Contraband cattle and fraud

Late in September, 1864, it was still not known when and where Confederate forces were going to invade Kansas. It was known, courtesy of the Talking Wire"(telegraph) that the Confederate Army of Missouri commanded by Major General Sterling Price had entered southeast Missouri and that there was a large enemy force commanded by Brigadier General Stand Watie threatening the southern border of Kansas from the Indian Territory (present Oklahoma). Where would the invasion of Kansas come from and who would lead it? Would Price turn west or would Watie go north and invade the Jayhawk state? Without the telegraph, both sides were always cutting or destroying the lines, letters, dispatches and orders could take many hours or days to send and receive.

The following letter describes the complications with the deployment of Union troops (militia and volunteer units) to protect eastern Kansas from an attack from the Indian Territory. The letter is located on pages 460-462 in Series I, Volume 41, Part III, Correspondence in the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion.

"Headquarters District of South Kansas,

Lawrence. September 28, 1864.

(To:) Major General S. R. Curtis,

Commanding, Dept. of Kansas, Fort Leavenworth, Kans.:

General: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th instant. From all the information I can gather I do not just now apprehend (expect) an attack on Fort Scott. The raiders (Stand Watie's Confederates) of the train have re-crossed the Arkansas (River) with such booty as they could carry off, capturing some soldiers on Flat Rock Creek and killing what Negro troops (of the 1st Ks. Colored vol. Inf. Regt.] they found. "News" about Price is not authentic and his whereabouts not known. If his march north is expected to have any influence on the war, I do not think it will be gained by a visit to Kansas. Hopes in that particular must rest on Missouri through her southern sympathizers. If baffled by Rosecrans, Price might try Fort Scott on his return, unless hard pressed and that is the only fear I have, unless Gano (and Watie) come back with a larger body of troops than which they captured the train.

I have all of Jennison's command at Fort Scott and if his orders are carried out things will assume a much better shape. Stragglers have been gathered and officered and the employees of the various departments organized and armed, but from all I can learn Fort Scott is not susceptible of much defense. The hills south, southeast, southwest (and northern) approach are within easy range of the town and they can only be occupied and held by a force which it is not possible for us to obtain. (This means that if the Confederates occupied the hills and heights around Fort Scott with artillery, then Fort Scott would be doomed and have to surrender.)

As yet I have no returns (reports) of the militia. Those in Bourbon County are to assemble in Fort Scott, those in Linn County at Mound City. I do not feel at the liberty to take all of the troops from the Missouri border; therefore Moonlight's command is kept on its current duties, but ready to move south when it becomes imperative. If the border is not protected, Bushwhackers can cross and depredate when they please. So as soon as the Militia is in the service they will relieve, in part, the government troops in Miami and Johnson Counties and the latter may be concentrated at Paola and Mound City. Paola is now garrisoned by two companies each of cavalry and infantry and McClain's four guns. In order to collect Jennison's command at Fort Scott only a few mounted men are now guarding the east line of Linn County. I do not think it is wise to send the militia on the border. They cannot patrol the line. Horseman can pass them at will and at points of which they will have no knowledge. They had better be retained for the protection of Olathe, Paola, Mound City and Fort Scott. As I before wrote you, I shall not ask General Deitzler to collect the militia of Douglas and Shawnee counties until the necessity is unavoidable. Lawrence is an important town and ought to have some protection. But a single company of the 17th Kansas is here. I designed placing enough militia in it to defend it from raids and intended they should come from the county itself. To feed them stores must be sent at the proper time from Fort Leavenworth. I asked that wagons be forwarded to Captain Simpson, for the reason that militia captains hire citizens to do their hauling and the Government has to pay for it.

Colonel Jennison informs me that General Thayer thinks he will have to evacuate Forts Gibson and Smith unless re-enforced. If General Steele has been strengthened, I take it the necessity will not exist. In regard to the [supply] train for these forts, no troops for its escort will pass beyond the limits of my command; nor will it set out until General Thayer requests it. Neither will any expeditions be set on foot from this district without proper sanction.

In your letter, I am requested to press everything toward Fort Scott. Am I to understand you wish that done now or when the emergency arises? I can place every soldier on the border inside the limits of Fort Scott within 60 hours and I hope to get any important information long enough ahead to accomplish it. It will not do to take away any patrols unless the occasion overbalances the mischief that can be affected by the guerrillas. If so, the whole eastern tier of counties will be open to their ravages and the calamity of Lawrence may be re-enacted!

In regard, General, to the cattle business, I see but one way to control it and that is to seize all cattle coming from the Indian territory into the state and hold them for the benefit of the government. Two thirds of them are stolen and the Government has a far better right to them than (do the) thieves. I have simply forbidden the issue of any permits to trade by army officers and directed the seizure of any stock so obtained. Anthony, Osborn, Durfee, Eldridge & Co., are all in the business and it is my firm belief they do not purchase one-half of the cattle they procure. It is beyond question that persons in the military service have been offered bribes to assist in this business. There is but one step beyond offering a bribe and that is receiving it. In either case the status of the parties is easily defined. I have instructed the sub-district commanders to send direct to your office any important information of the enemy they may obtain.

It shall be my endeavor to economize the public expenditures in every possible way. The necessity therefore is very great in Kansas. Lately I directed the quartermaster to offer proposals for forage and wood. Bids were presented at prices averaging from 75-100 percent above the market. Certain persons combined to buy up the corn and hay with the design of exacting their own terms, thus trading on the necessities of the government! I learn from my quartermaster that McDonald & Co. of Fort Scott have bought up all the corn in Southern Kansas and it is with the utmost difficulty he (my quartermaster) can procure enough forage for his daily issues.

Here it is street talk that the purchases for Lawrence are to be used in the political campaign. That is, supposing those that offered the bids are to get them and I have no doubt the same rule is to hold elsewhere. I really think that matters have got to such a pass that the military should seize the forage of such persons and allow them a fair profit. I will not approve any contracts at the rates lately offered. Corn can be bought at $1.25 (per bushel) and hay at from $10-$14 (per ton), yet these people bid $2 for the former and the latter from $18-$23. If the department quartermaster has funds, I wish that the proper share be furnished Captain Simpson. These can purchase what vouchers cannot and I also trust that my disapproval of bids may not be rendered inoperative by higher authority.

I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,

George Sykes,

Major

General Commanding."

Now then, it appears that General Sykes in addition to responding to a major enemy threat to his district also had to be contend with civilian profiteers attempting to and succeeding in defrauding the government. Some things never change and there is ample evidence and convictions of this happening today and in all wars in our history and of course, the war went on!