Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-03-04
,be Presidents. Position.


Tcntb Uui;ed States cavalry, and now living
N E;i:iuore, furnishes the following addition
.l;nfrmatinu 10 the Gazette Of that city cou-
.,piou * x.Secretary Belkuaps corrupt part
nrrshp in the profits of post traderships on
H.. ,r,oter. Captain Robinson early in the
rr.,crt session Of Congress preferred the
riyr.e, of corruption before the Military Com-
r,ju,e agaiust Secretary Belknap, which have
led to the recent startling developments. DR..
Marsh was subj p ,aed by the committee in ac-
crlauc: with suggestions made by Robinson,
uho has probably been more familiar with
General Belkuap's corrupt practices than any
one else. In 1868 Robinson was ordered with
Iis ,gmept to the Indian Territory as engi-
pcer Of the military district. He selected the
site of Fort Sill and supcrnteDded the erection
ofthe fort. By reason Of his continued resi-
deuce at this post for uearly six years, he be-
cuue familiar with the details of military ser
vice N the frontier. As member of post coun.
chi If administration, aud for time its pres
dent. it devoved upon Captain Robinson to
inquire ino the prices charged for merchandise
by the post traders. A; this time-lS6S-'9 o.
the post leadership at Fort Sill was controlled
by the firm Of j. 5. Evans & 20. Complaint
having been made to the fru that exorbtant
prices were charged, they replied that the diff
ticuy could DOT be remedied, as for the privi.
,gc of trading at the post fifteen thousand
tGlars per year had to be paid w. W. Bcknap,
Secretary Of War. This, as was shown,
wa. the contract price. The post council,
through Captain Rpbiuson, then demanded
thai lhe statement Of Evans & Go. should be
rnt 10 the form of an affidavit. This was
promptly doUe aud the affidavit was sworn to
IN the presence OF several officers OF the Tenth
cavalry 1t is now on file in tho records of the
council, together with other documentary evil
icuce of similar character. II afterward ap-
reared from statements Of Evans Il Co. that
The anoual payment at the end of three years
was reduced to $4,000.
This amount was by agreement payable
mouthy III advance. 1t is known by statement is
o:J. s. Esaus to Captain Robinson tina, the
monthly payments were Continued up to March,
l>75. The accuracy of these statements was
uuuucstioned among the officers of the Teuth
cavalry aud Sixth United States Infantry, aud
the facts have for several years been notorious
among army officers generally. That a like
amount was paid apCually to Secretary Bciknop
uy the post trader at Camp Supply, Iudian
Territory, is stated on no less az authority than
that of General B. w. Hpzep. When General
lIazen cvinccd disposition to criticise corrupt
praecices of his chief, be was ordered to more
remote point oo the frontier. While the proof
may be Iacking 10 some instances there is every
reason to bci!eve thai General Belknap, since
becoming member of the Cabinet. has gene
rally participated 10 the profits of the post ira
derships About twenty of them are very pro-
h;aba and it is thus seen that the thrifty Sc
crctary has reaped a rich harvest. The method
Of conducting the business has been to sell the
lraderslips to middleman who, it seems, in
several instanc. was one Marsh or DR.. Marsh,
Of New York. Marsh then sold the privileges
to the highest bidder.
The country vii be startled, however, when
it is kuowu that President Grant has for some
time been aware of irregularities. now exposed
for the first time, aud more. that the articles
of war aud rules OF procedure have been dis
regarded and tramped upon by the doughty
Bclknap in the promotion of his personal in.
rrrests. Soon after the discovery of the frauds
at For, Sill, Captain Robinson, as President of
the Post Council and 10 the line Of his duty,
reported the corruption to the President,
through the customary channels. The only
result was his transfer to the position of Su-
pcrysor of the Issuing of Iudian Supplies in
lsI3 a more formal report of the irregulari-
tie, was made, when Captain Robinson was at
once ordered on recruiting service at Philadel-
phIa. He was soon after ordered to Baltimore
au1 placed in command # the recruiting pos.
there From Baltimore, daring the latter part
OF 1874, he preferred formal charges of cor,
rupUoo against Secretary Belknap and for
warded proofs and specifications to President
H'rant. As result of this act he was at once
lced under military arrest 90 September ii,
IS14.
L is provided by the act Of Congress that
torna! charges must be preferred against an
officer OF the army within ten days after his
arrest. F.lliug to do this, it is provided be
Shall be imm 'diately set at liberty. Captain
hoiHn>on, however, by special order of Secre
'"ry Bcknap, was placed under close arrest
and no liberty was allowed him, nor we're any
Charges preferred against him until the fol
!oWng >prlug, when he was sent to St.
Louis for trial by a commission organized
'or the avowed purpose of conviction. The
l'ous Bcknap was authorltatvely reported as
saying AT The time, IF this commission don't
convict Capt. Robinson then, by God, will fix
"u" that wr' The. charges fnay preferred
consisted Of alleged frauds, the preferrinE of
un'"undcd charges against superior officer,
Nt Gen. BcIknap's commission, however, did
is appointed work, and Captain Robinson was
dismissed the service. To show the irregular
Character of the St. Louis commission it is
only necessary to state that FIVE of its members
were promoted by the dismissal of Capt. Rob
mron he articles of war provide that an
nlncer shall only be tried by his equals or su
perlors 10 rank.
III inls way is shown how the officers of the
army, while coguizant Of Secretary Belknap's
rr0ffuplons, dared not protest against them for
VaF OF prosecutions which would at once have
Treu instituted. 1t caunot be doubted that
r'es'uent Grant, as stated above, has long been
ip,lil'ar p n With the corrupt practices of General
y pIsSuap. With him, however, the interest of
me party was paramount, aud his 6dus achates
was shielded. 1t seems certain that, but fer the
lives ,II'eSSslgatouS Of Democratic Congress, the
,Wv'A'y habits of our Centennial Secretary of
,s var would nave remained hidden for an in
uSn4!'e period. Captain Robinson is about to
lMr!nahd an investigation Of his case by the
,4Iltary Committee of the House and ask a
,Asn.'oS'atemeut ,An. 10 the service. 1t is thought
hn