1861 Agate (Civil War soldier)

This letter is part of a much longer account by a Switzerland County soldier who signed as "Agate". Using such pseudonyms was common in newspapers in the 1800s. His account gives an unflattering accounting two Madison men that he accused for attempted profiteering. The rest of the letter has more details of how the merchants and their cohorts got the ship, the "Stephen Decatur" to not stop at Vevay in an effort to avoid spending money on food for the Union soldiers. The Col. Wharton mentioned was apparently William G. Wharton, commander of the 22nd Regiment Indiana Infantry

Vevay Reveille, Aug. 29, 1861

On board the steamer Stephen Decatur on Aug. 26, 1861

In regard to the manner in which we were shipped and fed. Col. Wharton and Bob Lodge of Madison, who superintend the feeding and transportation of these troops, are to blame for our not being provided for in the proper manner. Situated in a country in which everything pertaining to our health and comfort can be had at a moment’s notice and with but little expenses, it was neither just nor right that we should be compelled to subsist for 24 hours on dry bread and raw bacon and warm muddy water.

One of the greatest acts of villainy, trickery and swindling,. but little short of the acts of some of the arch traitors of the southern conspiracy on the part of Col. Wharton and one or two others has just developed itself Indeed some of the signs of it was manifested by the Capt. of the boat refusing to land at Vevay The same trick was attempted at Cincinnati and had the captain of the boat delayed the landing a little longer than he did, he and his assistants would have been roughly handled. Then it was the mutterings which might have been heard, like distant thunder all the morning, burst forth in a fury, and had the boat attempted to pass the city she would have been taken by the officers of the soldiers and run ashore.

It appears that there should have been six boats at Madison to receive the six companies, but Col. Wharton, wishing to make a handsome little sum in the operations provided only four boats for the transportation and crammed the troops aboard entered in league with the commanders and gave strict orders to rush the troops through to Pittsburgh without supplies, without accommodations for cooking and then pocket the spoils—charge the United States Government with the expense of six boats, draw the money and divide it among themselves but thanks to the energy and firm determination of Carlan and Danglade [two officers], Col Wharton’s villainy was thwarted.

The "Steven Decatur" [sic, Stephen] was landed, the steamer "J.H. Done" was chartered and the Fayette County company transferred from our boat to it. Col. Wharton was then told that he had got to provide provisions and ice for the use of the soldiers, which request he was compelled to comply with. Consequently, we soon had a place to cook plenty of provisions and a good supply of ice stowed away on board. Why such acts of high-handed villainy are tolerated by our executive is quite a mystery. It is certainly a grand oversight on the part of officers in high quarters to allow such villains as Col. Wharton to go unpunished.