The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-01-06
sprague as a Blockade. Runner.

SpThsue as blOcRadesk Runner
The ieul In Rhode Island between the
SPRAGuR faction and the ANTHONY and
JENcKs faction brought to the surface the
fact that at an early period OF the war Mr..
SPRAGUE was engaged, with some other
Rhode Island cotton manufacturers, in
running cotton out Of Texas by IN Illicit
traffic, In violation of the laws of war.
Four firms, SPRAGUE & Co., REYNOLDS &
Co., Tort & Co., and KNIGHT & Co, all
of Providence, contributed $4,000 each,
purchased vessels, and loaded them with
a cargo Of machinery and arms, These
vessels cleared for foreign ports, but ran
toTexas, They were under the direction
Of one HARRIS HoYT, who left Texas In
1859 and made his way north, at whose
suggestion, it's presumed, the enterprise
was undertaken, HoYT went upon one Of
the vessels, carrying letters Of introduction
to Gen, BUTLER and Admiral FARRAGuT.
Whether these officials winked at the
business or not does not appear, but car.
goes Of goods were sold in Texas, among
them arms and ammunition, and tho pro.
cecds invested In cotton, part of which
was gotten out and part seized by United
States cruisers. These are the facts In
briei, rs recited in report submitted to
the Secretary Of War, in June, 1865, by
Judge Advocate General H0Lr,
The rumOrs OF this business getting
rather warm for Senator Sprague's com.
fort, he offered q resolution in the Senate
on the 14th Of last month asking for an
investigation. A copy Of the report Of
General Holt referred to, has just been
transmitted to the Senate and Is the first
fruit Of tho inquiry. The following ex.
tracts from the report show how the op.
eratiOns Of these gentlemen were regarded
in 1868 by the Judge Advocate Of the
Army. .... ... ...5..rD,
"ThO high social standing Of these gen.
tlemen makes the case one Of great deli.
CaCy, and also regard II also us quGs.
ton OF Importance whether proceedings
against them should DO by military com.
mission, or lh civil court, whether the
facts charged, irproved, constitute mere
violation Of the laws OF war, or higher
crime under the Constitution OF the UNI.
ted States. There are ut least two wit.
nesses TO the fhct of the illicit trade and
ample written proof. HARRIS HoYT and
CHARLES L. PREsCOrr, who were parties
In the interest, IRE willing 10 testify to oil
the facts in the case, provided their doing
so shall not insure their own conviction.
49, = From an examination Of
all the papers, this bureau Is Of the opin.
ion TINT the persons who were engaged
In this unlawful traffic may be brought 10
trial before general court MARTIAL under
the 5Gtll article Of war, for relieving the
enemy with money and ammunition, or
by military commission for violating
the laws OF war in trading and holding
intercourse with the enemy. II Is for the
Secretary Of War To declare whether, In
view Of all the circumstances, and the
present condition Of affairs, their trial
shall be ordered,
1t would seem that MS far rs the invest.
CATION has gone Mr.. SraAouE has not
found much comfort. 1t remains to be
seen whether further progress in the in.
vestigation will increase the amount A
special committee Of five Senators Is to
be appointed, and before them Mr.
SrnA0UE will make his defence Ricll