Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-05-26
THAT BEEF CONTRACT.
BY MARK TWAIN.

B1 MAXI Nv AIN
In as few words as possible / wish to
lay before the nation what share, hcwso-
ever small, | have bad in this matter
this matter which has so exercised the
public mind, engendered SO much i'll feel
ing, and so filled the newspapers of both
continents with distorted statements and
extravagant comments.
The origin of this distressful thing was
this-and assert here that every fact in
the following resume can be amply proved
BY lie official records of The General Gov
eminent.
John Wilson Mackenzie, of Rot:er-
dam, Chemung county, New Jersey, de
ceased, contracted with the General
Government, on or about the 10th day
of October, 1861, to furnish to General
Sherman The sum total of thirty barrels
Of beef. Very well. He started after
Sherman with the beef, but when he got
to Washington, General Sherman had
gone to Manassas; so he took the beef
and followed him there, but arrived too
late; he followed him TO Nashville, and
from Nashville to Chattanooga, and from
Chattanooga to Atlanta-but he never
could oyertake him. Al Atlanta he took
. fresh start and followed him clean
through his march TO the sea. He ar
rived 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, calcu-
lating 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
returned TO America aud started for the
Rocky Mountains. After eighteen days
of arduous travel on the plains, and
when be bad got within foW, miles of
ShOrmau's headquarters, be was tonla-
hawked and scalped, aud The Indians got
the beef. They got all Of it but one
barrel. Sherman's army captured that,
aud so, even IL death, the bold navigator
partly fulfilled his contract. In his will,
which lie had kept like journal, he be
.aueathed the contrac: to his son, Bar
tholomew w. Bartholomew w. made
ont the following bill and then died.
In act with JOHN WILsoS MACKENZIE,
of New jersey. deceased Dr.
To thirty barrels If beef for General Sher-
Tot l expense: and transportation. 4GOt
TOtal. SlG.tOl
Reed Pay't
He died then; but he left the contract
TO VIM. j. Martin, who tried to collect
it, but died before he got through. He
left it to Baker j. Allen, and be. tried 10
collect it also. He did not SURVIVE
Baker ]. Alien left it TO Arson @. Rog-
ers, who attempted to collect it, aud got
along as far as the Niuth Auditors office,
when Death, the Great Leyeler, came all
unsommoned, and foreclosed Cd him also.
He left, the Bill TO areiative of his IN
Connecticut, Vengeance Hopkins, by
name, who lasted four weeks and tive
days, and within one of reaching the
Twelfth Auditor, In bis viii he gave
the bin 20 his uncle, by the name of o,
be joyful johnson. 1t was too under.
mining for joyful. His last words were
Weep not for me, I am willing to CO.
And so he was, poor soul. Seven peo-
pie inherited the contract after that -
But they all died. So it came into my
hands at last. Ii feb to me through q
relative by the name of Hubbard
Bethlehem Hubbard, of Indiana. He
had a grudge against me for long
time; but in his last moments, be sent
for me, and forgaye me everything,
and. weeping, gave me the beef con.
tract.
This ends the history of it up to The
time that | snceeededsto the property.
will now endeavor to set myself straight
before TIE nation in everything that cor
Germs my share in the matter. l took
this beef contract, aud the bill for mile
age and transportation, TO the President
of the United States. He said:
Well, sir, what can 10 for your
said:
Sire: On or about the 10th day Of
OctobeE,r 1851 John Wilson, Mackenzie,
of Rotterdam, Chemung county, n. j.,
deceased, contracted with the General
Government 10 furnish to General Sher.
man the sum total of thirty barrels Of
besI2'E EEEsbeF 0bSs az
He stopped me there and dismissed
me from his presence-kind,y, but firmly
The next day | called to see the Secre
.tary of Stale. He said:
well. sir = $500.
said: Your Royal Highness: On
or about the 10th day of October, SCI,
John viYison Maekenzia, qoft Rotterdam,
Chemung county, N. j., deceased, con
tracted with the General Government to
furnish to General Sherman the sum to.
tai Of thirty barrels of beef
That will do sir--that will do; til: