The New York herald., 1876-03-10
Bslknap's MiSdeedS and Shortcomings Indus
trOuSly Brought TO Light.
Enormous Profits of the
Post TraderShipS.
THE GRAvEsTONE INIQUITY
Early Life and Temptations Of the Tom
Iinson Sisters.
THE WASHINGTON DELILAH.

PHILADELPHIA, March s, 1876
The lobby OF the Contlnen Hotel this city an
omintfsq SdtAerum Like the Fifth Avenue Hotel in
New York, II is by common consent the exchange Tor
gossip and the OF the day and the general meet
Ing place after ONCE hours for many business men,
politicians and especially for strangers OF note who.
whether they put up at the hotel not, invariably
spend an evening in its corridors to who is in
town. 1t a. this place the HERALD correspondent
encountered veteran army oicer who has long been
attached 10 the Tenth United States cavalry the reg
mont stationed Fort sil the army post whose name
will forever suggest OF the most dsgraceful pages
in American history.
ARMY HAVE LONG KNOWN
In the OF conversation the Captain said that
he knew all about Fort SILL II was his regiment which
first garrisoned there in June lS6s when General
Grerson located the post Its location and character
rs the ofncer described them, corresponded with the
descriptions given in the HERALD on Tuesday He had
also been stationed all along the frontier at various
military posts and knew the general character OF all OF
Them.
'swere you surprised by tho revelations concerning
the sale OF the post leadership" tho correspondent
asked 'No,n smiling. 81 am sorry to say that, like
all other officers who have served on frontier, the
fact that post tradershps have been farmed out
revelation me. Butt is very sad thing that Bel
knap should be SO directly implicated Every army
onlcer has been stationed in the West must have
expected that this thing would como out sooner or
ater. In fact, It has been published before"
''of course Fort Sill cannot be considered eIcep-
lion in this regardf"
ROTTEN.
"By no means There nearly 200 posts on the
frontier, and every of them which Is of any
consequence has been sold to the traders as Fort Sill
was sold to Marsh or the amount Of business
done varies at different posts 1t depends upon the
aumber OF troops stationed there AT some few,
dare the leadership was not worth enough 10 di-
vide' with a Washington official"
show does Fort Sill compare with others Id the
business Importance OF its leadership Z"
well Fort Sill is only two company post as it is
ealled. Others have larger gafrtsons and some few
Imaller. Quite number are ten company posts Fort
Concho has twelve companies The traders gross re-
septs at Fort sill should suppose to be about 500 600
per annum, of which $50 per cent Is profit Taxing
the posts altogether think this might be considered
rHEsE ENORMOUS PROFITS
have only been permitted the law passed CIV
Ing the Secretary of War control of the appointments
This done by the Congress of 1870 for Belknap's
benefit, II Is said he was appointed Secretary OF
War in the latter part OF October 1862"
What was the former system OF appointing post
tradsrsY"
every army post had what was called q council OF
Administration, composed OF the three senior officers
the station. Their duty not only 10 look alter
The quarters, the barracks, the library, &C. and ex
srcse general control over the minor affairs of the
garrison but TO look sharply after the trader or suffer-
he was then called. An applicant Tor this position
had present himself before this council and If they
recommended him the commanding officer appointed
him. The council had the right TO prepare scale or
prices for all articles of necessity or conveniencein
act everything that the soldiers might roquiro
This scale allowed the trader reasonable pront and
he was not permitted to go beyond it On articles OF
luxury usually purchased by the officers, such
wine, whiskey or cigars, there limit, but
for the common soldiers beer the price was liked
II a sutler did not carry his agreement took e-
Fa liens on The soldiers pay or overcharged all had
to do was TO license another who would undersel him
and break down his trade There was no opportunity
fnr hrh harv had cen any OiI
have accepted such considerations, because th eoun-
ell met every month and no officer knew where he
would be from month TO month On account oil the
transfer OF troops the peysonnel OF this council was
frequently changed The old system worked with per-
feet satisfaction to all parties and was vigllanty con-
sderaie OF the rights OF the soldiers. There was no
good reason Tor ever changing IT, and as an army Of
hcer hope the proposition before Congress to restore
the old law will succeed
sThe suffers were generally good class OF men, The
officers considered them their social equals and inter
with them was pleasant and ainicaole, while It
was possible at the same time TO maintain strict dis
ciplne But these post traders-bahl They are
set OF scalawags many OF them, and give constant
trouble They are as extoruonate as they please aud
cheat soldiers and Indians shamefully After the new
law passed giving Belknap control some oi the old
suffers managed to retain their places as Evans did
his-by paying q ruinous sum to men like Aarsh who
having received Bsiknaps appointment had to be
bought OIL The traders were usually willing TO do this
sooner than suddenly lose buildings they had put
ap and the stock they owned The post councA no
longer having power over them they could charge
as extoronately as they chose, and forced do
Il 10 pay The assessments rom Washington OF course
The poor soldier tho the real sufferers
EVANS CHARACTER.
Evans had been the old sutler Fort Sill. He is an
honest man and good fellow. don't think he knew
his money to Belknap when he bought OIL Marsh.
am very sorry IL the President has removed him,
they say How has Grant the right 10 do thisf The
law plainly puts that power in the hands OF the secre
larry OF War. and looks like an outrage to summary
put Evans out"
,Are the pronts from The post leadership the only
revenues OF these menr
swINDLISG THE INDIANS.
'sHy no means They often make much more by
swindlng the Indians. have known a trader TO buy
900 buffalo robes from the Indians for three cupfus
o sugar cach-pints they call them. The dealer would
tend these SKINS TO New York and sell them by
the $1,000 tor 50 each Lately the Indians are get.
ting wiser and tie hides scarcer and they pay about
twenty one cups sugar for them." number OF sx-
coent letters from the indian country in the HERALD
some mon tbs ago into this subject thoroughly,
md It is necessary 10 repeat the similar stories
hat were told.
oivE THE DEVIL MS DUE
Concerning Captain Robinson, OF Baltimore, who
claims been cashiered from the army because
Of Beknaps persecution, some interesting facts were
learned IRON who knows his whole history in tho
umy. To do Belknap justice, he was not the cause OF
Robinson's DISMISSAL and II he were he would have
bad good The court martial that tried him
was properly organized, and the testimony which
ae was convicted damnng Robinson borrowed money
from his subordlnates. IL Is charged, did re-
vay H. HIS adventures Of thls KIND have been AL
the country. A. least two gentlemen
his city have VIVID, hnot pleasant memories Of him
Dr. one, lawyer named Carpenter, he borrowed $500
while on visit to Philadelphia recruiting service
IN the strength OF knowing his brother, who an
,fcer the army. OF another gentleman, a we'll
Known Philadelphia business man, Robinson borrow ed
larger another visit In both cases he gave
Esrran,s for hs pay As security, ana 10 oo,n cases S
worthless Robinson having drawn his pay IN advance.
0ther anecdotes OF this person might be gwen neccs-
Iary and officers OF the Tenth cavalry. the regi
ment he disgraced sincerely hope neither Robinson
nor Armes will be renstated n the army One OF the
pair al least s evidently counting riding into posi-
lion again the that engulfed BeikpAp
THE GRAvESToNE STORY