Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-08-24
IrRoM OUR REGULAR CONSEQUENTLY
WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. %, 1871,
Az INEI ATEn IIrrIE MY

ing, (now advocating in Ohio sort o
Thomas Law system of financial Reputation
and inhation), made gallant defence; fooled
Rosecrans by making him think st. Loui:
was the objective point, when he designed
penetrating into central Missouri and then in
vading Kansas. His movements were success.
full up to the time of coming into contact with
Kansas troops and militia, hastily gathered and
thrown across his victorious path. PlcaSontou
was following leisurely in his trail with about
5000 cavalry, while we had about 5000 and our
raw levies 1.-THE state having been called en-
masse to arms) behind hastily constructed en-.
trenchments.
| refer to this to illustrate Gen. Peasonton's
| characteristics, which have been singulary re-
produced in his recent civil career. He organ
lied well and exactly, if not swiftly, followed
surely, and when the enemy found us checking
his advance, Pleasonton came up in capital
style, and, with his attack aiding our stubborn
resistance, the rebel check became almost a rout.
Our forces Joined and the pursuit was swift and
vigorous for one day. Pleasonton was out
ranked by Curtis and from that moment seems
to have become disgruntled. Intending a night
attack, Curtis put Pleasonton'S division, frcsher
than ours, on the right, with orders TO move on
and attack the rebel encampment. 1t wasn't
done, at least not until staff officers of Generals
Curtis and Blend came up at midnight and,
acting under general orders, reused the Missouri
advance, and pitched into the rebel camp, bring
ing a sharp engagement on about daybreak in
which we were Successful. 1t was followed by
Cos, E,rb4 "a, ,bn
capture of about fifteen hundred prisoners,
twelve pieces of artillery, two general officers.
Pleasonton distinguished himself by quarreling
all day with his different brigaders, and at
evening by Withdrawing all of his division from
| the pursuit, except Gen. John McNe'S brigade
then about eighteen hundred strong, which was
left in face of an enemy still $4,000 to $4,000 in
tact. The withdrawal was made in opposition
to Gen. Curtis wishes. His mistake was in not
| ordering Pleasonton to stay. | remember how
the western officers and soldiers, hardy fighters
| all, not much addicted to "stye," were disgust
| ed with PleasontOn and his staff, who, on
bloodcd horses, with HesSian boots and friled
frogged officers OvercoatS on, rode about the
fields, and on the march fourishing little riding
/
supercilious and often insoent manner. Next
day, Pleasonton returned to st. Louis from Fort
Scott, Kansas, sending surgeons certificate
and complimentary letter TO Gen. Curtis, then
score of miles on his march after Price. Al
the same time that he did this, he sent dis
| patch to Gen. A. j. Smith, at or near
Harrisonville, Mo-, abusing Gen. Curtis
for the very same things on which
| in his personal letter to that Of
ficer, he showered compliments. Both lIetter
| and dispatch passed through my hands after.
| wards. Then, at st. Louis, he wrote and pub
lished his report, which was directly and indi-
rectly abusive of the officers and troops who
were still in the field, engaged under direct or
ders from Gen. Grant, in pursuing and driving
| Price over the Arkans RIVERA task they accom-
plished so eectually that his army fell to pieces
from the disasters it encountered and was never
reorganized. Pleasonton won no laurels il
that fight, and in any other country, would a
least have been compelled to seek court of in
quiry His career as commissioner of interna
revenue reminds me forcibly of that campaign
| Let me tell you of the
1
That is, the patience of president and secre
tary. Gen. Pleasonton may be, and doubtless
was an honest officer, as the world construes it,
though he had singular idea of his duties. Ii
is told of him that when reminded that his con.
duct of the bureau had reduced the revenue col
lections several million, he apologized for him
self, especially with reference to the non-col.
lection of the income tax, by saying "that he
was not in favor of it," But to my last straw
1t will be remembered that in the latter part OF
Johnson's term, Ed. Webster, then asses
sor of the Wall street district, decided that
bankers and brokers, &C.. must pay tax on Dor.
rowed capital used in their business; Mr.. De
lano affirmed and enforced this decision, after
careful legal examination and being supported
| in it by the law officers of his bureau. About
| one and half million dollars had been col
lected when Gen. Pleasonton, Of his own mo-
ton, and without legal consultation, decided to
rescind the order. 1t is singular, if honest that
all the generals pet decisions went to the lower
ing of revenue and to the relieving of those best
able to pay-his Wall street friends. This de-
cision of Pleasonton was promulgated ten days
| before his removal. But the commissioner
| counted without his host-for in this case his
| host was against him. His naughty and inso-
lent manner to them had made all the self
| respecting clerks hostile. He was inaccessible
and any attempt OF thieves 10 approach him, how
ever much it might facilitate his business, was
sure to be met by "snub." Let me give one
instance of his manner During Mr.. Delano's
incumbency, it was the custom of certain
clerk to take into his room, in the afternoon,
| such important letters as the signing of which
| would enable them TO be forwarded by mail that
| evening. When Pleasonton assumed the direc.
ton, this clerk, as usual, took the letters in UNI
announced. He was at once reprmanded SO Sc
verely that he resigned at once. From that day
till Pleasonton's removal, every letter was de
tanned over one day, in order that no clerk
should enter this Little Mogul and martinet's
presence, unannounccd. The consequence Of
these actions was that every clerk in the bureau
was anxious to see him removed
THE FATAL ORDER FOR PLEAsoNToN.
The little man, when he made it, also signed q
requisition for the printing of two copies, which
he designed to have issued to the assessors The
clerk to whom this went, instead of taking il
to the department stationery clerk, carried the
order to the person in charge of the division for
refunding claims. This old gentleman saw at
once its Importance. The requisition was then
taken to Mr.. Sturdevant, stationery clerk, who
carried it to Gov. Boutwell, for his approval. All
such acquisitions must be signed by the secreta
ry or his assistant. The governors attention
was called to the order. He read il carefully
and, remarking that he would attend to that
put both decision and requisiton in his desk
There they lay, the commissioner not beine
aware for several days that he was checkmated
In the meanwhile shrewd newspaper man, who
knew the decision had been made, finding it no
published, suspected the truth, and begun, al
Washington newsmen will do, to "moust
round" He asked the bureau order clerk for {
copy. The answer was, that he had not seer
it. Your reporter then went to Sturdeyant, who
chuckled knowingly, and finally guessed il
would not be issued at all. Then the treasury
printing office was visited, and the inquirer
found that no copy had been received. Being o.
an adventurous turn, your correspondent
thought he would see what Pleason
k.1a. a...lI