- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- Letter, 1836 Nov. 25, Washington [D.C. to] Gov[ernor of Georgia William] Schley, Milledgeville, Georgia / Maj[or] E[dmund] Kirby
- Creator:
- Kirby, Edmund
- Date of Original:
- 1836-11-25
- Subject:
- Georgia--Politics and government--1775-1865
Seminole War, 2nd, 1835-1842--Finance
Creek War, 1836--Finance - Location:
- United States, Florida, 28.75054, -82.5001
- Medium:
- official reports
military records
vouchers (sales records) - Type:
- Text
- Format:
- text/html
image/jpeg - Description:
- This is a letter dated November 25, 1836 from Major (Edmund ?) Kirby to Governor William Schley (Governor of Georgia, 1835-1837) regarding the unpaid claims of Major (Marcus ?) Huson. Kirby says that he has enclosed one of Huson's vouchers and asks the governor for help. Kirby also mentions two of the governor's own receipts that might contain errors. He goes on to tell the governor that the court of inquiry in Frederic (Frederick, Maryland ?) has decided to first investigate the Florida campaign against the Seminole Indians and postpone discussion of the Creek war until General Thomas S. Jesup and others have returned from Florida. He suggests that the governor might want to attend the session on the Creek war. See tcc547 for Schley's response to this letter.
Digital image and encoded transcription of an original manuscript, scanned, transcribed and encoded by the Digital Library of Georgia in 2001, as part of GALILEO, funded in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. - Local Identifier:
- tcc598
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc598
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc598#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc598/presentation/manifest.json
- Language:
- eng
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- Cite as: [title of item], Telamon Cuyler, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries, presented in the Digital Library of Georgia
- Extent:
- 5 pages/leaves
- Original Collection:
- Manuscript held by the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries, Telamon Cuyler, box 50, folder 13, document 01.
- Holding Institution:
- Hargrett Library
- Rights:
-
Page: [1]
Washington
Nov. [November] 25. 1836
My dear governor,
I regretted not finding you at Columbus on my return from Florida & still more the urgency of my affairs which compelled me to pass through Milledgeville without halting a day to see you.
I have been gratified at meeting our old friends Sanford & Huson here. The General is a little [unclear text: crest ] fallen at the loss of his Election & has gone off to Frederic a little [unclear text: gouty ] .
Huson is not quite so keen as a Yankee in settling his public accounts. I enclose one of his vouchers. if he had signed the receipts when he sent the amounts to Col [Colonel] Stanton I believe the [added text: Col. [Colonel] ] would have paid the amount. but the quartermaster [added text: here ] not being broke in to the business of paying militia claims is a little more fastidious. Huson has left here & I have promised [deleted text: him ] to get the money for him if I can. I beg to suggest to you an addition to your certificate on the back of the amount which you can doubtless make with perfect propriety & which will obviate the difficulty. It is to add to the certificate as it stands after "just & true" the words -- "The journey being made in the performance of his public duty [deleted text: [illegible text] ] & under [deleted text: [illegible text] ] advisement with me" -- with the addition of the words underscored, he can get the money
Page: [2]
& it appears just that he should do so. I would request you to write the same certificate on the back of the duplicate also & then enclose them to me under cover to [deleted text: the ] "Brig. [Brigadier] General N. Towson, Paymaster General." at this place --
Among Husons vouchers are two receipts of yours -- one for 218 23/100 dolls. [dollars] which is doubtless correct for which you are accountable. but the other for 2462:50 dolls. [dollars] strikes me as erroneous. It is for amt. [amount] if two dfts [drafts] upon you from Macon in favor of Scott Gray 962:50 & David Ralston 1500 -- Huson states that [deleted text: you ] at one of the settlements between you at Columbus. you handed him the money for amt [amount] of these dfts [drafts] although you had already paid the dfts. [drafts] that he handed the money back to you & that you gave him this rect. [receipt] It strikes me that you are making yourself accountable for this same money twice & that you ought not to have given that receipt. I have thought it best to call your attention to this matter while it is comparatively fresh lest you should by & by be brought up with a treasury [illegible text] turn. If I am mistaken you will pardon my officiousness on account of the motive which prompts me.
The court of inquiry at Frederic resumes its sittings today. The court I understand will first devote itself to an investigation of the Florida campaign & not take up the Creek war till
Page: [3]
General Jesup & others can return from Florida & attend the court. This will postpone that branch of the investigation till after the adjournment of the Georgia legislature & I would suppose it would be agreeable to you to appear in person at Frederic. An intimation that it would meet your views & convenience would unquestionably be followed by a summons to attend. I confess that I am a little interested in this suggestion for it would afford me the high gratification of meeting you again. The officers of the army who served in the Creek campaign or rather on the Chattahoochee & who came in contact with you & witnessed your patriotic devotion & zeal for the public service have all become enthusiastically attached to you & they will all be delighted at meeting you again.
I am endeavoring to get my accounts settled at the Treasury. I shall suffer considerable losses I fear for oversights committed in the great hurry & pressure of business. I preferred a claim for one per cent on my disbursements. until
1833 from the formation of the government: 2 1/2 per cent was allowed to paymasters of the army for disbursements to militia. In
1833 congress by special act ordered the allowance to one per ct. [cent] & it was supposed that the same provision still existed but the attorney general has decided
Page: [4]
that the last act was confined to that particular appropriation & that there now exists no loyal authority in granting the allowance -- But he is so fully impressed with its justice that in his capacity of acting secretary of war he will in the annual report from the Department to the President [deleted text: he will ] recommend a legal provision for the allowance & will use his personal influence to get it through congress. This is a long story -- but [illegible text] the matter trusting that you will feel an interest in what so deeply concerns mine --
with sincere respect & cordial regard I remain yours very truly
[Signed] E. Kirby
His Excy. [Excellency] Gov. [Governor] Schley Milledgeville
Please direct to me under cover to the Paymaster General.
I beg to be kindly remembered to my old friends near you.
[Signed] EK
Page: [5]
Letter
Maj [Major] E. Kirby
Novr [November] 25. 1836
Mis [Miscellaneous]