The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-10-26

[ could, and as TO that identified by
the owners / told him who the OWN
ers were, and that l claimed salvage
on this cotton. There rere some
one hundred and fifteen bales for
whom no O~ner hal appeared, and
claimed this absolutely rs mine, rs
/ had saved it from floating oti---in
the absence of better title. Gen.
Grosvenor said it was abandoned
property and that HE WOHN seize II
and sell it for the L. s. Government
and pay the proceeds into the 1reaS-
ury, however agreeing to pay oRy
claim for Sdlr0ge. Subsequently this
115 bales wds delirered, uNder the
order Of Gen. GrOScenor TO one Tar
rer, who, l believe, was the agent of
Z. NJ. Bruce 4 Co., composed, |
think, of James Pierce and Z. NJ.
Bruce, western men | was informed,
for they came to Augusta just after
the war closed. My claim Of salv
age amounted to at least five thou
sand and five hundred dollars, and
this was recognized by Grosvenor rs
valid. When the cotton was remOv-
ed my claim was not paid nor any
provision made for its payment, and
| could do nothing, as against the
military authorities. Subsequently
Gen. c. H. Grosvenor was removed
from command. About two months
thereafter Grosvenor sought me out
at the warehouse of Fleming d
Wheless, and approached me on the
subject of my claim to the said cot
ton. He asked me if my claim had
been paid, and when l told him no,
he said he had left the money here
for me, and then asked what would
satisfy me; if $3.50 would. / said
no, that l wanted my full claim. He
then offered me $500 in satisfaction,
and in nature of hush money. This
| declined. He then offered me one
thousand dollars. This l accepted
after conversation with Mr.. r. A.
Fleming, who told me / had best
take it, as it was all l would get out
of Grosvenor. l then went with
Grosvenor to the office Of E. NJ
Bruce 4 Co., where l was paid the
$1,000. 1 have never received the
balance of my claim, although Gen.
Grosvenor promised to see it paid.
At this time the will of the military
was enforced at the point of the
bayonet.
On eross-eXamination he says his
claim was $500. salvage on lis
bales of cotton taken by Grosvenor
Cotton was worth 60 cents per
pound. The bales averaged 450
pounds.
In answer to 9th question on
cross-examination he says: l did
get 81 900 but was swindled out of
the balance by Grosvenor.
Also came Robert A Fleming, who
being sworn, DC, deposes and says
among other things: MY name is
Robert A. Fleming; age 5S years :;
retired from cotton business; live in
Augusta, Ga.
In answer to the fourth question
witness says, II have a personal
knowledge of l13 bales of unmarked
cotton, in which said Mathew (the
above witness) had no interest; he
had no claim.
In answer to the 5th quertion,
witness says: He (Grosvenor) did
assert control through Stedman to
take the 113 bales of unmarked cot
ton. The cotton was taken by force
from the warehouse of Fleming &
Wheless ana shipped to New York,
but understood afterward went to
Liverpool.
Now, without following these de-
positions any further at this time,
we trace into Gen. Grosvenor's hands
22S bales of cotton, averaging 450
pounds to the bale and worth $751;
$50 at GO cents per pound.
But that need not frighten the
General to abandon his prosecution
of Taylor, for surely his reports to
the Department will show where ii
all went to. Well, let us turn then
and see what they say, for its all on
file in Athens Common Pleas Court
and open to the public. Here is the
record from the War Department:
United States of America,)
War Department,
Washington City, May 6, 'S6.
Pursuant to section SS2, of the
Revised Statutes, l hereby certify
that the. annexed paper is true
transcript from the OFFICIAL RECORDS
on file in this Department.
In witness whereof l have here
unto set my hand and cause(
the seal of the War Depart
ment to be affixed on the day
and year first above written.
| SEAL Robert Lincoln,
Secretary Of War.
The paper annexed as above certi
fled is in the words and figures fol
lowing transcript from Letters Rec {
Book. Department of Georgia, 1865
P..lS.
Received Aug. 81, 1865.
Provost Marshall Gen'l, Dept. Ga
Grosvenor, C. II. Pro. Mar. Gen.
Augusta, Ga, Aug. 81, 1865.
Gives statement in relation to 1G0t
bales of cotton.
There is also like certifcat
from the Secretary of War, to whicl
is attached paper from the Adju
tant General saying that the Adju
tant General is the custodian of th'
official records in that Department
upon which said report is based
The paper attached reads as follows
Adjutant Generals Office, !
Washington, April Is, 'S4.
Respectfully returned to the Sec
retary of War with transcript iron
the Letters Received Book of the De
partment of Georgia, showing re
ceipt of a statement dated Argus