H. w. HALLECK, Major General.
QuARrgRMA-TER GfNERA's OFFICE,
WASHINGTON CRY, Feb. H. 1852.
Hon. e. NJ. STANTON, Secretary OF War;
Sr-I enclose letter from General Haleck, in relation
10 the inferior quality OF clothing and shoes furnished
the troops in the Western Department he states that
she and boots had becn worn out in from three
to four days march He urges that inferior cothng be
condemned and sold that cannot be done that in
feror goods be charged fair va alton TO the soldiers
Much of these inferior supplies, he says, has been re-
ceve through the Governors Of ates he also refers
to large guam tiles, which of bad quality, and which
a pear TO bave me from tho Philadelphia Arsenal. l
have Therefore corresponded with General Haecl on
this subject informed him that the matter had been
laid beio the War department, and recommended that
such clothing as is servceabe though not equal 10 the
regulation material in quAty, be issued at fair vaia
tion. The Revised Regulations, pages 150 Isl. para
graph 1913, and the following, in describing
the an Of .ns sss psFor sshs make @
considered damaged clothing, and II serviceable,
having been approved should be issued to the troops at
valuation to be fixed by the Board Of Survey Clothing
which is worthless should be condemned. This request
ed the Major General to have done possible
that we might trace back to tho contractors who had
committed the fraud and refuse payment not already
made.
only be to furnish temptation and opportunity for
reated Frauds and it would probably be better to have
such destroyed. Tho indignation Of tho Major General,
are natural and will be shared by ali who read his state
But with so large stock OF shoes and clothing
hand, much as should desire to give employment TO
tho working people in St. Louis cannot advise the
sumption Of the manufacture in that city While it ap
pears that there have been frauds in the inspection OF
clothing and shoes have doubt that far the great
portion OF the supplies hand in tho depots is Of
good quality, and that we can supply any requisi-
tions he may make with articles satisfactory to
tions makes IL the duty of any officer who receives
public property to make careful examination, to
for use to cali for board Of survey in order 70 have
examined and condemned by the inspector. II this
guaton had been complied with In St. Louis tho inferior
quality Of these goods would have been asccrtaned i'm
ediay after their receipt and thus the attention Of the
officer at the depot in Philadelphia would have been
earlier drawn to the frauds which appear have been
committed by contractors and inspectors at the Schuyl
kill Arsenal General Haeck desires that his letter be
laid before the Secretary Of War and Commanding Gene
raj Of the army. submit 1t with these remarks and
spectfully advise that his attention be called to para
graghs 0l9 and OPT Of the Revised Regulations, and
the power to give that relief to the soldiers Of the De-
partmsnt Of Missouri which the case demands. am,
very respectfully SSs SRsGsns servant
QuARTERMAsgKR GENERALS OFFICE,
WASHINGTON CITY, Feb 10 1852. !
Major General H. w. HAL!EcK, Commanding Department
GESHAL-Your letter Of the 7th Of February in regard
10 inferior quality Of Shoes and asking relief for soldiers
you requested, submitted to the Secretary Of War.
now by his direction, enclose copy Of my letter to
him on the subject. dated February u, 1852
regard TO boards OF survey you have In your power to
AFFORD the relief desired. am, very respectfully your
N. c. MEIGs, Quartermaster General.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE Missouri,
ST. LOUIS, Fob. rs, 1862. I
GKNERAi-Your letter Of the l0th enclosing one to the
Secretary Of War dated the 18th is just received As
your letter TO the Secretary saee that paragraphs 0lo
and 02 afford the proper remedy for the referred
to in mine of the 7th may DO inferred that there has
been neglect my part heretofore applyug
a
planned. Tho matter complained OF not damage or
deficiency Of clothing and shoes, but inferory Of mate
rial and workmanship The paragraphs referred to do
provide for this, and order from Adutant
General hxes positive schedule Of prices for every arti
order of the Secretary OF War; afforded relief Such
the opinion OF the chiefs Of the Quarsrmaster and
Psymastsr departments, and you yourself. in one Of
added that the schedule ought to be changed regard TO
inferior articles, which could not be condemned a.
damaged. Boards Of survey, however were appointed
in many cases. and an estimated value given presume
that in such the difference between tho estimated
value Of the articles issued and the schedule prices can
be credited 10 the soldiers their muster rolls shall
80 direct unless instructed Otherwise perceive that
your letter to the Secretary of War has been published
In the newspapcrs shall therefore publish this expa.
In regard 10 the cloth sent here for making clothing
would remark that II is not damaged but Of such inferior
quality as to be nearly worthless for service. Moreover,
Il that the usual tickets the number Of yards
in each bolt, have been purpescly taken on 10
Quire the Of each order ascertain
the deficiency. To each bolt here would employ
the Quarermaster for whole month. Again. It is fre-
Quenty impossible TO ascertain here from any marks or
invoices, who the contractors for this defective
cloth and clothing. This is especially tho case with
clothing shoes &c, which were distributed TO this and
other parts before came here. This evil must be
remsdied in Philadsphia and other places from which
the supplies are sent The rascaly inspectors there
should be turned out immediately. and honest ones ap
pointed We cannot here, with all Efforts fully &C.
compsh ne object and detect the frauds Very respect
fully, your obsdient servant,
II. ". HAILECK, Major General.
Testimonial to Captain Ringgold.
NEW YoRx, Feb. 20, 1852
Captain RsGeoID, United States Navy
DuAR sI have the honor to transmit to you the gold
medal awarded by the Lilo Saving Benevolent Associs
ton of New York. II has the following inscription
Presented to Captain Cadwaadsr Rnggoli in com.
OF his successful efforts, and those Of shs
officers and crew under his command, on board the
United States gate Sabine saving four hundred
lives from the transport steamer Governor the I'd