Primary Source for corrupt suppliers

[stx]

Hello,
For my history class we have been asigned a research paper. The only restrictions were that it couldn't be on a person, battle, or the military in general. Figures. Anyway, I'm planing on writing mine on the affects of corrupt Union suppliers taking advantage of government contracts during the Civil War. I was wondering if anyone could direct me to some primary sources, diaries etc, where shody equitment or extremely overpriced items being sold to the government were mentioned.

Thanks for any help

[Silvana Siddali]

Take a look at Mark Summers' 1993 The Era of Good Stealings. While most of this book deals with the postwar period, Summers does include some discussions about Civil War-era corruption as well. The bibliography and citations will lead you toward the author's primary sources.

[RJSamp]

The 2nd Wisconsin's 2nd uniform (in gray) was made of inferior materials.....after some 30 days the rear of the trowsers was in threads.....so much so that the 2nd was nicknamed the "Raggedy Assed Second"... the Primary documentation is in the bowels of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum (the actual requisitions/purchase orders).... Alan Nolan in his book "The Iron Brigade" 1861 talks about the corrupt New York manufacturing firm that made the suits. Otis in his Diary on the 2nd Wisconsin also talks about the origins of the nickname.