The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-04
GRANTS ARREST BY HALLECK.
The Charges and Specifications Prepared by
a Disgruntled Quartermaster.
Snecial to the Indiananolis Ionrnal

The Charges and Specifications Prepared by
Disgruntled Ouartermaster.
Special to the anapolis Journal.
MADISON, Ind, Feb. 3-The following state
ment, by Mr.. G. W. Palmer, explains itself:
II notice in General Grants article on Shiloh,
in the Century's February issue, that he makes
public, for the first time, far as know, the
fact of his having been ordered by General Hal
leck to turn over his command to General O. +.
Smith, and remain on the steamer, virtually
under arrest No cause is given for such treat
ment, save Hallecks complaint that he had
not reported the number and condition of his
command This certainly seems on the
part of Halleck, to be very un-
just and harsh treatment of the man
who had captured Forts Henry and Donelson
While the Nation was ringing with his praises,
and had given the pet name of Unconditional
Surrender to Grant, his chief offered him this in
dignity Why was itl Surely not for the trifng
error of failure to make his reports. What
time would he have had to keep up reports
fighting, as he had been, three days and nights in
the wind and storm and bitter cold around the
rugged hills of Fort Donelson7 I can perhaps
throw a side-light on that little episode in that
history; an episode that came near costing the
Nation dearly for who can doubt that Grants
arrest accounts for the want of preparations in
the army that resulted in the surprise of Shilohl
Grant never was caught mapping before or since,
and do not hold him responsible for that time.
1t was General Smith who by Hallecks order
had held command for week. who must be held
responsibb.
''But to my side-light While organizing his
army at Cairo, with that energy and thorough
ness which was so prominent trait of his char
acter, Grant had incurred the enmity of Quar-
termaster w. G. kountz, in the following man
ner: Kountz was quartermaster in charge of
transportation, especially of steamboats,, and
was very zealously striving to curb and control
the vast expenditure of the department. Grants
quartermaster, Hatch. would charter steamboats,
at $100 to $500 Per day, and Kountz would dis
charge them. One morning Grant ordered some
troops to embark in a steamboat on some secret
expedition. KountZ refused to let him have the
boat Grant Immediately placed Kountz under
arrest, in the ST. Charles Hotel at Cairo; kept
him there two weeks, then sent him to Paducah
in charge sf transportation there. So far
hearsay. l was employed in the quartermaster
department at Cairo, and had good opportunities
of knowing, yet in the minor details may not be
quite correct. What shall further say I speak
from my own knowledge. After the battle of
Fort Donelson. entered the Office of Captain
KountZ at Paducah, as his chief clerk. While there
/ copied for him a document containing seven
teen distinct charges and specifications of drunk
enness and disorderly conduct against Gen. Grant,
with the names of witnesses to prove these
charges. KountZ told me that he was on the
most intimate and friendly terms with Stanton,
the then Secretary of War, and felt sure that
these charges would receive attention. coming
from him. l mailed the package to Secretary
Stanton. Kountz, with manifest pleasure shortly
after told me that Grant was placed under ar
rest, and afterward that he was released on the
representation of some army officer General
Smith thihk it was), that Grant could not be
spared from the army Just then. kountz was
so enraGed at this, and also at the hostility he
had excited against himself among steamboat