Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-03-28
The War Department Investigation.
The Testimony To dan.
The Committee on Expenditures in the
War department met to day AT II O'Clock.

The Committee on Expenditures in the
War department met to day AZ u O'Clock.
AtexGHder Gray stated that Il. Gordon
Daniels bad promised him 81 600 TO secure an
appointment for himself and a man named
BIiss. as post trader; that the appoiU tment
was secuted, but that the money was not
paid him.
r. n. Jacob. I'd Lieutenant 9Th Infantry,
sWoTn:- Have been stationed for the last six
ytsTs IN The Indian territory, Kansas and
Dakota; had heard that Evans paid sl2, 900 a
wear for his post at Fort Sill; heard a. first
In 1871 IL was generally known To the off,
Gers OF the army at that time. Witness
said
oRvIL GRANT
came to Fort Buford ard Fort Rock in 1874
and made sOme arrangement about these
posts with man named Leighton; witness
understood that Grant controlled six posts;
IL was at least the impression in that coun-
try; Gen. Hogan mentioned to witness that
h. had written n letter TO the New York Til
Dune in lsI2, with respect TO the abuses at the
military trading posts.
Lieutenant r. q. Garter, 4th cavalry, sworn:
Was stationed at Fort Richards son Ia Isl ],
'32-'13; man named Gregory was the post
trader. Witness said In 1871 General Ray-
holds sent up an order to General Mckenzie
to receive certain lot of corn; Mckenzie
protested against receiving 1t, because he
could buy better corn at a less price. Gene
raj Rey nolds then sent direct order for him
to receive IL; General Mckenzie still pro
tested, and wrote TO the commander of the
department, embodying his protest, over
General Reynolds head. The corn was
finally accepted. 1t amounted to about
$1,000 bushels. Mckenzie, in his letter to
the commander OF the division, said the con-
tractors were bad men, but controlled all
the contracts in the state; that the corn was
A SwINDLE ON THE GOVERNMENT,
and as an army officer he did not want to be
party 10 the swindle. General Reynolds
preferred charges against Colonel Mckenzie
for willful and positive disObedience of
orders. The colonel was never brought To
trial, although he demanded trial iu a
n 10 inf mt
raj.
j. II. Barron, sworn:-Was post-tra Ter az
Fort Union, N NJ F., in 1S6S; was appointed by
General Grant, who was general of the army.
Was recommended by ID. w. D. Bernard, a
brother in law OF John &. Dent. 1 had tried
10 get the place and Gould not, and was told
10 apply to Bernard. He asked me To make
out my application, which l did. lie wrote a
LETTER To GENERAL GRANT,
which be showed me, in which he asked for
my appointment, stating that he was TO get
one third of the profits.
q Are you sure OF thet?
A. Yes, sir. He showed me the letter,
which as long one, and read IL. 1t stated
that he was TO have One-third OF the profits
After i held the place some time Bernard
was appointed in my place, and l was re
lieVed. Bernard wrote me to see Dent and
see upon what terms he could buy my goods.
L sold out my stock TO J. G. Dent at q loss oi
about S25, Geo. TIE total loss in my operation
was about S4s, COO When L was suPplanted
by Bernard | wrote to General Grant com
planning of the treatment. | got no reply
from him. In the letter Bernard wrote 10
Grant he said, j am sure, that be was TO re
celve one third of The PROFITS. Bernard and
John Z. Dent married sisters. Bernard is
row bank eXs miner at st. Louis. He is a
man of loose and profllgate habits.
q. At the time you made the agreement
third profits?
a. don't think he was. Dent was appoint
ed post trader at Camp Supply by General
Grants influence. He showed me letter to
that effect.
@. How long had you held Fort Union un-
der Gen. Grants appointment before you
were relieved?
A About eight months. 1 had invested
So GOO in goods and = 900 in buildings.
Witness lives at present in New York, aud
is commission merchant When he wrote
10 Gen. Grant complaining or being removed
he stated to him in the letter his arrange
ment with Bernard, and asked al least an
other post. He never heard from the letter.
q Do you know how Bernard got his pOSl2
A He got il through Gen. Grant. Dent Is
still at Fort Union as sntler. Dent arranged
my sale OF goods TO Bernard. / sold out 10
him at his own terms, because couldn't get
any letter from him. Before We left New
Mexico Dent and myself entered into an
agreement about the sale of goods. He was
10 give me $1,000 in cash and two lots in ST
Louis. The lots were charged to me at SO 0DO.
and j was obliged 10 sell them at II, 800
took his notes for s21 900. On account of the
terms forced upon me b. Dent, was obliged
To settle with my creditors at 40 cents on the
dollar. The transaction
RUINED ME FINANCIALLY.
When Bernard wrote TO Gen. Grant asking
for the Fort Union post, he also wrote a let
ter to Mrs. Grant requesting her influence
don't know whether Gen. Grant ever got
Bernard's letter, other than know was
appointed.
q. What means had you of knowing that
Bernard had influence with Gen. Grant?
y. Well, Gen. Grant lived with Bernard
in st. Louis when he was a poor man.
@. Was Gen. Grant ever q poor man?
a gn I'm yho
he lived there. Just after i left Fort Union
TO 60 TO st. Louis to buy goods, and was still
the trader; Bernard, whom ! left there, bet
two wagon loads of sugar and coffee belong
ing TO me, on the result OF a New York cleo q.
ton, which he lost. This shows what kind
Of a man he was.
The witness was being cross examined
when our report closed.