The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-05-20
Misfellansnns.
THE GREAT BEEF CONTRACT.

beef. Very well. He started after Sher
man with the beef. but when he got tc
Washington. Sherman had gone to Ma
nassas; so he took the beef and followed
him there. but arrived too late; he follow
ed him to Nashville. and from Nashville
10 Chattanooga, and from Chattanooga td
Atlanta-but never could ovcrtake him
At Atlanta he took fresh start and fol-
lowed him clear through his march to the
sea. He arrived too late again by few
DAYS. but hearing that Sherman was going
out in the Quaker City excursion to the
Holy Land, he took shipping for Beirut,
calculating TO head of the other vessel.
When he arrived In Jerusalem with his
beef, he learned that Sherman had not
sailed in the Quaker City, but had gone
to the Plains to fight the Indians, He re-
turned TO America and started for the
Rocky Mountains. After eighteen days
OF arduous travel on the Plains, and when
he hal got within four miles of Sherman's
headquarters he was tomahawked and
scalped. and the Indians got the beef. all
but one barrel; Shcrman's army captured
that, and so, even I'm death, the bold navi-
gator fulfilled his contract. In his win
which he had kept like q journal. he be-
queathed the contract to his son Batholo'
NEW w. Bartholomew w. made out the
following, bill and then died:
THE UNITED STATES
In aect ,cith JOHN WILSON MACKEN.
zIE, Of New Jersey. deceased, DIR.
To thirty barrels of beef for General Sher.
man, at 300 $4,000
To travelling expenses and trans
portation, l4,OOc
Total, $4,000
Reed Payt.
He died then; but he left the contract
to VIM. j. Martin, who tried to collect It,
but died before he got through. He lefl
II to Barker j. Allen, and he tried To col
lect Il also. He did not survive. Barker
J. Allen left 1t to Anson G.. Rogers, who
attempted to collect 1t, and got along a,
FAR rs the Ninth Auditors Office, when
Death. the great Leveller. came all un-
summoned, and foreclosed on him also.
He LEFT the bill to relative of his In Con.
necticut, Vengeance Hopkins by name,
who lasted four weeks and two days, and
made the best time on record, coming
within one of reaching the Twelfth Audi.
tor. In his will he gave the contract bill
to his uncle, by the name Of O.be.joyfnl
johnson. 1t was too undermining. f.r
Joyful. His last words were: "Wecp
not for mel am willing TO CO." And
so hc was. poor soul. Seven people In
herited the contract after that. But they
all died. So II came into my hands al
last. Ii fell to me through relative by
the name of Hubbard-Bcthlehem Hub.
bard. of Indiana. He had grudge
against me for q long time; but In hi,
last moments he sent for me and forgaye
me everything, and weeping gave me the
beef contract.
This ends the history of it up to the
time that succeeded 10 my proper ty,
l will now endeavor to set myself
straight before the nation in every thing
that concerns my share In the matter
| took this beef contract, and the bill fol
mileage and transportation. TO the Pres.
ident Of the United Statcs-IIe said
"Well sir what can i do for you"
said-.Sirc: On or about the 10th day o
October 1861. John Wilson Mackenzie oi
Rotterdam, Chemung County, New Jer.
sey, deceased, contracted with the Gcner.
nj Government to furnish to General
Sherman the sum total of thirty barrel:
Of beef
lie stopped me there. and dismissed me
from his prcsence-kindly, but firmly
The next day called on the Secretary o
State. He said
We'll. sir?r
I said; Your Royal Highness: On or
about the 10th of October, 1861. John
Wilson Mackenzie. Of Rotterdam, Che
mung County. New Jersey, deceased
contracted with the General Government
to furnish to General Sherman the sum
total of thirty barrels Of beef
That will do. sir-that will do; this
office has nothing to do with contract,
for beef
was bowed out. thought the mat.
ter all over. and finally the following
day. visited the Secretary Of the Navy,
who said. Speak quickly. sir; do moi
keep me waiting said
Your Royal Highness: On or abou,
the 10th day of October, 1861, John vii.
son Mackenzie. of Rotterdam. Chemung
County, New Jersey. deceased. contract
ed with the General Government to fur.
nish to General Sherman the sumtotal ol
thirty barrels Of beef Hss
Well it was rs far rs could get.
He had nothing to do with beef con.
tracts for General Sherman. either. be-
gan to think IL was curious kind of gov
crnment. 1t looked somewhat rs If they
wanted TO get out of paying fcr that
beef The following day went TO the
Secretary of the Interior, I said
Your Imperial Highnes.: On or abou,
the 10th day Of October
That Is sufficient, sir-I have heard ol
you before. Go-take your infamous
beef contract out of this establishment.
The Internal Department has nothing
whatever to do with substance for the
army
I went away was exasperated now
I said would haunt thom; would iufesi
every department Of this iniquitous Gov.
crnment till that contract business was
settled; would collect that bill. or fall
as fell my predecessors, trying. I assail.
ed the Post-master-General / besiegcd
the Agricultural Department; I waylaid
the Speaker of the House of Representa-.
tives. They hsd nothing to do with army
contracts for beef. I moved upon the
Commissioner Of the Patent Office.
said
Your august Excellcncy: On OIL
about
.Perlition! have you got here with your
inceudiary beef contract, mt last? We have
noahisg to do with beef contracts for the
army, my dear SIR
u, that Is all very well-but somebody
has got to pay for that beef. 1t has got to
be paid noic, too. or I'll confiscate this Old
Patent Office and every thing in It.
But, my dear SIR