Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-05-14
A Good One on General E. Kirby Smith.

A Good One on General E. Kirby Smith.
As to personal courage, Gen. E. Kirby
Smith has but few superiors. This WA
shown conspicuously at the first battle o
Manassas, at Richmond, KY, and a
Jenkins Ferry, Ark His dash in bat
tie and his reckless daring on many 6
bloody field, has procured for him the
soubriouet of the chevalier Bayard O
the South.
His capacity as a Department Com
mander is another matter, and Is one
with which we have no concern at pres
ent---we only wish to state little circum
stance to prove that he was at leas
greatly deficient as business man.
The Confederate Government entered
into a contract with certain parties tc
supply the army with about $l3S, DOC
worth of Quartermaster stores, the ar
ticles to be purchased abroad and de-
livered at certain designated points in
the Confederacy, the parties to receive
fifty per cent profit on the original pur
chase. The contractors complied very
faithfully with their contract; and, in
consequence, the Government was anx.
ious that they should be promptly paid
the amount due them The settlement
of the business on the part OF the con-
tractors, was entrusted to Co. NJ, "a prom
inent and very intelligent Missourian,
whilst Gen. Smith himself, saw proper 10
represent the Government. The two
gentleman met daily for six or seven
days, passing over the several items
without any serious disagreement upon
any point. When it was thought that they
had almost finished the settlement, Gen.
Smith remarked very quietly to Col. NJ,
that he would mot agree to pay any per
centage on this bill. :" I" May | ask the
reason p inquired Col NJ.
"For the reason replied General
Smith, "that the contract stipulates that
the articles were to be purchased
abroad, which was not done, as it is
well known they were bought in
Mexico"
Indeed" remarked Colonel M,
81 was not before aware that Mexico
was part of the Confederacy.
Nor was l, replied General Smith,
"but l have always entertained the
opinion that it was on the American
continent"
"Well. what if it is, it is included in
the word abroad contained in the con
tract" remarked Colonel M.
II am surprised, sir, to hear you say
so, for this word abroad means Eu
rope, Asia, Africa, any place not on
this continent" replied the General
"well, really General, if that be the
meaning you attach to the word, you and
/ cannot settle this matter at all il
shall 90 to Richmond" remarked the
Colonel, very warmly.
As you please, sir, responded the
General, am sure / am right
The Colonel was very much yexed,
but wishing to settle the matter without
delay, he obtained the consent OF the
General to consult some Of his friend:
as to the point of difference, in the
course Of the evening.
The next morning when the parties
met, the Colonel remarked that he had
been fortunate in getting possession oi
the original contract which he was graft
fed to perceive, satisfactorily settled the
point in debate, when they separated the
evening before. The original contract
contained the word Europe marked out
and the word abroad interlined
Appended was a note stating that the
alteration was made as it might be more
convenient and cheaper to purchase the
articles in Mexico or the United States
When the General read this he laid down
the paper and remarked that he discov
cred that he was mistaken, but said he
IL know nothing Of business, never
transacted anything in my life, never
even bought horse for myself
This point being settled, the next mat
ter was the payment which was to be
made in cotton at six cents per pound
which was the price when payment should
have been made, though cotton had nov
advanced TO twelve cents The General
insisted on paying at the then price Of
cotton, though he frankly acknowledged
that the contract was very explicit that
payment should be made in cotton al
six cents We are rot informed whether
be yielded this point or not, but are
rather inclined 10 think he did not, as nc
man was more obstinate when he took
up any notion, whether it was right OF
wrong Mobile Tribune.
Letter Of Cen. Wade Hampton 20 tns
Hon. Rsverdy johnson.
The following letter, addressed by uen