A Confederate Whistle Blower Is Investigated By The CSA Government

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/31/2009

A rare war-date manuscript, 11 pp. folio. (with copy of transmittal letter from General Samuel B. French attached), Confederate government investigative document issued by Lt. Col. Francis G. Ruffin, Bureau of Subsistence, Richmond, Va., Dec. 21, 1863 addressed to Col. L. B. Northrup. This document served to bring evidence of corruption against Acting Quartermaster Captain Jackson Warner who was responsible for subsisting the Union prisoners in and around Richmond, including Libby Prison, after he appears to have leveled charges against the Confederate government alleging that Union POWs were inadequately provided for. A most unusual Confederate Document, reading, in very small part: "…in reference to the charge against the Commissary Department of having inadequately fed the Yankee prisoners as set forth…[by] Capt. J. Warner…and the endorsement…by one newspaper of reputed authority has given it a prominence abroad & especially our enemies…the business of subsisting Prisoners of War pertains by regulation to the Qr. Mstr. Depart…Major S. B. French…addressed a letter to the commissary Genl telling him that…Capt. Warner was purchasing wheat for the…prisoners at prices exceeding scheduled rates…a transaction occurred about some beeves which Capt. Warner alleged he had purchased from F. C. Braner, his butcher…which excited some suspicion in the mind of the Commissary Genl…the issue of 6,723 lbs of candles in the third quarter to men in buildings lighted with gas, seems very extraordinary it being presumable that few candles were required except on Belle Isle and there only for guard purposes…Capt. Warner had paid almost double the prices allowed…for nearly every article…Warner's butcher F. C. Braner had risen to sudden wealth…his sales to Capt. Warner for the three quarters of this year…amount to nearly 1,000,000…". Secretarially signed by both General French and Lt. Col. Ruffin. Usual wear with negligible paper loss affecting the last page, else very good.

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