Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-02-24

papers for the allowance of credits, and il
had done so, my subordinates would not have
been justified in regarding them. The "Ma-
rine Corps list" came to the War Department
with an official letter, dated Oct. 7, 1864, from
proper officer, to give the facts in relation
The list was forwarded to Major Littler with
directions to credit, ''provided they have not
been heretofore credited"
OF the Cochrane list / know nothing, hav-
ing no recollection of any such list or transac-
ton as that set forth and AIN informed that
the records of my Office furnished no infor-
nation on the subject l never knowingly
ordered credit in blank, and if there is q
genuine signature of mine on the list describ-
ed by the Commits sioners as the Cochrane list,
It was obtained through some misrepresenta-
ton, Misunderstanding, or fraud but until
see the list and can determine az to the
genuineness of it and my signature, shall
certainly think there is forgery in it. The
Commissioners it seems have seen none of
these mere private endorsements, but assert
their existence on verbal testimony" They
say 1--WE have only verbal testimony of the
special orders to credit the names borne on
the Marine Corps list offered by Pike and
Colby and Cochrane." They do not say in
terms that these private endorsements were
mine, but infer from the context that they
mean it.
But in determining the responsibility for
credits and their consequences-which the
Commissioners place entirely on my Shout
ders-there are some other points to be borne
in mind. The State and town authorities
sought and accepted these credits and know
ingly paid bounties for them. The General
Government could neither exact nor regulate
these payments. All it could do in that re-
gard it did do, that is, set the example of pay
ing bounties for and to actual recruits only.
1t is significant fact that there were few or
no frauds in the matter of government boun-
ties. 1t was clearly the duty of the towns to
see that their bounties were honorably and
properly disbursed. 1t was my duty to Gee
that the men were obtained for the service.
How well the former was performed is indi-
Gated by the report of these Commissioners;
how we'll the latter, may be inferred from the
fact that the army was languishing for re-
cruits when l entered on tue duties Of Pro-
vost Marshal General in 1863, and that not
withstanding all its casualties it contained
more than a million of men when the war
closed in 1865.
1t looks like very sharp practice, to say the
least Of it, for the authorities in Maine to have
sought and accepted paper credits, and to
have openly and voluntarily paid large sums
Of money to scoundrels for their part in pre-
pairing them, and then long after the war,
-bap tho Ia L. r.
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