Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-02-24
Joseph Grigsby's Letter.
To the Editor of the Morristown Gazette

| see that joint resolution has passed
both houses of the Legislature appointing COM
ittee to investigate the new Torbett issue of the
State Bank of Tennessee, and think that few
facts, personally known to me, concerning part
OF that money which was put in circulation might
be of some interest TO the public, will state them
as briefly as possible. In 1868, when Gen. Burn
sides oecG pied East Tennessee, r. Clay Craw ford
was in command of battery known as the First
Tennessee Battery, United States Volunteers. Ar
irving at Knoxville the said Crawford obtained
authority from Gen: Burnsides TO recruit regi-
meat OF artillery. In a short time he left Knox
vile for the upper counties OF East Tennessee, AID
was gone some two weeks or more. When he re.
mules, carriages, buggies, ETC., and now and
then some of the men who were with him
money. on the fist day Of November, 1868, Col.
r Clay Crawford, with q part of his command
left Knoxville and marched to Camp Nelson, KY.
occasionally pass blank Tennessee bill of some
denomination from 81 to SIS. No one was detected
as the guilty party. Col. K. Clay Crawford being
the matter. We arrived at Camp Nelson about
the 18th day OF November In short time Col.
probably to New York. In January, 1864, Col.
Crawford took his command toi NASHVILLE, Tenn,
Mnere y TemSIneo v witn the eaeep9Sn OF lev
First tennessee Light Artillery, was left at Nash
vile. Col. Crawford's headquarters was at Nash
vile also. Some tine in the spring
OF 1864, Capt. Meyers preferred charges
and specifications against Col. R. Clay
Crawford for uttering and passing counterfeit
eral Specifications was one that the said Crawford
had broken open the branch Bank OF Tennessee at
Rogersvile, and had taken therefrom a large
amount of unsigned bills of said bank; that he,
the said Crawford, had signed or procured the
signing OF the said bfls-counterfeiting the names
OF Z. G. Torbstt and T. c. Huntington to the
same, and that he had passed and caused TO be
passed large amount OF said counterfeit money.
The said Crawford was arrested, and ono II. c.
Avery, who was second lieutenant of Company
c., First Tennessee Lisht Artillery. Avery was
carried before Maj. J. W. Church and Col. C. o,
Loomis chiefs of artilery-Aaj Church for the post
at Nashville, and Col. c. o. Loomis for the Dis
sion of the Iobbing of the bank at Rogersville.
and of Cravford's having had the blank bills filed
up, and that he. with some other members of The
company, had acted as Crawf0rd's agent for the
passing OF said money, and toat the terfeiting
was so perfect that the bankers of Nashville had
not detected the sane TO be counterfeit-that any
of the merchants and brokers of Nashville would
readily. On Investigation of the statement made
by the said Avery, Capt. Meyers found about 5000
in possession Of members of Company G, First
tennessee Light Artillery, some of whom had
bought the same of the agents OF Col. Clay Crsw-
ford for forty or fifty cents. One had sent the
same would be worth dollar for dollar
when the war was over. Col. Crawford was put
on trial BY eourt-marIisl organized by Maj .Gen.
George Il. Thomas, with Gen. Thomas z. Champ
on. late OF Knoxville. Tenn president of the same.
Inc charges ard specifications were fully sustained
and Col. Crawford was honorably dismissed from
Inc service OF the United States never to hold Of
nee OF trust and profit in the United States, by
general order No. $50. from headquarters Depart
ment oil the Cumberland. the proceedings of which
trlal. suppose, are on file IN the adjutanL-gen-
ersts once OF the State OF Tennessee. Capt. Nil