The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 71, July 1967 - April, 1968 Page: 247

Records of the Confederate Military Commission
in San Antonio, July 2-October 10, 1862
ALWYN BARR*
[The following is a continuation of the commission records, the last
section of which appeared in the April, 1967, Quarterly.]
[July r6, 1862]
Mr. McLane's" Case being called, he appeared and the Charges pre-
fered against him were read in his hearing, to which he replied "Not
Guilty."
Asa Mitchell" a witness on the part of the defense was duly sworn.
"I am acquainted with Mr. McLane, have had some business trans-
actions with him. About three years ago he loaned me $gooo.oo. I met
with Mr. McLane about four weeks since in front of Mr. Cotton's
Stable.7" I tendered him the money I was owing him together with
the interest due, in Confederate money. He refused to take it. I urged
him to accept it, he refused positively, saying I won't take it. I won't
take Confederate Money.
Cross examined.
The debt alluded to above became due Jan 4th 1859 and has been
extended from Jan to January up to the present. When I have paid
the interest on the principal heretofore, Mr. McLane has rec'd such
moneys as were current at the time.
He proposed to take the Interest in Confederate money some time
ago, but at the same time refused to take the principal in that money.
I do not know whether this was before or after the declaration of
Martial Law. That after the lodging the information upon which those
*Mr. Barr is assistant professor of history at Purdue University and a former editorial
assistant on the staff of the Quarterly.
7'William McLane was born in Pennsylvania about 1787 and was a member of the
Magee-Gutierrez expedition into Texas in 1812 and 1813. He was a merchant, militia
officer, and banker in Indiana from 1815 to 1854, when, after amassing a considerable
fortune, he returned to Texas, became a Bexar County rancher, and died in May, 1873.
Henry P. Walker (ed.), "William McLane's Narrative of the Magee-Gutierrez Expedition,
1812-1813," Southwestern Historical Quarterly, LXVI (October, 1962), 236-237.
7"Asa Mitchell was born in Pennsylvania in 1795, moved to Texas in 1822, and engaged
in salt manufacturing, planting, and trading. He fought in the battle of Velasco in 1832
and in the battle of San Jacinto, after serving in the Consultation and General Council
in 1835. In 1839 he became a Bexar County rancher and merchant, was a Methodist lay
preacher, and a leader of the controversial San Antonio Vigilance Committee during the
Civil War. He died in November, 1865. Webb and Carroll (eds.), Handbook of Texas,
II, 218.
74The San Antonio 'Tri-Weekly Alamo Express, February 6, 1861, listed "W. D. Cotton's
Livery, Feed, & Sale Stable at foot of new bridge on Pasco Street."