The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-08-02
The Truth about the Charges against
...Is. .....I Gen. Mitchell. NJ %. f".fsl IL

After Gen. Mitchell occupied Huntsville, nu.
nerous parties went about the country to buy
cotton. A Get of sharp speculstofs resorted to
terror to get cotton at low prices, telling plan.
tas they were ordered by Gen. Mitchell to buy
It . certain price, or report it to be burned BY
the troops. To stop such Irregularities, Gen.
Mitchell required buyers to bring him satisfac.
tory evidences of their character, and on that
no gave them permits to buy cotton. All re-
oeived permits who brought the requisite testi.
moniala. lI... I'D 1ao. ..,r,
The division wagon train Was engaged in haul.
ing supplies over the gap in railroad transporta.
ton between Elk river and Reynolds Station,
distance Of twenty-five miles returning empty.
An association cotton buyers desired to freight
this train back with cotton, at stipulated rate.
Gen. Mitchell communicated the proposition to
the War Department, and was instructed to
carry It out The train was kept fully freighted
at " bale, realizing large sum to the Gov.
ernment. The Government was running the
railroad trains also, and on these the cotton paid
height sufficient TO pay oil running expenses and
surplus besides
Al these arrangements were carried out thro'
The regular business officers, and were fully
Known TO the War Department On this state
q facts, Colonel Merton has founded bic charges
that these purchases Of cotton were made By =
company In which Gen. Mitchell Was Interested,
md thst his son.in-lsw was one Of the company,
and that the cotton was carried by Government
wagons free of charge, and the contradictory
charge that Gen. Mitchell compelled buyers to
pay him cent pound for permits. Thess sto.
ries may oil hsve been raised BY outside specu.
lstora, but it is probable that Col Norton found
hat the War Department had full explanation
Of tAsm. Gen. IitchellS son-in-law had no in.
tesest or connection with the cotton purchases
We derive these facts from person in conf.
Dental relations with General Mitchell. The
cotton taken from . rebel fortiGcation, which
Norton charges Gen. Mitchell with, selling o.
Asse cents, when Fuller offered seven cents,
m ordered BY Gen. Mitchell to Be appraised BY
tvo cotton brokers, and WAS appraised and sold
eight cents pound. f =
AZ to the outragss alleged against Col. Tur.
eains brigade, General Nitchsll ordered Colonel
Norton 70 investigate them, and report to him.
Vol Norton seems to have. gathered improbable
stories and reported them 70 Washington, %
charges against Gen. Mitchell Gen. Mitchell
nnot responsible for. what Turchin's men may
aASe done; but Ne suspect that has been vastly
snhed, If not . great part manufactured, BY
!.os who, in the same district, are now oopcil-
A1es the rebela and demosalixing the army.
Ssneral Buell. had no hand in these charges.
Wnen he frst came into Nitchsll's district, hear
De oy Wy Of envious spectators that the Gov.
ament wagons we're carrying cotton, be issued
sn otoef pseAibiting It, and thus hastily broke
Ysn arrangement advantageous to the Govern
lent ana the country. When informed what it
ana that It waS BY instructions from the
~. department. he expressed bis regret ct
sslog interfered with it. Some Generals Of
Sv.aons under Gen. Buell. have taken IN active
sn IN getting up these charges, who are now
oue!ng with the leading Secessionists In the
sAne d'stsict-I Cincinnati Gazette. =