Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-08-20
CROOKED WHISKY.
The First Ring was Formed in Memphis
by Grant and His Army Friends.

The Allegheny (Ps) Mail, a strorg
Republican paper, tells the following
story on Grant, HillyeT & Co., who were
here in 1862: "GaneTal Grant is not de-
void of q certain kind OF shrewdness
He early discovered that selling whisky
was 3 money. making business. Like
Colonel Sellers his oupidity was in
fiamed go that he could see millions In
it, Hundreds had made fortunes in
trading in liquors, and why no. he?
Here was formed in Captain Grsnt's
busy brain these schemes of plumber
which cropped out in later years in the
formation of the famous whisky ringe,
that have brought so much scandal on
| those connected with them. These cor
Tupt combinations had not their origin
in the revenue service, as is erronecusly
supposed, but were the results of Gener.
al Grants deliberate purpose and Gun.
ming plans to become suddenly fich,
and which were matured and carried out
the very first opportunity when he be-
came clothed with power. 1t was some
time in the summer of 1862 that the
first whisky ring was formed. General
Grant wss in command Of the depart.
ment Of the south, with his head
qusrters at Memphis, Tennessee. 1t was
during this time that General Chants
famous whisky orders were prCmulged.
The occasion Of these extraordinary pro-
nurcismeutoes is still fresh in the men,
cry OF number Of living witnesses. We
speak what we 90 know, and testify to
what we have heard and seen with our
own ears and eyes. 1t is the yeritable
truth. Al the time of which we are
now writing whisky was selling in Mem.
phis at from forty TO tiiGy cents per gall
lon, and all other liquors in the same
proportion. General Grant, through his
friends, united and purchased all the
available liquors in the market at that
place. Afterit had been bought and de-
Iivered iBto the hands Of his friends and
agents, General Grant suddenly discov-
cred that there was entirely too much
whisky coming within his lines. He
Immediately issued q positive order pro-
hibitipg any more liquor from being
transported 10 Memphis. Iu three days
after the issuance Of the first famous
whisky order, the price of whisky ad-
vanced from fifty cents a gallon to from
three to five dollars a gallon, according
to quality. This order was maintained
and strictly enforced until all the liquors
were consumed within the lines, or
more properly speaking until Grants
agents had sold out and raked into the
pool aa immense pile of greenbacks
Shortly afterward General Grant sud-
denly discovered that liquor was again
needed within the lines for hospital and
medicinal uses, but no new order was
Issued until his partners and agents had
time to visit Cairo and buy up
every gallon Of liquor available In
that city, besides having large
quantities shipped from st. Louis
to Cairo, awaiting the first order remov-
ing the restrictions. Next followed the
faInoos order No. 2, which took off all
restrictions and opened up the whisky
trads again in Memphis. General |
Grants agents, in the meantime, being |
fully posted, had their shipments all |
made and their liquor on the way and |
in market before outsiders knew any, |
thing of the order. OF course the mar |
ket was completely glutted, and the |
price OF whisky Immediately declined at |
Memphis to fifty cents gallon. Now |
mark, as soon as Grants friends' heavy |
invoices had been received, the general |
discovered that there was so much Ilouor |
shipred that there was imminent dam
ger OF demoralizing the army, and st |
once issued another order to prohibit |
any more liquor from coming within |
the lines Whisky sgsin went up on |
issuance OF the order, from fifty cents to
from three to five dollars. And, what is |
strange, no person hsd any large guam
titles OF liquor on hand but General |
Grants partners, who resped g rich har- |
vest off this skillfnl manipulation of the |
market. General Grants snare OF the |
plunder must have been enormous, ss |
some Of his partners amassed large for. |
tune from this frs! venture. Colonel |
w s. Hillyer, for instance, one Of his |
staff officers, accumulated enough |
money in a few months TO 20 to New |
York and engage in the banking busi-
ness.