Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1864-12-13

A. ma tOPOtS % Nun
u. s. CorfoH AosxcY,
Memphis, Tenn, Nov. 20th, 1854. |
-

Memphis, Tenn, Nov. 2sth, 1854. !
lsstrsee;oas t. G. A. Esst~. xssspAis J:
Sm:--You will ct oncs proceed to the
mouth Of White River, and exalnine into the
causes of the arrest Of parties holding Gov
ernment permits to bring cotton to this
Agency. I wish you particularly 10 and
NJ. Nichols, Mr. Lacy, Nr. Coexens, and to
get their version Of the affair In all plain
cases take afidavits. In this Nr. Nichols
will aid you. In no case use improper or
offensive language against the gentlemen
connected with the army. The supposition
is they have acted in conformity with their
orders. 1t is only facts that want-not
opinions. Keep memorandum Of such
items rs you may think Of any value to this
Agency such rs the quantity Of cotton
ready for shipment; number Of boats in the
neighborhood, and owners. Remember and
note whatever statements are made to you
by the officers in command. army and navy.
with these gentlemen.
Respectfully,
G. II. ELLERY,
U. s. Purchasing Agent.
The following letter addressed to the
officer in command Of the mouth Of White
River was duly delivered by General Fos-
ter:
u. s. CoTr0N AGENCY,
IExPuIs, TsxN., November 20, 1864.
To Officer Commanding Mouth WAits Rirer:
SrR: Information has been brought to my
Office that several persons, having my per
mits, are under arrest at mouth Of White
River. To ascertain the truth Of these re-
ports, and to get reliable information, have
taken the liberty of recommending to your
kind consideration one Of my clerks, Mr.. G.
A, Foster. Please allow him to cOmmuni-
cate as freely as possible with those arrest
ed. suppose that most Of the rumors arc
exaggerated.
Very rcs'tly, your 0bedicnt servant,
GEo. H. ELLERy, U. S. Purchasing Agt.
This morning Mr.. Ellery received The fol-
lowing letter from the bearer Of tho above
instructions:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
OFFICE OF THE Ass'r SPECIAL AGENT
AsLENA, Nov. Both, 1864.
Geo. II. E2lery, Esq, q. s. Purchdsiny
agent, Aemphis, Tennessee
SIR Under instructions from you, to
proceed to mouth White river, Ark, and
there make inquiry into the causes Of the
arrest of several persons who have been
put under surveillance for attempting to
transport cotton under permits issued from
your department.
left Memphis on the 29th inst, for the
place designated in your instructions. Up
on my arrival at Helena, Ark, under the
military orders, there existing, ! was re-
quired to report to Brig. Gen. Buford, CON-
manding at that post. In Obedience to
those orders, reported to that officer, and
delivered to him, for his inspection, the let
ter given me for the commanding officer at
mouth White river, Ark, which embraced
the subject matter Of my visit Gen. Bu-
ford perenptorily ordered me to say moth
ing, and refused to allow any explanation
on my part.
He refused to permit any investigation Of
the Causes Of arrest Of parties at Helena and
mouth OF White river, there confined, as
alleged, for attempting to remove cotton
under the authority Of the U. S. 'Purchas-
ing Agent at Memphis, Tern, and posit-
lively and pcremptorily refused to allow me
to proceed on my trip to White river, as
directed by you. and was ordered by him to
return to Memphis by the first boat.
Under compulsion of that order / have
returned without the accomplishment Of
the object set forth III your instructions.
j am respectfully your ob't serv't,
G. A. FOSTER.