Transcribed from A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans, written and compiled by William E. Connelley, Chicago : Lewis, 1918. 5 v. (lvi, 2731 p., [228] leaves of plates) : ill., maps (some fold.), ports. ; 27 cm.

1918 KANSAS AND KANSANS Chapter 67 Part 5

PRICE RAID CLAIMS

In the Price Raid, much property was destroyed. A great deal of it belonged to Kansas people. The owners of this property had a valid claim against the Government for the amounts of the losses they could establish. The following condensed statement is quoted from the Andreas History of Kansas, pages. 207-8.

The Price raid and Curtis expedition cost the citizens of Kansas, besides the labor, loss of life, and such incidental losses as could not be computed, not less than half a million dollars. The Government was of course bound to reimburse them, so far as the losses could be established as valid claims, growing out of the war in which the country was then engaged. The Legislature of 1865 made provision for the assumption and payment of the claims by the State, looking to the General Government for reimbursement. A commission was appointed to examine and audit such claims as might be presented. In addition to the just claims which came before the committee came an avalanche of bogus claims. The aggregate amount of claims presented was upward of $2,000,000. One-half of them required little consideration to be rejected. The Commissioners allowed, as appears by the report of T. J. Anderson, Adjutant General, November 30, 1866, the following:

Services rendered $197,327.34
Materials, supplies and transportation furnished 152,530.54
Damage sustained 106,806.05
Miscellaneous claims 36,290.90
 
      Total $492,644.83

The Commissioners further reported several claims received subsequent to November 1, on which no action had been taken.

The Legislature of 1867 assumed the payment of the awards, and again referred them to a special committee to be re-audited and corrected.

This Examining Board of Commissioners was appointed by Gov. Crawford, March 26. The members were: D. E. Ballard, W. H. Fitzpatrick and William N. Hamby. It entered upon the work of re-examination April 1, and reported to the Governor July 1. The awards made were as follows:

Amount allowed for services $218,398.75
Allowed for supplies and transportation 81,682.32
Allowed for damages sustained 131,693.83
Allowed for property lost, and miscellaneous 35,518.47
 
     Total $467,293.37

The amount allowed for "services" by the above report exceeded the awards of the first auditing commission $21,061.41; on the items of supplies, transportation, damages, property lost, etc., the committee made large deductions. The Governor, in his message, January, 1868, says:

"A portion of this discrepancy can doubtless be accounted for by an honest difference of opinion between the two boards in regard to the prices of material., etc., while another portion, I regret to say, can only be accounted for by a package of forged or fabricated vouchers, amounting to some $18,000, which were placed in my possession by the Examining Commission when they made their report, in compliance with the law. These forged or fabricated claims purport to have been sworn to before the Secretary of the Price Raid Commission. Whether he has been imposed upon by unknown parties is not for me to determine; but I respectfully refer the whole subject to the Legislature, with the earnest recommendation that a thorough and searching investigation be made of the entire affair, so as to prevent undue suspicion from attaching to those who might be farthest from the commission of such a crime. Besides, if the Commissioners should have been mistaken in judging these claims to be forged, when in fact they were genuine, then an investigation is due, in order that the innocent may not suffer."

An investigating committee reviewed the original Price raid awards, and, in January, 1868, reported that it found many claims dishonestly allowed. The Legislature, March 3d, passed a new Price raid bill.

The Legislature of 1869 provided for a third Board of Commissioners to audit the Price raid and Curtis expedition claims. The new Commissioners were Levi Woodward, David Whittaker and T. J. Taylor. The awards of the committee, as reported to Adjt. Gen. Whittaker, September 1, 1869, were as follows:

Services rendered $233,345.47
Materials, supplies and transportation furnished 111,352.53
Damages sustained 159,191.34
Miscellaneous claims 36,627.64
 
     Total $540,516.98

The Adjutant General further reported, January 12, 1870, that, in addition to the above, there had been allowed by various committees of the Legislature, and by the State Auditor and Treasurer, $6,701.13, making the total amount of the debt accruing from the Price raid and the Indian expedition of Gen. Curtis, $547,218.11. The State had previously assumed $500,000 of this debt, and the Adjutant General, in his report, suggested to the Governor that he recommend the assumption of the balance ($47,218.11).

The amount of the claims being thus finally settled by the State, the claim was pressed upon the Government for settlement. February 2, 1871, Congress passed a bill providing for the auditing of the claims. Under its provisions, a commission was appointed by the Secretary of War to audit the Price raid claims. Its members were: James A. Hardie, Inspector General U. S. A.; J. D. Bingham, Quartermaster U. S. A., and T. H. Stanton, Paymaster U. S. A. The members of the commission met at Topeka, March 17, and having duly investigated the claims in detail, repaired to Washington late in the month, and reported their award to the Secretary of War, as the basis of an appropriation for the settlement of the claims. On their report the House Committee on Claims reported to appropriate the sum of $337,054.00 for the payment of the Price raid claims. June 8, 1872, Congress appropriated that sum as recommended, and on August 13, Gov. Harvey, in behalf of the State, received the amount awarded. The amount was received by State Treasurer Hayes and disbursed, as stated in his report of December 30, 1872, as follows:

"On the seventeenth of August I received the sum of $336,817.37, which had been appropriated by act of Congress to the State of Kansas, in payment for a certain class of military claims; while for the interest on the debt thus paid, and for other classes of claims contracted at the same time, and for which Union Military Scrip had been issued, no provision was made. There being no law governing my action in case of partial payment, and believing it would be wronging the claimants, either to wait action by the Legislature or to pay those first presented in full, I decided to pay without interest that class of scrip only which had been allowed by Congress, and to issue certificates showing the amount of interest then due on the same.

"The scrip issued for the Curtis expedition against the Indians, and for the services of certain irregular companies in the Price raid, although not allowed by Congress, has been paid, as it was found impossible to distinguish by the warrants for what kind of service they had been issued. There will therefore be a deficiency in the funds for the payment of scrip issued for services, transportation, supplies and miscellaneous, including the Curtis expedition, to the amount of $94,348.48, exclusive of interest; in addition to which there still remains outstanding interest certificates issued on scrip paid to the amount of $124,000, and scrip given for damages, $151,191.34 - to all of which I would respectfully call your attention, and recommend that some early and final disposal be made of the same."

The manner in which Treasurer Hayes disbursed the funds and other suspected misdemeanors led to articles of impeachment being found against him. He resigned, and the impeachment was not prosecuted.

The Legislature of 1873 created another Price Raid Commission, to audit the outstanding claims, after deducting what had already been paid out of the Congressional appropriation. The final report, made February 25, 1874, shows the following outstanding claims:

Damage scrip $159,191.34
Estimated interest on same 78,000.00
Service and other scrip 94,348.48
Estimated interest on same 46,000.00
Additional claims of 1872 1,018.16
Additional claims of 1873 236.50
 
    Total outstanding scrip $378,794.48

Adding the Congressional appropriation of $336,81.7.37, the total cost of the Price raid and Curtis expedition was $715,611.85, of which sum $378,794.48 fell upon the State.

In 1879 a new Price Raid Committee was appointed, which reported February 17, 1881, claims still outstanding, amounting to $75,047.71, besides certificates of interest issued for $67,561, by Treasurer Hayes in 1872 on military scrip, the principal of which was paid by him. The additional claims audited by the last committee and reported by them as still outstanding will largely increase the amount of expense to the State over that above stated. To the future historian is left the task of making a final summary.

TABLES

STATEMENT OF THE NUMBER OF MEN CALLED FOR BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
AND THE NUMBER FURNISHED BY THE STATE OF KANSAS FROM APRIL 15, 1861,
TO JUNE 30, 1865
Date of call For what Period Quota Men Furn'd
April 15, 1861, for 15,000 militia Three months   650
May 3, July 22 and 25. 1861, for 500,030 men Three years 3,235 6,953
July 2, 1862, for 300,000 men Three years 1,771 2,936
August 4, 1862, for 300,000 Militia Nine months 1,771  
October 17, 1863, and February 1, 1864, for 500,300 men Three years 3,523 5,374
March 14, 1864, for 200,000 men Three years 1,409 2,563
April 23, 1864, militia One hundred days   441
July 18, 1864, for 500,000 men One, two and three years 3,729 351
December 19, 1864. for 300,000 men One, two and three years 1,222 829
   

    Total   16,654 20 097
      16,654
     
       Surplus     3,443

CASUALTIES IN KANSAS REGIMENTS DURING THE WAR.
                           Killed         Died of Wounds     Deaths by Disease        Deserted       Disch'd for Disab. Dishonor'bly Disc'd  Dism'ed   Cash'd    Res'g'd        Missing
                               Enlisted            Enlisted            Enlisted            Enlisted            Enlisted            Enlisted                                          Enlisted
Regiments            Officers    Men     Officers    Men     Officers    Men     Officers    Men     Officers    Men     Officers    Men     Officers  Officers  Officers  Officers    Men

First Infantry          11        86         ..       34         ..       94        ..       238         1       209        ..         4         2        ..        36        ..        ..
Second Infantry          1         4          1        7         ..        2        ..         6        ..         7        ..        ..        ..        ..         4        ..         1
Second Cavalry           1        50          1       12          1       93         1       191        ..        91        ..         2         1        ..        14        ..         8
Fifth Cavalry            1        40          1       11          2      219        ..        96         1       113        ..         2         2        ..        27        ..        ..
Sixth Cavalry            3        73          1       18          3      120        ..       130         1       117        ..        16         1        ..        11        ..         5
Seventh Cavalry          2        53          1        8          1       97        ..       226         1       160        ..        25         3        ..        24        ..         2
Eighth Infantry          2        60          2       23          3      132         1       128         1       183        ..         4         1        ..        28        ..         3
Ninth Cavalry            1        42         ..       13          2      199        ..        89        ..       158        ..         3        ..        ..        25        ..        ..
Tenth Infantry          ..        15          2        8          4      118        ..        75        ..        84        ..         6        ..        ..        12        ..        ..
Eleventh Cavalry        ..        56         ..        9         ..      101        ..        24         1       106        ..         1         1         2         5        ..         2
Twelfth Infantry         2        11         ..        1          2      111        ..        38        ..        82        ..         1         2        ..        14        ..         1
Thirteenth Infantry      1        14          2        6          1      104        ..       126        ..       156        ..         2        ..        ..        21        ..        ..
Fourteenth Cavalry       1        48         ..        2          2      106        ..       157        ..        49         1        ..         7         1         4        ..         8
Fifteenth Cavalry        2        10         ..        9          2       77        ..       154        ..       144        ..	      25        14        ..        10        ..         1
Sixteenth Cavalry       ..        10          1        3         ..       94        ..       135        ..        50        ..         2         6         1        12        ..         2
First Colored Infantry   4       156         ..       10          1      165        ..        62         1        66        ..         1         1        ..        15        ..        ..
Second Colored Inf       2        21         ..       16         ..      187        ..        63         1        28        ..        ..        ..        ..        15        ..         1
First Battery           ..         3         ..        2          1       20        ..        19        ..        20        ..        ..        ..        ..         3        ..        ..
Second Battery          ..         5         ..       ..         ..       15        ..        13        ..         6        ..        ..        ..        ..        ..        ..        ..
Third Battery           ..         5         ..       ..         ..       17        ..        14        ..         7        ..        ..        ..        ..         1        ..         1
Ind. Col. Battery       ..        ..         ..       ..          1        9        ..         4        ..        16        ..        ..        ..        ..        ..        ..        ..
                        --       ---         --      ---         --    -----        --     -----        --     -----        --        --        --        --       ---        --        --
    Total               34       762	     12	     192         26    2,080         2     1,988         8     1,849         1        94        43         4       281        ..        35

GOVERNOR'S MILITARY STAFF - 1861-1863
(Appointed under act May 7, 1861.)
HIS EXCELLENCY CHARLES ROBINSON, GOVERNOR AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.
February 9, 1861, to January 12, 1863

       Office                            Names               Rank             Appointed              Remarks

Adjutant General                    Robt B.Mitchell    Brigadier General    May 2, 1861       Ap'd Col. 2d K. I., June 20, '61
                                    Lyman Allen        Brigadier General    July 23, 1861     Resigned
                                    Chas. Chadwick     Brigadier General    March 22, 1862    (Vice Allen resigned) Res. February 26, '63

Quartermaster General               G. W. Collamore    Brigadier General    May 4, 1861       Removed March 20, 1862
                                    Chas. Chadwick     Brigadier General    March 20, 1862    Appointed Vice Collamore

Assistant Quartermaster General     Chas. Chadwick     Colonel              March 13, 1862 
                                    Henry O. Sholes    Colonel              August 15, 1862 

Paymaster General                   A. J. Mitchell     Colonel              May 8, 1861 

Inspector General                   B. F Simpson       Colonel              April 19, 1861 

Judge Advocate                      J. P. Greer        Colonel              May 8, 1861 

Chief Engineer                      O. B. Gunn         Colonel              May 8, 1861 

Aides-de-Camp                       J. L. McDowell     Colonel              April 22, 1861 
                                    John A. Martin     Colonel              May 2, 1861 
                                    E. P. Bancroft     Colonel              May 2, 1861 
                                    J. Montgomery      Colonel              May 3, 1861
                                    Wm. H. Smythe      Colonel              May 8, 1861 
                                    E. S. Lowman       Colonel              September 1, 1861 
                                    Forbes Menson      Colonel              October 15, 1861 
                                    Wm. Tholen         Colonel              August 15, 1862 
                                    J. F. Cummings     Colonel              October 2, 1862 

GOVERNOR'S MILITARY STAFF - 1863-1865
1118 EXCELLENCY THOMAS CARNEY, GOVERNOR AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF
January 12, 1863, to January 9, 1865

       Office                            Names               Rank             Appointed              Remarks

Adjutant General                    Guilford Dudley    Brigadier General    February 27, '63  Ap'd under act of May 7, '61. Re-'d with rank of Col. March 2, '64, under act of February 24, 1864; resigned May 2, '64
                                    C. K. Holliday     Colonel              May 2, '64        Ap'd under act of May 7, '61. Resigned March 31, 1865
Quartermaster General               Edward Russell     Brigadier General    March 3, '63      Ap'd under act of May 7, '61. Re-'d with rank of Col. May 2, '64. under act February 24, '64
Paymaster General                   John G. Otis       Colonel              February 19, '63  Ap'd under act of May 7, '61
Judge Advocate                      D. P. Lowe         Colonel              February 19, '63  Ap'd under act of May 7, '61
                                    Cas. G. Foster     Colonel              February 19, '63  Ap'd under act of May 7, '61
                                    A. W. Spaulding    Colonel              February 19, '63  Ap'd under act of May 7, '61
                                    S. M. Strickler    Colonel              February 19, '63  Ap'd under act of May 7, '61
                                    C. V. Eskridge     Colonel              February 19, '63  Ap'd under act of May 7, '61
                                    Josiah Miller      Colonel              February 19, '63  Ap'd under act of May 7, '61
                                    J. C. Hemingray    Colonel              August 24, '63    Ap'd under act of May 7, '61
                                    Thos. H. Butler    Colonel              September 12, '63 Ap'd under act of May 7, '61
                                    D. Brockway        Colonel              November 10, '63  Ap'd under act of May 7, '61
Aides-de-Camp                       J. A. McGonigle    Lieutenant Colonel   March 2, '64      Ap'd under act February 24, '64
                                    F. H. Drenning     Lieutenant Colonel   March 2, '64      Ap'd under act February 24, '64
                                    Jon. R. Swallow    Lieutenant Colonel   March 2, '64      Ap'd under act February 24, '64
                                    S. F. Atwood       Lieutenant Colonel   April 29, '64     Ap'd under act February 24, '64
                                    Wm. Shepherd       Lieutenant Colonel   July 5, '64       Ap'd under act February 24, '64
                                    W. Burlingame      Lieutenant Colonel   July 12, '64      Ap'd under act February 24, '64
                                    W. C. Crawford     Lieutenant Colonel   October 10, '64   Ap'd under act February 24, '64. S'l aide ap. ser. d'g Price raid
                                    A. S. Hughes       Lieutenant Colonel   October 10, '64   Ap'd under act February 24, '64. S'l aide ap. ser. d'g Price raid
                                    W. Rosenthall      Lieutenant Colonel   October 10, '64   Ap'd under act February 24, '64. S'l side ap. ser. d'g Price raid
                                    John W. Brown      Lieutenant Colonel   October 10, '64   Ap'd under act February 24, '64. S'l aide ap. ser. d'g Price raid

GOVERNOR'S MILITARY STAFF, 1865
HIS EXCELLENCY SAMUEL J. CRAWFORD, GOVERNOR AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, INAUGURATED, JANUARY 9, 1865

       Office                            Names               Rank             Appointed              Remarks
Adjutant General                    T. J. Anderson     Colonel              April 11, '65     App'd under act February 13, '65
Quartermaster General               D. E. Ballard      Colonel              February 18, '65  App'd under act February 13, '65
Paymaster General                   John K. Rankin     Colonel              February 18, '65  App'd under act February 13, '65
Surgeon General                     N. T. Winans       Colonel              February 18, '65  App'd under act February 13, '65
Aides-de-Camp                       Charles Dimond     Lieutenant Colonel   April 10, '65     App'd under act February 13, '65
Aides-de-Camp                       Cyrus Leland, Jr   Lieutenant Colonel   April 10, '65     App'd under act February 13, '65
Aides-de-Camp                       E. G. Ross         Lieutenant Colonel   April 10, '65     App'd under act February 13, '65
Assistant Adjutant General          H. T. Beman        Major                April 10, '65     App'd under act February 13, '65

OFFICERS FROM KANSAS ABOVE THE RANK OF COLONEL COMMISSIONED BY THE PRESIDENT
MAJOR GENERAL

Name                Date of Commission     Remarks
James G. Blunt      November 29, 1862      Honorably mustered out July 29, 1865

BRIGADIER GENERALS
Name                Date of Commission     Remarks
Robert B. Mitchell  April 8, 1862          Honorably mustered out January 15, 1866
James G. Blunt      April 8, 1862          Promoted Major General, November 29, 1862
Albert L. Lee       November 29, 1862      Resigned May 4, 1865
G. W. Deitzler      November 29, 1862      Resigned August 27, 1863
Thomas Ewing, Jr    March 13, 1863         Brevetted Major General, March 13; resigned February 23, '65
Powell Clayton      August 1, 1864         Honorably mustered out, August 24, 1865

BREVET BRIGADIER GENERALS
Name                Date of Commission     Remarks
Thomas M. Bowen     February 13, 1865      Colonel 13th Kan. Vol. Inf.; dismissed June 28, '65; reinstated Nov. 22, '65; hon. dis'd to date June 28, '65
James M. Williams   February 13, 1865      Colonel First Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry; mustered out October 1, 1865
Charles W. Blair    February 13, 1865      Colonel Fourteenth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry: mustered out August 11, 1865
Thomas Moonlight    February 13, 1865      Colonel Eleventh Kansas Volunteer Cavalry; mustered out July 17, 1865
Charles W. Adams    February 13, 1865      Colonel Twelfth Kansas Volunteer Infantry; mustered out June 30, 1865
John Rlrchie        February 21, 1863      Colonel Second Regiment Indian Home Guards
Samuel J. Crawford  March 13, 1865         Colonel Second Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry
John A. Martin      March 11, 1865         Colonel Eighth Kansas Volunteer Infantry
James Ketner        March 13, 1865         Major Sixteenth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry; mustered out December 6, 1865
George H. Hoyt      March 13, 1865         Lieutenant Colonel Fifteenth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry
William R. Judson   March 13, 1865         Colonel Sixth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry
Edw'd F. Schneider  March 13, 1865         Lieutenant Colonel Eighth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry
Samuel Walker       March 13, 1865         Lieutenant Colonel Sixteenth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry
Charles Mundee      April 2, 1865          Major and Assistant Adjutant General United States Volunteers

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A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans , written and compiled by William E. Connelley, transcribed by Carolyn Ward, 1998.