The Evansville journal., 1868-11-23


ofrequiring gusrrillas who
were forced to surrender themselves,
when closely pursued or on the ap-
proach Of the Winter season, to turn
over to the Government their horses
and arms, or their money value if
they had sold or concealed them. |
From this source a. very considerable |
amount of money was received By the
Quartermasters.
1t was the practice of the military
officers at Henderson, Hopkins, Union
and other counties of my command, in
many cases where it was deemed best
for the peace of the community to
place prominent or troublesome rebel
citizens under oath and bond mot to
give aid or comfort to the enemies of
the United States or the State of
Kentucky, either BY aoord or Get;
that he will discourage and discoun-
tenance all aiders and abettors of the
present rebellion against the United
States, especially the guerrilla bands,
so styled Partisan Rangers; that he
will do all in his power to restore
peace, and quiet, and the supremacy
of the Government of the United
States" The bond was made sub
ject to the jurisdiction of either civ7
or military authority" Blank forms
of these bonds were turned over to
me by my predecessors when 1 as
sumed command, and were used by
my Provost Marshals and other Off
GERS in taking bonds of citizen rebels.
In great many cases these bonds
were willfully and knowingly vio-
lated. But it was decided tnat they
could not be enforced In the United
States or State courts on account of
technical defects in their execution
and acknowledgment. Some of the
most fagrant cases were taken cogni-
zance of by me or by other officers or
military commissions in my COM
mand, and a part of the amount
of the bond required to be paid,
which went into the Post fund
There were also. in some in
stances, fines assessed for violations
of military orders or police regula-
tions, which were added to the Post
fund, in charge of the Quartermaster !;
as we'll as the proceeds of some sales
of contraband property, early in the
service, before orders were issued to
forward the same to Louisville for
legal investigation.
1t will appear from the statements
of the Post Qdartermasters that under
my administration of affairs the Post
toas male set elfs.stdining, no money
haUing erer been received from the War
Department or Government Treasury
for Gny of The ezpeRses mentioned In
these statements. These embraced the
entire expenditures for all classes ol
citizen services, which were neces.
sarily very heavy, such as guides
scouts, messengers, detectives, citizen
provost marshals, clerks, telegraph
operator, &c. From this fund
created by my orders extra hospita
supplies and delicacies were obtained
Damages sustained by Union citizens
by guerriIlas or Federal soldiers. a
well as forage, rent Of rooms, and
other like expenditures, together with
such military expenses as that o
court-martials and the various dis
bursements incident to general Pos
purposes, were provided for out o
this Post fund.
: 1 append the Statement of the Quar-
termasters of the Post Of Henderson
showing the manner in which thi
Fund was disbursed:
Q. M. MAHAN's STATEMENT.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind, I
Nov. 9, 1868. T..
While in the service as Lieutenan
of the 18th Indiana, while on duty a
Henderson. KY. in 1862, / was as
signed to the position of Post Quar-
q termaster by LIT. Col. John w. Eos
D ter and remained on daty for nearl.
three months During that period
a received from various persons, seces
: sion-sympathisers, guerrillas captures
or surrendered, aud other citizens i
military custody, various money lev
les and property. In some cases tn
mOaey was received by me throug
v Col. Foster or other officers under hi
p command, and In other cases paid di
a q rectly to me by the parties them
selves. This money constituted tn
only Post fund for general expense
ever in my hands. 1t was disburse
by me for expenses incurred in til
employment of guides, messenger
ID detectives, and various citizen ser
vices rendered by order of the com
manding officers, for extra hOspits
r supplies not regularly furnished b
= the Commissary Department, fo
q damages or losses sustained by Unio
" men, either by the Federal army {
guerrilla depredations, and for mil
cellaneous expenses and supplies
the Post; / never received any funC
: whatever from the u. S. Quarterma,
ter's Department for these purpose
IN In examining my papers, | find tn;
er the total amount of money receive
d and expended for the purposes aboy
mentioned by me under the orders
Col. John w. Foster, was seven tho,
sand and seventy two 15-100 Dolla
er ($7, ,072 15). am satisfied, from n
"a intimate knowledge of affairs at Her
OF derson during my services there, tn
"a M money was levied or received |
rs Col. Foster that was not turned over
me and properly expended.
/. L. MAHAN,
Late Lieut.. & Post Q. NJ,
of Henderson, XIV.