New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-01-08
SENATOR sPEACUE'> 2RKEGULAkl-
TIES.
R.vort from Judge Holt.


| December "A, offered Ivy Senator SpraSue,
| tI,c Secretary Of War on Wednesday trans
| mittac to that body q copy of the report OF
| the Judge Advocate General relative to an
! altered unlawful traffic with rebels i'll Texas
| during the late war, entered into by Messrs
| Ioyt, William Spraguc. Senator OF the
! Emitted States. Byron SpraGue. William II.
| Reynolds. and others and states that none
| of The papers therein referred to, or any
record soncernin. them. can be found i'll
| the War Department. 1t is. however pos
| sible that certain of them may be on file at
| Headquarters at New York city. and search
| for them vii. he made and the result here
! after reported. Tho report of the Judge
| Advocate follows:
Bureau OF Military Justice. June -. l"e'.
| To Secretary of War:
The following rcpor: is respectfully sub
mitted respecting the case of illicit trade
| in Texas, i!nD,icatins Mr.. Sprague ana
others, brought to the notice of the depart
ment by Major General Dix. The papers
notwithstanding Of an abstract and
statements by Bvcon Sprag que and others.
prepared by Major Barnes letters OF William
| Spraguc TO Genera! Dix. papers found On
Hoyt and letters and a confidential state
| mcnt which il is stated can only be used III
case Hoyt is made witness for the govern
ment-hayc all been examined. ami show
in substance that iIoyt WAS residing in
Texas at the breaking out Of the nabellion.
He made ais way North in the fall of
1862. where he effected an engage
ment with William Spragle for an
dert0l;ng an enterprise to set coz
ton out OF Texas. Four firms took AN in
tcrest i'll the ven,ure-Srragia & Co.. hey
nods & Co.. Tiff & Co., and knight Il Co..
all of Providence, Rhode Island. each firm
furnishing $4,000. Vessels were purchased
and loaded with IA cargo of machinery. arms.
etc, and cleared for foreign ports. but were
run to Texas. sometimes under Il changed
flag Nj. Hoyt proceeded thither upon one
vessel, carrying letters OF introduction rom
Governor Spraguc, commenting HIM to Cen
eral Butler and Admiral Farragut. The
papers enclosed do not 9 we an entirely clear
account of the subsequent operations. md
the same evidence taken does not seem to
have becu forwarded. Il is unnecessary.
however. il this report to 20 into all the
details II j. sufficient to remark that the
cargo and goods were sold in Texas. and the
proceeds invested in cotton, part of which
appears 20 have gotten out. while some poi-
tions were seized by CIR biochadinS cru scrS.
sPRAGUE's DENIAL.
William Spragre mas written ecveral let
te,s to General Dix in regard to the case. IN
none of which does he admit. and in one he
denies. = oWiedge of Hoyt. and details
Operations su. u as are indicated BY letters
from him found upon HOyt. who exprcss..y
declares that William Sprague has been
cogniZani ~: the whole business. and has
advised and aided n h the ~t,Aost y. h!~
power.
SnRsGlr'S EXPLANATION.
II is stated Nv William Spraguc ti,k rs
object was TO aid Union cit.,cM~ IN Texas.
and obi AIN information for Che government
but no one else connected with the venture.
IL seems. viewc'. in :i,at hgL:. and Byron
Sprague. his i,aS.a.v. AYERS that 10 had
special Gharg" of the speculation. and
plainly ,ie.sc.ii,es il ~ ulicIta!ii.,. 10 get
Uut COTTON.
bs<&As =. p.~.
General Dix in his letter Z" :hs Secretary
o. War. dated Washington. the ,hiri. says:
The paTtic. VINO 4iI.iI>'Icd capital. know
ing how 10 Na~ - b, employed. we're
Messr.. Spvag.e. United States Senator.
Byron Srrague. hi. iro;ie~. and William Il.
EeyAoids l. Go. IinSe gent.eneA were all
engaged in S:-iness IL prov.lence. Rhode
Island. where ti,e enterprises we're tltted
out. Nes~s. Il. Il. < y. Knight. and
Mc.sEs. Ow..:. Tai; 4 Co. I" Providence.
also furnished ;';a: 81 t.,c capital. but il N
NO: Giea. tia! tiev were su.:y advised ~
she manner ia which il reuid bc a.ed.
men makes the case one - great de!icacv.
and vesa-d q *lss - . question ct s,n-
Dortarre Whcth:: the proceedings against
then Slioail % bv military commission. o.
III civil cOuY.. whcttng She .act> charged. ii
pro.ed. constitute u .ne.s collation. ~ the
G.Ns Of war Or sighes crime siDter Che
cen Ni:;!tiOn 81 tn: United States. There
are 1T lcass i've witnesses ~ the tact
OF Hi;C.t trade. ana ample written ,rsot.
(1,..s Y b;,..1 .,Afe -,..
We're partners w iHteG.st. are wiling - trs
all the Facts n .!iS ease. provided |lelT dOiHy
- sitsiii not susi,re their Ou . EO1y!Cti0lA 1T
al,l,c;xs shat among the srt:cie> pure chased
al New Yak ~ i've taken ~ Texas. were
some arms aud ammunition. *nd one invoice
o. the cargo with which Hoyt weni from
Havana 70 Matamoros. WAY enc thousand
ca. :rid.e and percussion cavs.
T,!k ACCUSED A!ABU 10 CoI;iT MARTIAL.
From the examination .: ali the p.;,c's.
this bureau is Of opinion that the persons
who were engaged in this unlawful sraffic
ma, be brought to tri..s before general
court slartial. under The 'ifty-sixth article
Of war. for relieving The enemy with money
and ammunition. or 10y military commission
.or violation of the taws - war for tv,din.
and holding intercourse with the enemy. II
j. 10. shc Secretary Of War IL decide
whether. in view ri all tho circumstances
and She present condition of affairs. ti,eiI
via; s.,Ai; be ordered. ). HOLT.
Advocate G"ucr.l.