It’s pretty much over now, my preliminary research on my new pet project “The Cotton Brigade.” Whether it becomes a scholarly article or a book is yet to be decided. I don’t see how there will be enough here to make it to book length. But we’ll see!
I have found ample evidence that Cotton stealing, speculating, and confiscating influenced military policy in Arkansas during the summer and fall of 1862. This might lead all the way to Gen. Curtis. It cost soldiers and civilians their lives. It was done because officers, perhaps generals, were making lots of money.
Take note of this (right) section of a newspaper article I found which deals with the Cotton Brigade and its commander, Col. C. E. Hovey (note they call him “Gen.” as he was up for promotion, which is another interesting aspect of this story). The questions I am looking at I have already reviewed here.
I am going to have to spend some serious time looking into Hovey’s financial history, whatever is available to look at. I want to get into the private holdings of Generals Curtis and Steele, as well as a few other officers. I have found enough from the ground up (foot soldiers) discussing rumors, along with documented reports such as the one to the right, that has me convinced that Hovey and others were heavily involved.
