The Washington herald., 1914-03-29

I Interesting sideIight to the methods Of
the speculators. He testified that
number of them came to him and asked
him to seize their cottOon in the name
Of the navy. They said they had 9O
or 900 bales, which they would like to
have transported to Cairo As naval prize.
They then would put in claim for II
and obtain the money derived from its
sale.
according to Capt Breese. a party.
headed by Gov. Richard Yates. of Illi-
nois. had attempted to come up the Red
River in a steamer before Gen Banks
arrived. and that having been refused
and there received permission from Gen.
Banks to proceed. Gov. Yates, however.
did not go to the Red River.
II was said that Gov. Yates md his
party were of a group who proposed to
have Gen. Banks nominated for Presi-
dent in the fall. 1t was with the idea
Of obtaining money to promote his can
didacy that they proposed gathering the
cotton along the Red River. This was
the story told by the cotton speculatCrs
at Alexandria. Gov. Yates arterward do
MED the story. declaring he had no as
sociatiOn with the men for whom he
sought passes
Capt. Breese testified that he heard
this story from half a dozen different
VeFSbn-- ne STeCuldtOFS OUtEtU 10 pay
Capt. Breese large sums Of money and
TO reward the sailors II he would seize
their cotton and send it to Cairo.
Cotton Sent to New Orleans.
At Alexandria the finger of suspicion
was pointed AT every man who had any
thing to do with cotton and regulations
sometimes suffered unjUstly.
There were two men, partners. who
accompanied the Banks expedition. for
the purpose Of acquiring cotton, who did
so with 4 written permission from Pres
ident Lincoln. One of them carried an
aut, graph order from Lincoln. author
izinE him To pass beyond the Federal
lines and calling upon officers OF the
army and navy to afford such assistance
as might be desirable For what purpose
this order was issued does not appear
Admiral Porter and Capt Breesc agreed
that the paper wa in due form and the
former indoTsod it. Cen. Banks did tn
same when the paper was presented to
him
The men were Thomas =. Case. or
Kentucky. and a Mr.. Rutle~. probably
William Butler. OF Illinois. whom runl0r
described as a relative Of Gen. Beuiaulr
+. Butler. tn" permit was made pGt t.
Casey & Co
\ story in tho army Uas that these
t"1 mon. partiCIItrl, Mr. casey. rad an
agreement with the Conf -..l;e E"ne-al.
+. Kirby Smith. to get out ali the cot
ton in that Territory. paving fCv it N
Federal ET"nnhd * Il was rl+ med that
the government officials - Washington
had decided that the benefit "f having
tn. cotton in the market would h" -
more value 10 the North than the Crcc1-
backs woLld he To- tn. CuufedeTatcs. II
was said hat CASEY and Butler h9'I
arranged with Ge... Smith to pay him a
e ThAEH frh
make on the cotton. and that in return
Gen. Smith was to give them the freedom
% the Confederate lines
AItnouEh this vas mrTc camp talk =
: certain hat Casel had reen WIZ
tho Cnur,-iprlte inn Col Wilson dr.
Jared that NJ. CdS~y bad told HIM 81.
he had seen q i\rrhy Smith ami tax ;
with him.
Th.>. tw" mcu Lath. REL "uS,i-ral's
quantity "I cotton along the Rod RrNrr.
How much thry got to market docs r.t
appear. Later n the campaign ';-u-
EanN~ seized one uf th"rr vessels f"r
military us'-. throw M rH- r.'tI"u 't'
into the river Howey,r. n" Cav" them
receipt for II and probably ln"y vcr'
paid f"r IT.
Admiral Porter wrote that Cen. Banks
quart"rmas;sr at Alexandria charged $
or SO = haI.-he was not certain Wn!.r
AS freight for taking cotton L" N"w
Orleans. There il was To h" handed hE
the house NJ Weed a 90. tbs prohahlE
was done. as there the records show that
several private individuals AT Alexandra
shipDel cotton to New orleans on army
vessels and aftcrward received Tay for
il. The freight money may have gone 10
the Government
According to Admiral Porter there W.
very little cotton sent out Of tn" Rrl
River County. that which had been gath
cred as tn" army advanced being de
sIrOyed or abandoned at the conclusion
Of the campaign. The only cotton ~
any amount that really got out Of tn"
country was what l sent down. he wrote
$40 bales from Alexandria and 3.wr
from Wachjta''
Tomorrow: AndersOnViIIe Prison.
I''oTyrlsht. ISllI