Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-01-08

!
Pratt &c Co. at their old Tricks
The following is copied from the Nil
waukee IV1seonsu's Washington cores
pendent WHO gets his information from the
Report Of the Investigation Committee.
1t viii be seen that Barstow has been at
his old tricks
Maj. Larabee, of the fifth Wisconsin,
came to the city on Monday evening. and
called at my room yesterday. He has al
dressed letter to the committee denying
the charge made against him in the most
positive manner, and asks an opportunity
to produce witnesses befoie the committee,
and says that the Colonel and Qaafte.mas-
ter will testify that be never sought IA any
way to Influence the matter Of the trans
portation of the regiment.
The charge is that six hundred dollars
was paid to Larabse by the railroad com
/ pany.
In the report of the Van Wyck investi-
eating committee as far as made. the only
part that relates to Wisconsin men is the
following:
David Pratt states that Governor Bar
stow, OF Wisconsin, was in ST. Louis some
time, making efforts to gain a Colonelcy
commission. Pratt seems to have been in
that locality long enough to know the way
in which things were going on, and he sug-
gesled to Barstow that Judge Edward $.
Cowies, then tarrying in ST. Louis, former
| ~ Judge in the State of New York, and
resident Of the city Of New York, could
obtain it for him. Whereupon Barstow
told Pratt if Cowles would 90 to the ely
COON and get that commission, he would
give him FIVE thousand dollars. It would
appear from the testimony Of Pratt that
the great dispenser Of commissions, con-
tracts, de-, at the headquarters, was known
in tie mystical language Of the hangers-on
for contracts and commissions, as the ely
COON" Pratt was the agent of a New
York house Gealing in cavalry equipments,
and to ingratiate himself with Bafstow, for
the purpose Of turning an honest penny in
peddling his wares in case Barstow was
successful in getting his commission, was
wiling to become the go-between for Bar
stow and Cowles. Pratt droyethe bargain
with Cowles, who went with General Ere
mont to Jefferson City and obtained the
commission. Barstow said he could afford
to pay the amount of five thousand dollars
because he would make twenty or thirty
thousand dollars profit in buying thou
sand horses. BIT Pratt was the victim Of
"misplaced confidence"
Alter engaging Cowles to procure his
/ commission, in return for which he expect
ed Barstow to buy his traps, it seems there
was another man who had the inside track
With Barstow, and that Pratt, to use his
own language, chad been sold" estates
in his testimony that he overheard con
yersation, ~ low octave" between Bar
stow and this other man, whose name was
Coates, and who was to bethe Quartermas-
ter Of the regiment which was to be raised
in Wisconsin. The purport Of the CONVEX
sation was as to how much money could
be made in fit. ig out the regiment. Pratt
seems to have zen very good natured in
regard to the matter, and appears to be
satisfied by writing Barstow letter, stat
inc that he had discovered be had been
sold, and that the only object Of the com
munication was TO notify him that lie had
made the discovery.
Thecircumstancess surrounding this phase
Of fraud and imposition on the government,
as detailed by the testimony Of Pratt
would seem almost ludicrous, were it not
that there is disclosed the shameless at
tempt to plander the government under the
guise of patriotism, which in too many IN
stances has been shown to be the '.last ref
uge of scoundrels.
Instead Of obtaining commission with
the single and patriotic purpose Of serving
the country IN this hour peril and calam
ity, it would seem it was obtained n this
Instance for the express purpose ofrobbing
the treasury through the purchase Of horses
for the regiment, AMI the equipment Of the
troops. No language Of condemnation can
be too strong FOR such a transaction, and q
sad day will it be for The nation when any
portion Of our armies shall be under the
control Of men who are ready TO sacrifice
the interests and honor Of their country for !
the qualification Of their selfish interests.
--s=s@-za ~. ezzzzn-------