The Placer herald., 1864-11-19


arch, who issued his edcts from headqusr
ters district Of Western Kentucky lie
levied a tax Of ten dollars on each hopshead
of tobacco and each bale Of cotton exported,
and assessed an al valorem tax of twenty
five per cent on all cotton or tobacco re
ceved. J E. Woodruff WAS appointed trade
agent, assigned to this especial duty The
tobacco warehouse of Thomas Dale WAS tx.
ken possession of, and all cotton aud tobacco
subject TO contscation tax WAS stored in
it. Only particular hvories and pots of the
general were allowed to carry on business,
thus monopolising the trade, Paine sharing
in the profits. Col. w. H. Barry, Of the
colored troops for months kept company
with a notorious prostitute, appearing in
public with her on all occasions. He forced
one Of the bankers of Paducah to pay this
woman one hundred and fifty dollars in gold
giving no excuse for the strange proceeding
Captain Phelps Paine Of the General,
and assistant adj djutant-g general on his staff,
sent a guard to take from the house of Mr..
Scott Ford sufficient furniture to furnish his
private room in elegant style.
After Il thorough Investigation, the com
mission were satisfied that Hon. Lucien An
d-rson, member of Congress, K. Ii. Hall,
Provost Marshal Is, Congressional District
of Kentucky, John 7. b ,liinger, and Major
Henry BartHng Eighth United States color
ed heavy artillery, were guilty OF corruption
and were sharers with General Paine to his
swindling TRANSACTIONS
At three different places in the district,
Anderson aud BoIllnger addressed the people
and told them that. if they did not vote for
Lincoln, they would be granted no privileges,
they would not be allowed to trade, their
property would be taken, and they would be
reduced to beggary and starving condition.
Every possible effort was made to exasperate
the people in order TO have preext to
seize their property. Colonel McChesuey
ruled Ma, field with an iron hand. He near
" DESTROYED the beautiful town by cutting
down the shade trees and erecting a forlitica
ton around the court house ON the publ tic
square. On this work all citizens were re
ouired to work, neither sickness nor age
exempting q man from labor. If person
did not choose to labor, he. was assessed
fine from $500 to $500 The f,rtihca,ion
was a useless piece OF work, rs many Of the
| hills surrounding the town commanded the
square. The commission think that it was
simply done to exasperate the people and
serve as Il prelexL TO assess heavy fines on
them.
box WAS found at May G-ld filled with
various articles taken from the citizens, aud
addressed to Colonel MeChesne,'s friends
| in Illinois. 1t Is estimated that the citizens
were assessed by McChesney to the amount
of s32 900, but $4,000 Of which went to
the government. The latter amount was
seized by General Fry while in transit North
The Postmaster of May field worthy young
man, who proved bis loyalty in the early
part Of the struggle, and has remained firm
TO the Union, because he said that he could
not approve of the policy pursued by the
Administration, in regard to the negro, WAS
stripped Of his office by Colonel McChesnsv,
and forced " tabor on the forllfration FIR
three weeks. Major Peck, of the One Hun
dred and thirtysecond Illinois, commanding
for short time at Smithland was ono of
Paine's subordlnates, aud faithfully executed
the orders of his chief. lie executed several |
citizens of Livingston county wilhou, a show
of trial. According to bis own statements
The people were assessed 10 the amount of
Sl40 900, but 81 900 of which resulted to the
Government. At Padurah, General Paine
established trade regulations requiring per
;nts for all goods bought and sold, and
charging ten cents for issuing permit for
goods valued as low as forty cents. No az.
count WAS kept of this money, and there is
not a paper to show that one cent of it was
| turned over to the Government. A relief
| tund was established for the purpose, As stat
ed by the General, of being devoted to the
support of the wives of soldiers in the district
All of the citizens were required to contr
bute and yel not Il single Kentucky soldiers
wife was ever benefited bv the fund. Capt |
Paine for his own individual wants. drew
from the treasury at one time 81 900. There
were three grand swindIing schemes in full |
operation throughout the district--the re.
lief fund, the assessment to indemnify 10y;
people for losses suffered at the hands of
oueriIIas, aud the tax levied on tobacco and
| cotton.
| From various sources, it is estimated that
General Paine swindled the people and the
| Government out of not less than one hundred
and fifty thousand dollars. In the exp4di-
tion after Adam johnson, property was
wantonly destroyed. and the people robbed
and prosecuted in the most cruel manner
NO eHntt was maze 10 capture Ine S'N' ''''"
gang, and when within five miles of the
camp, Paine with bis troops wheeled about
and started down the river for Paducsh.
1t was simply foray for plumber. Through
out the district the General made three dit
ferent speeches, in which he said that he
was clothed with plenary powers-he re-
ported to noho ly but the President for ln'
siructiops. He asserted that he was not
amenabe to General Schofeld's orders, aud
would not obey any order issued by General
Burbrdge. lie publicly denounced General
Halleck AS I'd ID scoundrel and a coward,
pointing to his campaign at Cor'nth as proof
for the assertion. lie let the rebels escape
through cowardce and incapacly. AS
| Aant e lorultu Tho nanula iYarA fOrcau 10