1st Session. IN SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES. JUNE 26, 1840. Ordered to be printed. Mr. HUBBARD made the following REPORT: [To accompany bill S. No. 379.] The Committee of Claims, to whom was referred the claims of John Mitchell and B. F. Fox, report: That the claimants, on the 22d of August, 1835, entered into a contract with Martin Gordon, as commissioner of the United States, appointed to superintend the erection of the building for the Branch Mint at New Orleans, by which they agreed to erect and complete the same, in conformity to the plans submitted at the time, for the sum of $182,000; that, in December following, the plan was modified by Dr. Patterson, the director of the Mint at Philadelphia, and the changes suggested by Dr. Patterson were sanctioned by the Secretary of the Treasury, under the assurance that they were such as would evidently diminish the cost of the building. The plans, as modified, were afterward exhibited and explained by Dr. Patterson to General Gordon, the commissioner, who concurred in the expediency of the alteration; but it now appears that, owing to the looseness of the instructions given by Dr. Patterson to General Gordon, or some misunderstanding of them, not only the additional work required. by the modification of the plan was performed by the contractors, but also the work specified in the original contract and plans, which the proposed alterations rendered unnecessary, and which it was intended should be dispensed with. Notwithstanding the extravagance and unnecessary expense which have attended these alterations, the committee think it would be unreasonable and unjust, on the part of the United States, to withhold from the claimants whatever sum may be found due them upon a fair settlement of their accounts; they having performed the labor, and furnished the materials, at the request and under the superintendence of an authorized agent of the Government. The committee, therefore, report a bill for their relief, and recommend its passage. 1st Session. DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE CLAIMS OF WALLIS AND ARTHUR, AND OTHERS, FOR Compensation for rations furnished to, and the use of wagons, &c. by, the Missouri volunteers, who were called into the service of the United States, in 1836, against the Sac and Iowa Indians. MARCH 16, 1840. Referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. JUNE 26, 1840. LIBERTY, CLAY CO., MISSOURI, February 18, 1840. HONORED SIR: In the month of July of 1836, the Sac and Iowa Indians located on our frontier became very troublesome to the frontier citizens; so much so, that the commander-in-chief of our State ordered the raising of 200 mounted volunteers, who were raised and mustered into service, and continued patrolling the frontier 18 days, under the command of Col. Shubael Allen, of our county. Provisions for the campaign. being first necessary, the colonel concluded to let the furnishing of rations to the lowest bidder. The undersigned, who now address you, were the lowest bidders; and had necessarily to expend a great deal of money for the purchase of the rations necessary, which they calculated the General Government would replace in a very short time. But, owing to the neglect of some of the officers, no action of Congress has yet been had on the subject; owing, we suppose, to a neglect in forwarding the report of the campaign. We have suffered great inconvenience for want of the funds expended; and have earnestly to request you would examine the report of Col. Shubael Allen, (who has sent this day all the papers belonging to the campaign to you,) and use your exertion in having an appropriation made for their speedy payment; and, by so doing, you will confer a lasting favor on your friends addressing you, as also a number of your constituents, soldiers, interested therein. Very respectfully, your obedient servants, MICH. ARTHUR, Hon. L. F. LINN, U. S. Senate, Washington City, D. C. BRIGADE ORDER. JULY 2, 1836. SIR: In obedience to the orders of the commander-in-chief, requiring me to order out a sufficient force, and cause to be removed out of the limits of the State any Indians that may be found roaming within my command, you are hereby required forthwith to detail from the 28th regiment, that you have the honor to command, two captains, two lieutenants, two ensigns, one adjutant, and two hundred privates, which you will cause to be organized into two companies, which will constitute and form one battalion of mounted riflemen; and of which force you will assume the command, and repair to the frontiers of Clay and Clinton counties, and to the frontiers of which counties you will confine your operations, and cause to be removed and driven from the limits of the State all Indians that may be found roaming therein, and within the limits aforesaid peaceably if you can, and forcibly if you must. You will cause the troops to be well mounted on good horses, armed with rifles, and each man to have fifty ball-cartridges, suitable to the calibre of his gun, and each man to be supplied with twenty days' rations. You will remain in service a tour of twenty days, if you shall find it necessary to do so, in carrying into effect the duties enjoined by this order. You will promptly report your proceedings therein, from time to time, as you may believe will conduce to the welfare of our frontier citizens. Very respectfully, WM. P. THOMPSON, Brig. Gen. 2d Brigade 1st Division Missouri Militia. JNO. H. MOREHEAD, Col. SHUBAEL ALLEN, Com'g 28th Reg't Missouri Militia. Aid-de-camp. In pursuance of the foregoing order, I, Shubael Allen, commandant as aforesaid, at sunset, on the 8th of July, [assumed] the command of the troops raised for service against the hostile Indians supposed to be roaming in parties in Clay, Clinton, and Ray, as well as Carroll counties, in this State. On that day I mustered into service the quota of men required as per order-say, two companies of one hundred men each, besides commissioned officers. Captain David R. Atchison, commandant of the Liberty Blues, with a portion attached to his command, to make the one hundred men; Captain Smith Crawford commanded the other company of volunteers, of the same number. The field and staff officers will stand as follows, which belong to my command: Shubael Allen, colonel commanding. William Todd, adjutant. Ashby Peters, quartermaster and acting commissary. Ware S. May, surgeon. Believing, at the same time, that it was all-important for the ease, convenience, and (more important) for the safety of the troops, in case of an engagement with a band of hostile Indians, that we might possibly meet, (as we had reason to suppose we might fall in with, from reports,) I re |