Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-05-05
THAT BEEF OONTRACr.
BY MARK rwAN.

ever small, have had IN Inls mateI-
this matter which has 90 exercised the
public mind, engendered 70 much M.fee!-
fne, and 20 filed the newspapers OF both
continents with distorted statements and
extravagant comments.
Tho origin Of this distressful thing was
this-and assert here that every fact IN
the following sesun's can be amply proved
by the official records OF the General Gov
ernment , 49,.
John Wilson Mackenzie, Of Rotterdam,
Chemung county, New Jersey, deceased,
contracted with the General Government,
on or about the 10th day Of October, 1851,
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; 50 he
took the beef and followed him there, but
arrived to late he followed him to Nash
Vile, and from Nashville to Chattanooga,
andfrom Chattanooga to Atlanta-but he
never could Overtake him. At Atlanta he
took a fresh start and followed him clean
through his march to the sea. He arrived
too hate 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 light
the Indians. He returned to America
and started for the Rocky Mountains.
After eighteen days Of arduous travel on
the Plains, and when he had get within
four miles of Sherman's headquarter's, he
was tomahawked and scalped, and the In
dams got the beef. They got an of it but
one barrel. Sherman's army captured
that, and 80, even in death, the bold navi-
gator partly fulfilled his contract In his
will, which he had kept like journal,
he beuueathed the contract to his son,
Bartholomew w. Bartholomew w. made
out the following bill and then died.
TIE UNITED STATES 8szt
IN act stA JOHN WILSON MACKENZIE,
70 thirty barrels Or beef for General sher
TO travelling expenses and trans portation i4,OOO
Total 81, 900
He died then but he left the contract
To VIM. j, Martin, who tried to collect 1t,
but died before he got through. He left
It to Baker j. Allen, and he tried to col
lect it also. He did not survive. Baker
]. Allen left it to Arson G. Rogers, who
attempted to collect IL, and got along as
far as the Ninth Auditors Office, when
Death, the Great Leveler, 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 bill to his
uncle. by the name of O-be-joyful John
son. It was too undermining for Joyful.
His last words were +" Weep not for me,
lam willing to CO." And SO he was,
poor soul. Seven people inherited the
contract after that But they all died.
So it came into my hands at last. 1t fell
to me through relative by the name of
Hubbard Bethlehem Hubbard, Of lndi-
ana. He had had grudge against me for
a long time but in his last moments he
sent for me, and forgave me everything,
and, weeping, gave me the beet contract.
This ends the history of it up to the
time that succeeded to the property.
will now endeavor to set myself straight
before the nation in everything that con-
Germs my share in the matter. took this
beef contract, and the bill for mileage
and TRANSPORTATION, to the President OF
tie United States. He said:
.Well, SIR, what can ! do for you :"
said:
"Sire: On or about the 10th day of Oc-
tOber. 1851, John Wilson Mackenzie, OF
Rotterdo m, Chemung county, n. j., de-
ceased. contracted with the General Gov
ernment to furnish to General Sherman
the sum total Of thirty barrels OF beef
he stopped me there and dismissed me
from his presence-kindly. but firmly.
The next day called to see the Secretary
of State. He said:
"Well, sir p
I said: (" Your Royal Highness: On or
about the 10th day Of October, 1851, John
Wilson Mackenzie, Of Rotterdam, Che.
mung county, N. J., deceased, contracted
With the General Government to furnish
70 General Sherman the sum total OF
thirty barrels Of beef"
"That win do dr-that will do; this
Office has nothing TO do with contracts for
Twas bowed out. thought the matter
III over. land finally, the following day, ]
Visited the Secretary of the Navy, who
aid, "6pesk quickly, sir; do not keep
me waiting" I said:
"Your Royal Highness: On or about
the 10th day Of October, 1881, John VIII
son Mackenzie, Of Rotterdam, Chemung
county, New jersey, deceased, contracted
With the General Government TO furnish
20 General Sherman the sum total Of %
barrels Of beef"
Well, it was as tar as I could get. he
had nothing to do with beef contracts
for General Sherman either. / began TO
think 1t was . curious kind Of q Govern
mont. II looked somewhat as II they
wanted TO get out Of paying for that beef.
The following day went to the Secretary
OF the Interior. said:
s"Your Imperial Highness: On or
about the 10th day Of OctOber-
sThat 10 sufficient, sif-l have heard OF
you before. Go-tske your infamous
beef contract ont of this establishment.
The. Interior Department has nothing