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Nashville Tenn Dec. 8th 1873.

Adjutant General 
US Army
 
Sir  
I have the honor to to transmit to the Asst Treas. U.S. at New York, which please forward with your authentication of my official signature
Very respectfully, Your obedient servant.
Major 13th Inf. D.O.
Enclosure


Nashville Tenn. Dec. 8th 1873.

U.S. Asst. Treas. 
New York

Sir
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of yours of 5th Inst. notifying me of transfer of funds to my credit from the Treasurer U.S.
Please send me a check book
Very respectfully. Your obedient servant
Major 13th Inf. D.O.


Nashville Tenn. Dec. 8th 1873. 

Adjutant General U.S. Army

Sir
I have the honor to report that on the 22nd of Nov. a man representing himself as Joshua Butler late Prvt. Co. B 15th U.S.C.T. presented himself at this office to collect the Bounty due said man
He answered the questions asked him by me from the data furnished by the confidential list, and brought two witnesses who made affidavit to this identity, and who also swore to having been members of the same Regt. and they too were thoroughly familiar with the names of officers, non-commissioned officers & privates on said list, altogether the identification was more complete than is generally the case with colored claimants.
I paid the amount of the claim ($209.) and a week afterwards was informed that the man whom I paid was not Joshua Butler, but one Fayette or Ted Robinson.  My informant was a drunken worthless negro named Cyrus Coffie, alias Gene Anderson, who had been convicted and sentenced to a term of imprisonment some years ago for

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a similar fraud, but I set my janitor to work to ferret the matter out and he ascertained that Coffie's statement was [[strikethrough]] correct [[/strikethrough]] true and that Robinson had been induced by his two witnesses to personate Joshua Butler and he had paid them $20 each for their assistance.
I immediately swore out warrants for the arrest of these parties and put the matter in the hands of the U.S. Marshall & District Attorney, but as yet no arrests have been made, and as the affair has leaked out, and been noticed in the papers it may be that the guilty parties have absconded.
My janitor was approached by some parties who were connected with the church of which Robinson is a prominent member, to know if I would drop the prosecution if they would refund the money, but I have given them no answer till I could have instructions from you on that point.
By keeping quiet a short time I think the parties will show themselves shortly and they can be arrested, if the Marshal uses common precaution.
Very respectfully, Your obedient servant
Major 13th Inf. D.O.


Nashville, Tenn. Dec. 9th 1873.

Capt. Jas. McMillan
3d Art. C.D.O. 

Sir
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your check No. 223 being payment on Mileage Voucher in the month of November.
The check amounting to 20 40/100 dollars does not call for the amount of the Voucher by 20 cents. The farm where the payment was made to the old people was from 1 1/2 to 2 miles beyond the building known as the Viola P.O. but the country for several miles around the P.O is known there as Viola.
There is no town there only the one building which contains the P.O. & a small store.
The distance from the RR to the farm & return was made with a horse & buggy.  Ten cents per mile for the distance would not cover the expense. Very respy &c 
Maj 13th Inf. D.O.

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2025-01-20 22:16:54 The Adjutant General, for instance, is receiving the letter, not sending it. Nashville is the origin of the letter from the Major 13th Inf. D.O. The Adjutant Gen'l is in Washington, D.C. Sender first. Receiver second. Then body of letter, etc...