Year: 1872




ate Arms Committee to-day examined
Colonel Benet. He was interrogated
by Senator Schurz. He said that in
some cases, even after the margin had
been put up, sales were not consumma,
ted, it appearing that the arms were not
of such character as was supposed, or
for 9th er reasons On being asked wbeth-
er when it was discovered that Rem
ington & Sons were agents Of the French
government that fact was not considered
important enough to cancel the ar
rangement for the sale to them, wit
ness said that was for statesmen to an.
swer, but the Government should
be held to answer the same "a private
parties. When an officer was author
lied to sell he was so informed, and
letter was also sent to that officer to
that effect. To the party proposing to
buv the matter was considered closed
80 far as the ordnance officer was con-
cerned, and then then the officer and
the other party closed the transaction.
He however mentioned case in which
manner Crispin did not conclude a
contract, and thus saved large sum OF
money to the Government. He thought
the fact would appear that
where Colonel Crispin was au-
thorized to sell but did not do 80
because he could get hig her
prices, the matter had no refer
ence to any particular individual,
but was general authority to sell to
anybody. ln reply to question by
Senator Ames, he said there was no
apprehension whatever that i'll case OF
difficulty there would not be small arms
enough to arm the troops according to
the official statement, within two or
three weeks. There were now on hand
355,37S new Springfield rifles, calibre
5S, and with other arms an army OF
10000 men could he supplied, and at
the end Of thirty days 100000 breech
leaders could be turned out month.
Besides our own facilities the private
factories could supply large number
of arms without difficulty. The troops
mus, lie got together before they are
armed, and they could be armed as soon
as mustered. A great many guns were
taken home by the soldiers after the
late war. He could not estimate the
number. In his remarks as to the mum.
Der of guns on hand, he did not take
into estimate the 10000 now in the
hands OF the regular army Of militia.
Mr.. Ames asked whether it was the
opinion OF the witness that Gen. Grant,
at the head Of an army thus armed,
would be able to resist any force brought
against them. The Government witness
replied affirmatively, whether TO put
down another rebellion or to resist a
foreign invasion. Proposals had come
from Germany to cell US 100000 stand
Of arms. Our alarm, If any, would
come from Europe. Our danger
would be from iron clads, as
our forts are not properly armed. The
cannon we require are of immense size
and calibre, weighing $4,000 pounds,
the l0inch being the smallest. Mill
tary men have not the slightest alarm
about the deficiency OF small arms.
Congress had not taken proper action In
regard to the fortitications it ought to
make an appropriation OF 81 l,OOO'0OO
annually for experiments and purchas-
ing heavy ordnance for forts.


Senator Carpenter asked whether we
could not supply an army as fast as the
men could be got together, organized
and put into the field, and would they
not be as well armed from the start as
the average Of men were during the late
war?


The witness answered in the atiirma-
tive, adding, And much better"


The committee adjourned till to-
morrow morning.