The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-01

and to that armor OF magnetism which defends
n grand gentleman from base proposals Mt the
lips OF rogues. Even tho contractors. who prob
ably only sought to testify their personal admi-
ration Of him by gifts sent to his house OF
choicest ten, or very nno coffee. or very supe-
rior wine. were made to submit TO the knowl-
edge that they had made mistake These gifts
were returned or sent in unbroken packages to
some charitable institution. and tho donors"
appraised by polite note OF the destination their
presents had received.
Officially born and swnddled in rcd tapc. hls
business methods were swifter and more effec-
tive than those Of the grumblers and critics who
occasionally secured public attention by de-
handing sky-rocket work. Certain three
months regiments wero landed ut Annapolis.
and orders came to Eaton TO provision them
That excellent body Of volunteer aids to the
war the Union Defence Committee loudly i'm
patient Of rod tape and scornful Of official slow
ness. set itself to work. with tho help OF the
patriotic fund placed in their hands by the cti-
zens Of New York. to load and despatch the
steamer Karnak with supplies for these troops.
Tho newspapers Of tho day npplauded their We
hemcnt energy. without newspapers. Major
Eaton IA Commissary. assisted by Col. Temp
kins M Quartermaster. acting under army or
ders md working by the line and plummet OF
the Regulations" actually provisoned those
regiments, and got back their usual receipts.
before the Union Defence Committees vessel
hal got out Of New York harbor.
This grand soldiers children ought 10 In
scribe on tho monument covering his grave Ia
New Haven this record OF thoir fathers work
in the war to suppress the snvchOlders' rebel
lion: lie expended as Copimis sdrv. IN Nco
York. Iron April. 1861. 10 Jalv 1864. he enor-
nous sum ~ sjS.924. 239 80. and rhen his ac-
counts lre-e finally settled by he Third Auddor at
Washington tie only discrepancy betreeii him
and the Government irds a iHie item Of g. tchich
he at once pail ont Of his orn pocket"
The promotion for which he had long worked
and waited came rapidly while he was feeding
the armies Of the Union. He was commissioned
MAJOR sept 70 1871 to date from May .. 1851.
Lieutenant olonc Dec. 30 ieJi, 10 date from Sept
~ 1851
colonel. Feb % is7l; toditc from rcb o isl9.
Hrigndicrrneral aud rummis-iry.'ic Ut Suhsist
enco july o, 1854. 20 date from June 20, i-0L
This promotion should have come sooner.
For twcnty-six years before tho stars shone on
his shoulders his impress on his department
had been continuously visible. Many OF tho
improvements made in it during that long time
wsre the suggestions Of his wise and practical
mind. The department at Washington habitu-
ally consulted his judgment and referred 10
him for reports. In many particulars were the
new regulations framed by him. Many OF the
orders that emanatod from Washington during
tho war. aiming at economy. speed. and sim
plicity in the operations Of the Subsistence De-
pNrfment were drafted by his hand In New
York. Officers not few. now in the depart
ment. will loo proud TO acknowlodg that the
official success they have achieved was largely
owing to the aid. direct or indirect. which they
received from their generous superior in the
a. ia
Commissary- General.
On March /. 1864. Col. II. T. Clarke came 10
Now York under orders to assist Col. Eaton in
his duties. and TO prepare himself to succeed 70
them. This prcsaged Eaton's removal t. Wash
ington rs the real head OF tho Department. Of
which he had so long been practically the li!e.
\ month aiterward Eaton was ordered by the
Secretary Of War; Stanton. to 10 to the Depart
ment Of the South. and make special inspection
Of the operations Of all the disbursing branches
Of the military service therein. and To report
Tho extent aud methods Of this inspection were
set forth in detail in the order. and IN their ma
turo were both general ami minute. In obc-
dien'o To- it he visited Hilton Head. ST. Angus
tine Jacksonville. Fernandina. Fort Chnch,
Beaufort Fort Pulaski. Folly Island. and Nor
ris Island. In thirty-eght days from the day
he lcft Washington he had made this wide in
spection. got back to New York city, and had
st down 10 write his report. In two weeks the
paper was in the hands Of the Secretary Of War
It WIS privately printed by the Inspector Gen
eral. Col. Hardie to tho extent. rs Is supposed.
Of only two copies Ono was given to the Soc
rotary the other to Col. Eaton. 1t nlled twenty
slN closely printed octave pages. Its value and
merit can be measured by this letter from the
War Secretary. who praised mon 30 rarely. and
whose censure OF shortcomings and punish
mcut Of laches were 50 sure 10 fall swiftly and
heavily.
WAX DrrAgr~rvr wAsHisGroS CRY juno - i-St
htsH SIR have rad with great interest Your report
npon tho several branches the service inspected by
YOU under the special oriers Of this department At
Hilton Mead. sc. You will pleas accept the cordial
msnk, ct this department the diligence, adcnty and
ahiit, with which you discharge the important duu,
coundcd 10 you. Yours truly,
EpwiS " srASroS Secretary of War.
CO. E,ros commis.ary n, partmcnt, Sew York
Eatons commission rs Commissary- General
is dated the day next after the date Of this
letter. When no went to Washington he called
| on Secretary Stanton TO consult with him about
| the administration OF his ONCE The Secretary
asked him 10 say what he thought he had better
| d. first He replied that before entering on his
duties. he ought to go on tour Of inspection OF
! the Subsistence Department in the North and
West. Mr.. Stanton told him to set forth in
writing his plan Of this inspection. When the
/ ltlNI WIS drought anu Itdl 10 nltns tne Necfe-
tary paid Eaton the immonse compliment OF
signing 1t rs his orders. Following the ns,ru,-
tons which he had himself thus prepared he
visited Boston. Cincinnati. Chicago. 81. Louis
Louisville. and other cities, giving orders
which made the Subsistence Department one
machine throughout the United states. running
on the model Of that which he had perfected in
New York, and which. it is faint praise to say
Is the model ofiicial mechanism Of the United
States Government.
Ability and rustworth inoss bring duties. Ir
1864. Congress invested this Commissary Gen
| oral with judicial functions of the most i'm
portaut and troublesome character. II passet
Il law requiring him 90 receive and examine al
claims OF loyal citizens for Subsistence fur
nlshod TO. or taken or received by proper on
GERS for the use Of. and used by. the army il
States which had not passed an ordinance o
secession. or been declared in instruction b,
proclamation of the President; and il convinced
that any such claim was Just. tho stores re-
ceived, taken, or furnished "a required. nnC
used by the army and the claimant loyal. ther
to recommend the claim TO the Third Auditor o
the Treasury for settlement. Subsequently