Raynors HCA 2017-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/7/2017
A great war-date Union Commissary department document, 3pp. folio, "Hd. Qrs. 3rd Division, 2d Corps, Office of Division Inspector, July 24, 1864", reading, in small part: "…Report of 1st Brigade Inspector…I have inspected the returns and accounts of Capt. Geo. W. Cooney C. S., 1st Brigade, 3rd Divi., 2nd Corps…the prices charged for subsistence stores. Theses prices do not vary from the established rate except when by reason of fractional parts of a cent or inability to make change some unimportant overcharges were made. The established price of whiskey has been 75cts per canteen while it has been invoiced at $1.12, 1.44 and $1.46 per gallon. The C. S. justifies these charges…that some canteens hold half a gallon. In the matter of altering provision returns to cover deficiencies…while on the march rations have been issued in the night or in a hurry and no record…has been taken thereof by the Regt…when returns are approved ten days in advance and battles interfere reducing the number of men before the ten days are out. I see no reason why fraudulent issue cannot be made without a chance for detection…I have not been able to find in this brigade any such alteration or evidence of fraud…and…I should not say that any have been made…2d Brig. Insp…in the article of whiskey I find that the officers have been paying during the month of June .90 cts per canteen, making $2.40 per gallon and I find the whiskey has been invoiced to the commissary at $1.12, $ 1.46 and $1.73 per gallon. As yet I have failed to discover any instance where Comsy. Sergts or clerks had sold provisions on their own accounts…". Four endorsements on the verso complete the story of this report. In June 1864, the 2nd Corps headquarters feared that there had been a fraud committed under their command. An inspection of commissary returns was made and acting commissary Capt. J. N. Crawford of the 6th New Jersey landed in their crosshairs and was immediately considered for prosecution. Discrepancies found between invoicing and actual pricing were the evidence, but, as the endorsements lay out, cronyism plays out and Crawford walks free. These endorsements read, in very small part: "…[August 1, 1864]…referred to the major general comdg. with the recommendations that all the commissaries of the 3d Division who have been exacting more than the invoiced prices…be brought to trial…the with report sets forth that the commissary of the 1st brigade has habitually sold whiskey for seventy five cents per canteen which is at a rate $2.00 per gall…the commissary of the 3d Brig. has sold nearly all stores at an advance…there is no excuse for the practice and it ought to be broken up…C. H. Morgan [BRIGADIER GENERAL CHARLES H. MORGAN] Lt. Col. Asst. Insp. Genl…[August 10, 1864], Respectfully re-forwarded to Lt. Col. Morgan…as stated in the within report the evidence against Capt. Crawford is weak and…if brought to trial not strong enough to result in conviction. J. Willian, [BREVET BRIGADIER GENERAL JOHN WILLIAN for Lee's surrender] Major & Div. Insp.". Light soiling, else VG
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