William Gates to Franklin Chase, addressing complaints made against them about their money transactions, being accused of "disgraceful acts" and for pocketing revenue.
Fort Monroe Old Pt.
Sept 20th 1848
My dear sis,
I received yours of the 15 July
at Portland and having written to you
twice since we left Fairfield, I have deferred
answering you until I am a little quiet.
I am now shipping off the 3rd Arty north of
N. York. My H Qtr [Headquarters] at Boston, which we do
not like, at least Louise[?] cannot stand
the frigid weather there. With christian
submission I am going to attack Gen'l Scott
upon two subjects, and propose a change --
shall leave here in a few days for NYork.
It was an unwelcome ocean to all the Reg'ts.
I have to leave 2 companies here for Califor=
=nia which service seems to please some of my
officers as our Gov'r is making large prepar=
ations for that country. You begin your letter
with informing me that you find I have
left more Hostiles [word underlined] behind me than I thought
I had in Tampico and that some new
slander has been spoken in the hotels at
that place. When I wrote to you from Washington
City, I think I stated to you that there were
many slanderers and slanderous reports afloat [2 words underlined]
in the War Office, and elsewhere but that my receipts for monies paid over and clear
and free accounts presented to the Secretary
of War had killed. Every one of them "Dead
"on the spot". That I had come off, with
flying colors, and consequently laughed
to scorn. Every vile defamation--Taylor,
Seindenberger, Singleton, Day, Dosheitos[?]
Van Stoberen, and all the wiley scamps
far and near were foiled and put to [?]
[?] with all their attempts to do me
injustice and injury. Their machinations
have served only to brighten not to tar
=nish my fame. As to the latter scandal
I care no more for that, or this [words illegible]
[word illegible] of it than I do for the dutch
Splatterings of Van Stoberen. I beg
of you not to reply to any of their
silly accusations. They are cowards
at best, for they dared not utter any
such tales while I was there. There is
no act of mine that I now regret in
all the time I served at Tampico
and [word illegible]. I had a tribe of villains to deal
with. Peter B. Taylor was chief [word illegible]
He asserted that I "walked off" with a large
am't of municipal [word illegible], and that I allowed
Tornel an extravagant Reimb, & all of which
I silenced before the Sec'y of War in a single
sentence and a reference to the receipts.
But they [words illegible] I will not take any further time or trouble to write upon matters, that
have been all adjusted so easily and so com=
pletely. I only wish you said[?] I had 20.000$-
balance on bonds at this moment. We
might draw interest upon the Acc't for some
time before settled by the Q'Collector[?].
I wrote requesting you to send the Books,
papers, and all the documents relating
to revenue to the QMstr, New Orleans, marked
in my name[2 words underlined], with a letter to be sent to
the QMstr Baltimore--[words illegible]
also--for QMstr in N. York.
As to the guns & muskets he left with
you, I hope you have sent them
to the QMaster also in N. Orleans and
taken his receipts for them.
October 1st - I had to move off with the troops
to this place- New Port, Rhode Island - so here
we are just arrived about to take lodgings
in town with a lady who gives us a fine
house to live in while she keeps it for us.
I have purchased a charming carriage to
quiet sociere-exactly- and will so have
a nice [word illegible] of nags. Then we will begin to
live and move and have our being "in
this land of quietness & steady habits.
The Fort is a half hour ride off where are
3 companies, with a fine set of officers - old friends
Louise[?] finds it chilling and disagreeable at
this time, but she has improved in health and
looks not withstanding. She had the pleasure
of receiving Amelia's letter 23 August last, some
4 or 5 days since after its going the rounds.
It was one of the satisfactory chronicle [word illegible] giving
us a full account of your movements[?] doings
and prospects besides the matters & things about
town. May you go on prospering and find
Tampico in better condition than you supposed
it would be after our departure. There is not
a day passes that we do not speak of Fairfield[?]
until we find no listeners. Louise[?] thinks
still that she never passed happier days any
where than she did under your roof. How
different are the scenes here--where steady
quietness prevails--and retirement seems
the ways and habits of the people [words illegible]
matter. Boston is only 4 hours sail from us
and New York may be reached in one [word illegible]
Louise will tell Amelia more of these things
when she has time and her writing [word illegible]
[word illegible] well of its injury. Little Looly has grown
much and still talks of "Pinky" whenever
she sees a cat or zoo[?]. Our Mexican boy
has been a good fellow in all the time we
have had him. He takes care of Looly
she will not lose her Spanish there while
he cannot speak English to her. Nor will
Louise lose sight of it for she kept up.
Her conversation still in Spanish. I hope
ere long to have a reply to one or two other
of her letters and to learn that you Mr.
Chase and Amelia are safe sound and
making your fortunes. So rapidly that in 2 ways
you can retire to those quiet regions where
the Vamitos[?] never courses and where Mexican
absurdities are not known. I here [word illegible] left
rooms for. Love to Mr. Chase & Amelia and
yourself--from both of us. Yours sincerely
Wm Gates[?]
