Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 10.
Frank Moore, Ed.

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[25] same manner as was provided for an unattached brigade. The prices so fixed might be changed by the boards respectively from time to time not oftener than once in thirty days.

That it should be the duty of the commanding officer of each brigade, upon receipt of a copy of the list and copy of the act, to cause one sutler for each regiment in his brigade, to be selected by the commissioned officers of such regiment, which selection should be by him reported to the adjutant-general of the army; and if the same was not disapproved by the Secretary of War, the person so selected should be commissioned as sole sutler of the regiment. Any vacancy in the office of sutler, caused by the disapproval of the Secretary of War or from any other cause, should be filled in the same way as an original appointment.

That the sutlers chosen and commissioned should each be authorized to sell to the officers and soldiers of the regiment for which he had been chosen the articles designated in the list provided in the act, and none others, and at prices not exceeding those affixed to the articles. He should keep the list, together with a copy of the act, posted up in some conspicuous part of the place where he made his sales.

That it should be the duty of the inspector-general to cause the place of sale and articles kept for that purpose, by the sutlers, to be inspected from time to time, once in fifteen days at least, by some competent officer, and such changes in the place, or in the quality and character of the articles mentioned in the list so kept as should be required by said officer, should be conformed to by each sutler.

That there should be no sutler appointed for or permitted to sell to or trade with the officers or soldiers of any regiment in the volunteer service except such as should be selected and commissioned in conformity with the provisions of this act.

That any sutler who should violate any of the provisions of this act should, upon conviction thereof, be dismissed from the service and be ineligible to a reappointment, and should forfeit all goods, chattels, and effects found within the lines of the army at the time of such violation, one half to the use of the United States and the other half to the use of the person or persons' who should furnish such evidence as should lead to a conviction for any such violation.

The Military Committee proposed to amend the first section, requiring reports to be made to the adjutant-general instead of the inspector-generals, and the amendment was agreed to. The Committee proposed to strike out the provision prohibiting the appointment of a sutler except such as should be selected according to the provisions of the act, and insert that “no person shall be permitted to act as sutler unless appointed according to the provisions of this act; nor shall any person be sutler for more than one regiment; nor shall any sutler farm out or underlet the business of sutling or the privileges granted to him by his appointment; nor shall any officer of the army receive from any sutler any money, or other presents; and any officer receiving such presents, directly or indirectly, shall be dismissed from the service. No sutler shall sell to an enlisted man on credit to a sum exceeding one fourth of his monthly pay within the same month ; nor shall the regimental quartermasters allow the use of army wagons for sutlers' purposes, nor shall the quartermasters' conveyances be used for the transportation of sutlers' supplies: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to give sutlers a lien upon any part of the soldier's pay.” The amendment was agreed to. Mr. Lane, of Kansas, moved to strike out all after the enacting clause and insert as a substitute: “That from and after the first day of February, 1862, the position of regimental and brigade sutlers shall be abolished in the army of the United States, regular and volunteer forces.” Mr. Lane declared regimental sutlers unnecessary to the service; the sutler was an actual injury to the service. Mr. Wilson had intended, when he moved in the matter early in the session, to abolish the sutlers and adopt a system such as we had in the navy; but after consulting with the Quartermaster-General, the Commissary-General, the Inspector-Generals, the officers in the field, and with gentlemen of large experience, he had found it very difficult to apply to the land volunteer force the system so successfully working in the navy. He therefore proposed to regulate rather than abolish. Mr. Ten Eyck, of New-Jersey, thought the bill proposed would correct the abuses complained of. Mr. Wilkinson, of Minnesota, was opposed to the bill, and in favor of the motion of Mr. Lane. Mr. Fessenden was in favor of some bill that would correct the abuses, and the proposition of Mr. Wilson struck him favorably. Mr. Carlisle moved to recommit the bill with instructions to report a bill providing for a tobacco ration, and abolishing sutlers altogether. Mr. Grimes hoped the motion of Mr. Carlisle would not be adopted. Mr. Carlisle would “strike at the existence of these offices; cut them down if they are unnecessary; guard the soldier in the field from the sharks that are now following the army, that are absorbing what a generous Government is giving to its soldiers for their services, and that are throwing, as I know is the case in my own portion of the country, on the charities of those with whom the families of the soldiers reside to furnish to them the means of support.” On the thirteenth, the Senate resumed the consideration of the bill, the pending question being on Mr. Carlisle's motion to recommit with instructions. Mr. Hale was for the abolition of sutlerships altogether. Mr. Wilson said if Senators did not wish to pass the bill there was but one other plan to adopt, and that was to authorize the Government to furnish the needed articles, and to authorize quartermasters to draw for them and deliver them to soldiers at cost prices. Mr. Collamer suggested the modification of Mr. Carlisle's amendment so that tobacco may be furnished to soldiers who would pay for it; and the motion