The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1864-10-29


sand tlo,0co dollars thereof, which $4,000 were
distributed by said Crawford among the military Of
cers, Gen. Blunt and others. in that military COM
iEand.
At This junct1re of the aaair, Gen. Mcneil took
com mand, aud the report rehearses the regulations
of trade made by him, which had been previously
neglected, and then proceeds
Mcdonald & Co. had previously to The regEii-
tons of trade by NcNell hired a number of teams
TO haul for them from Kansas 10 Fort Smith q large
lot of goods, under an agreement with the teams
ers that they would not be required TO haul IN! back
loads on their return 10 Kansas. When said Teams
reached Fort Smith, Mcdonald requested said team.
sters to proceed 10 Charleston, in Arkansas, about
% or 30 miles southeast from TT Smith, and load
with cotton, and haul the same for hin, via Fort
Smith and FL Scott, 10 Leavenwerth, Kansas. As
most of said teamsers objected, he threatened them
If they did not accede TO his request, 'hat he wod
withhold portion of what due 10 them, and
cause them TO te sent back 10 Kansas with an insuf
fc!ent rilitar, escort by route nadequately sup
piled with forage" He promised them, on the 9TH
hand. if they complied. 10 procure for IN IN u
good escort and to pay them :. Tor every G0 pounds
weight they should haul. T1ey were thus preraii-
ed 10 accept his Offer. About the 18th or leta OF
Nov, ieG3, said private teams, numbering about :o
started 10y said Nc cDonald to Charleston. rk.,
with Instructions 10 the tsamsters TO pretend they
were going out to procure forage.
At the same time about 80 Government wagons
left Fort Smith for Charleston, under military es-
cor; Zach OF the wagon trains had militar. guard
and was controlled by the military officers accom-
paEying them.
Col. Cloud assumed general control and direction
of the expedition. He was accompanied by Diefen-
dorf, one of the petitioners aud by Ny. J. b. Dick
ed with cotton by command of Cload-soaie OF the
cotton was purchased of Mrs. Susan Richardson al
Charleston, and some of Mrs. Carroll. three miles
further. and the Identical rebel money captured by
Crawford WAS used 10 pay for the same
A paper of which the following is copy was pro-
doc ed at the Office Of Prov. Marshal ct Fl Smith
FORT SMITH. Ark, Nov. 20, 1868.
MCDONALD & DIEFESDOgF
III of DrsE
e5 bales Of cotton, average tu9 hs gross weight.
3sGo0 h., a, soc $4,000
Received payment for the same
This bill Of sale al Fori Smith bears the same date
as ihe one from Mns. Richardson 10 Dickenson, 80
miles distant aud one from Mrs. ildridce miles
furteer of, is dated the same dayi The repors goes
10 state how the cotton was taken on towards
leavenworih aad was seized by ofjer OF Ewing,
and subsequently turned the civil aGthorites
The Judge up the case by showing that tue cot
MT bargained for when the teams were sent
for i-ihat all the parties named were iHflicaied-
.ha, the connection Of pickenson, "a man OF little
means and no crediv ruse 10 get around the
regulations OF trade adopted b! the Iaeasury, and
put in operation by Gen. NcNeil-il2t DeilcndorI
went lin the trains after the cottoEIhai about &c
bales were brought on without consent "i the Own
who follow and get pay for pari OF me same.
and conelae that ai the time the bill of sale
and rcceip, by Dickenson 10 the petitioners bears
date Eort Smith, said Dickinson Eas not al tor;
Smith. and was Lo, the bona fde holder o! the 95
bales for which i cals-Ihat both said Mcdonald d
Ue.cndorf the petitioners, knew how the cotton
was procured, and from whom, and were parties Ia
the ahor transaction from the beginning. and thai
the paper parporiing be bill OF sale and receipt
from said Diekenson. conirved TO cover up the
/ real character of the ;rsnsaction.''
The repci went 10 Washington was examined al
the Treasur. Department.. ind this answer made :
TREAscEY Drp'T, July l2, isG4
Sis: The Judge of the U. = District Count for Ihc
Eastern District OF NO., has transmitted to me the
4 petition Of Alexander Mcdonald and Fox Dicfcn
don for remission of forfeiture in case Of 20 bales Of
cotton with his summary inquir, therein.
The report of the Judge being adverse, see no
reason TO interfere wit. the legal proceedings. You
will therefore instruct the District Attorney for the
same Court that the prayer Of the petitioners Is de-
med. Respy Geo. HsRRiNGIoS,
Acting Secretary of TIE Treasury.
EDWARD JoKpss, Solicitor of Treasury.
Now this is not an e!ectioneering
document. but the official repor, Of one
of Mr.. Lincoln's Judges. and the ac
lion of the Treasury Department under
Mr.. Chase. l, proves beyond all ques
ton or cavil:
|. That Coils, Crawford and Cloud
are defrauders of the government.
9. That this fraud was in violation Of
the rules of The Treasury and Of the
army, which forbid the dealing in Con-
federaie money.
8. That Blunt is party 10 the fraud
and shared in its benefits.
1t throws flood Of ligh. upon Other
matters.
!. 1t shows mhy all the plunderers
praise the officers engaged in the trans
action.
2. l: shows why Crawford is Lanes
candidate for Governor and Cloud for
Elector.
8. 1t shows why such howl was
raised against Ewing-he was opposed
10 the thieves.
1t proves. further, that all who sup
port Crawford, support robber Of the
government: and a defrauder Of The
Treasury.
Freemen Of Kansas, here is record
for you. Do you intend to support
thieves for Office You have been de
ceived. but now the truth is made mani
fest and you know where you stand.
This transaction shows why the war
is prolonged, and how officers Of the
army get rich out Of the war by swim
ding the government. And nov. lei
low citizens. you have an opportunity
to strike a blow at such corruption.
Will you fail to do it? II you do.
cease to call yourselves the friends OF
tie government. No man iss friead
10 lis governmen, who will uphold or
give any counlenauce to such robbery
aud fraud.
This shows why Phillips and other