TEMPEST IN A TEA POT

It was a “Tempest” worthy of William Shakespeare only because Albert Bacon Fall (above) was a scoundrel of operatic proportions, a self made legal sorcerer and a bombastic, selfish, and vulgar cowboy Caliban.  His villainous reputation was established by a mysterious double murder in the New Mexico desert. But the climax was staged on 9,480 rolling Wyoming acres along Salt Creek and adjacent to an odd looking 75 foot tall sandstone butte (below). Some thought the butte resembled a tea pot, which gave its name to the scandal that finally brought our reprobate down. But the true scandal was Albert Fall's entire greedy life.

“You taught me language; and my profit on't Is, I know how to curse.”

Caliban - Shakespeare's “The Tempest” Act I, Scene 2

Near the low crest of Chalk Hill (above) the search party found a patch of blood soaked sand and some papers belonging to 57 year old Republican lawyer Albert. J. Fountain.  A hundred yards further on, Mescalero Apache scouts found where a man had knelt in ambush, the casings ejected from his rifle still in the dust. 

The buggy tracks led eastward 12 miles into the Jarillas Mountains (above, bg), where the search party found Fountain's carriage “plundered and abandoned.”  Still in the buggy was a note reading, “If you drop this we will be your friends. If you go on with it you will never reach home alive.” And stuffed under the seat was a kerchief wrapped around some change, belonging to 8 year old Henry Fountain. Neither the father's nor the son's body was ever found.

“The clouds methought would open and show riches, Ready to drop upon me that, when I waked, I cried to dream again.”

Caloban - Shakespeare's The Tempest, Act III, Scene 2

When he was a Democrat and accused of masterminding the 1896 Fountain double homicide, Albert Fall said it was just Republicans trying to “crucify innocent Democrats”. The criminal indictments the now missing Fountain had just secured against 23 clients and friends of Albert Fall were likewise dismissed as political. 

In a courthouse jammed with the alleged killer's allies (above), threatened and intimidated witnesses simply failed to show up. There was no chance of a conviction, but Albert Fall still managed to be arrogant and offensive in his one sided victory. The Democrats were both (above, foreground) found not guilty. And then, two years later, Albert Fall switched parties and became a Republican. And all his friends found it profitable to go with him.

“I'll show thee every fertile inch o' th' island; And I will kiss thy foot: I prithee, be my god.”

Caloban - Shakespeare's “The Tempest” Act II, Scene 2

After having fought statehood for years as a Democrat, in 1912  when statehood came, newly minted Republican Albert Fall became one of New Mexico's first elected U.S. Senators.  In Washington, D.C.,  Albert became famous for two things - his alcohol fueled poker parties with Ohio Senator Warren G. Harding, and his unrelenting animosity toward Democratic President Woodrow Wilson. 

When the racist Wilson suffered a stroke in 1919, Albert alleged he had been rendered mentally incompetent, and demanded he be allowed to test the Democratic President's mental acuity.  At the  October examination, Senator Fall hypocritically assured the bedridden Wilson, “I have been praying for you, Sir.” Looking up at his torturer, Wilson inquired, “Which way, Senator?” Albert joined in the laughter, but in November of 1920 it was Senator Fall's drinking buddy, Republican Warren G. Harding who was elected President over Wilson.

“Ban, 'Ban, Cacaliban, Has a new master: get a new man. Freedom, hey-day! hey-day, freedom!”

Caloban - Shakespeare's “The Tempest” Act II, Scene 2

Harding wanted Albert Fall to be his Secretary of State, but party leaders insisted on someone more trustworthy. Said Harding, “If Albert Fall isn't an honest man, I'm not fit to be President of the United States.” When the party leaders refused to back down Harding named Albert his Secretary of the Department of the Interior, a branch of government Albert had been denouncing for decades. Almost the first thing after taking the oath in the spring of 1921 (above), Secretary Fall cajoled Harding into giving Interior control over the U.S. Naval Oil Reserves in California and Wyoming. Fall then quickly granted a no-bid lease for the two reserves in California to oilman Edward Doheny, and in December Albert did the same for oilman Harry Ford Sinclair, granting him sole access to the Tea Pot Dome field, also known as Naval Reserve Number Three.

“Do that good mischief which may make this island Thine own for ever, and I, thy Caliban, For aye thy foot-licker.”

Caloban - Shakespeare's “The Tempest” Act IV, Scene 1

In the spring of 1922, the railroad town of Casper, Wyoming, 35 miles south of the dome, was abuzz with rumors of equipment bearing the name Mammoth Oil Company which had suddenly invaded the naval reserve. Competitors like New Yorker James Darden quickly pierced that deception, and certain the lease granted to Sinclair was not legal, Colonel Darden decided to become Sinclair's unofficial partner by drilling his own well sideways, into the same dome. As Fall himself explained, “Sir, if you have a milkshake and I have a milkshake and my straw reaches across the room, I’ll end up drinking your milkshake."

“I will have none on't: we shall lose our time, And all be turn'd to barnacles, or to apes With foreheads villanous low.”

Caloban - Shakespeare's “The Tempest” Act IV Scene 1

The problem for Secretary Fall was the “low down son-of-a-bitch” Darden “was an old friend of President Harding. So on a Saturday afternoon, while the Secretary of the Navy was out of the office, Fall told the the Acting Secretary that Harding wanted “squatters” thrown off the dome. Fall added there was ample legal precedent for using U.S. Marines for this duty. There was none, but Fall never showed reluctance in lying to make a profit. 

Within the week Captain George K. Shuler and four enlisted marines were slapping “No Trespassing” signs and padlocks on Colonel Darden's well. And because this was done in front of reporters, Albert Fall had finally taken one step too far.

"I shall laugh myself to death at this puppy-headed monster. A most scurvy monster! I could find in my heart to beat him."

Caloban - Shakespeare's “The Tempest” Act II Scene 2

Long annoyed by Fall's arrogance, the Senate majority Republicans allowed a Democrat from Montana, Senator Thomas Walsh  to investigate the oil leases. 

And when Walsh's investigating committee (above) issued his first subpoena for documents, Fall responded by burying Walsh in a literal truck load of paper. 

It slowed Walsh, but Darden's complaints finally caused President Harding (above) to separate himself from his old drinking buddy. In March of 1923, Albert Fall was forced to resign from the cabinet, first going to work for Harry Sinclair and then returning to his own 750,000 acre New Mexico ranch, which he called "Three Rivers".  

And then, in August of 1923, President Harding dropped dead of a heart attack. The new President, an honest prig named Calvin Coolidge (above), decided to make Albert as the fall guy, sacrificing him to the growing public outcry over the massive fraud that had been the Harding/Coolidge administration.

“How does thy honor? Let me lick thy shoe.”

Caloban - Shakespeare's “The Tempest” Act III Scene 2

The truck load of documents supplied to Senator Walsh provided enough heat to keep the scandal simmering for two years. Called before the committee three times Albert swore under oath - once in writing - that he had done nothing illegal.  But late in 1925 questions began to be asked about the number of improvements to Fall's Three Rivers ranch.  

When put under oath Albert's own son-in-law, M.T. Everhard, was forced to admit he had accepted $198,000 in federal bonds from Harry Sinclair's own hand,  and delivered them to Secretary Fall's own hand. There was also a no interest “loan” of $36,000 from Sinclair, and one of $100,000 in cash from Edward Doheny, the little black bag delivered to "Three Rivers Ranch"  by Edward Doheny's son Ned, and his "friend and body guard" Hugh Plunket.  

In 1927 the Supreme Court ruled the leases on all three naval oil reserves were invalid, and control and profits went back to the U.S. Navy.

“First to possess his books; for without them He's but a sot, as I am, nor hath not One spirit to command: they all do hate him, As rootedly as I — burn but his books.”

Caloban - Shakespeare's “The Tempest” Act III, Scene 2

When the federal case went to trial in Los Angeles in 1930. humorist Will Rodgers cracked that Doney's defense team took up three full Pullman railroad cars. The first car was “Just for the little lawyers...to carry the brief cases.” In the third car, said Rodgers, were “the big ones that were in real touch with Mr. Doheny.”  Harry Sinclair's defense team in his Cheyenne, Wyoming trial, took up at least four Pullman cars, according to Rodgers.

Thou liest, thou jesting monkey, thou: I would my valiant monster would destroy thee: I do not lie.

Caloban - Shakespeare's “The Tempest” Act III Scene 2

Edward Doheny paid a high price for his involvement with Albert Fall. In 1929, under pressure by prosecutors for one of them to turn on their fellow conspirators, Ned Doheny and Hugh Plunket died in what appeared to be a murder/suicide. The next year, Edward was not only found not guilty of bribery, the jury even broke into song after rendering their decision. But the old oil man did not have the heart to celebrate. One disgusted U.S. Senator was prompted to observe, “It is impossible to convict a million dollars in the United States“   

Edward Doheny (above) served just 3 months for contempt of Congress, but he never recovered from the death of his only son. He died in September of 1935, still one of the richest men in Southern California. The mansion built for the young Doheny and where the murder/suicide occurred, still stands empty in Beverly Hills, often used as a location for movies. 

“I'll not serve him, he is not valiant.”

Caloban - Shakespeare's “The Tempest” Act III Scene 2

In Wyoming, Harry Sinclair (above) received a mistrial after it was discovered his private detectives had been shadowing members of the jury. He was never retried for the bribery, but he was sentenced to six months for contempt of court, which he served in the District of Columbia city jail. He also died one of the richest men in Southern California, in January of 1949

“What a thrice-double ass Was I, to take this drunkard for a god And worship this dull fool!”

Caloban - Shakespeare's “The Tempest” Act V Scene 1

Albert Bacon Fall was the only member of an administration awash in bribes, arrogant enough and clumsy enough to be convicted of accepting a bribe. He remains the only cabinet member in American History (so far) to be sentenced to prison for crimes committed while in office. He served nine months. When he was released in May of 1932 (above), Doheny repossessed Fall's beloved Three Rivers ranch for not repaying the bribe, for which Doheny had been found “not guilty” of paying him.

Fall died a bitter old man,  at the end of November, 1944 in his El Paso Texas mansion, still arguing to the last that his conviction was just political payback. 

I doubt that Albert and the young Henry(above) Fountain, still lying somewhere out there in the New Mexico desert, would agree.

“Flout 'em and scout 'em, And scout 'em and flout 'em, Thought is free.”

Caloban - Shakespeare's “The Tempest” Act V Scene 1

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VICKSBURG Chapter Fifty-Two

As noon on Saturday, 16 May, 1863 was approaching, the 1^st brigade of General Hovey's 12^th Division,  had captured the low ridge overlooking the key cross roads atop Champion Hill. Immediately Brigadier General George Francis McGinnis ordered artillery up the hill to support the tenacious toe hold. As the path up the slope was narrow, only two guns were sent. It was a moment of high drama, captured by the official history of the 16^th Ohio Light Artillery battery.

“...Lieutenant (George) Murdoch was ordered up to the top of the Hill. Captain (James A.) Mitchell asking...to be permitted to go with it to place the guns. We galloped up the Hill. Cannoneers dismounted and all out...Lieutenant Murdoch's horse was wounded, so that during the fight he was dismounted. A little distance beyond the summit of the Hill there was an open held to the left of the road, into which one of the guns, with Corporal Belmer as gunner, was pulled...

...while the other with Corporal (Pomeroy) Mitchell (above)  as gunner,  went forward about fifty yards and found a good place just to the right of the road, near a log cabin and smoke house. Captain Mitchell and Lieutenant Murdoch were with this gun.... the ground sloping down hill in front of them...by using solid shot (they) could fire over our own men...”

“...The gun by the cabin found our men in front of it in the way. The rebels were advancing, the bullets were coming fast. Then it was that the captain showed his bravery. He dashed down on his horse, right in the face of that leaden storm, and cried to our men: "Out of the way. boys, get out of the way and give the artillery a chancel" Our men rushed back and around the cabins, and as the Johnnies came on they got charge after charge of canister, all the 13 rounds of canister the gun carried.” 

This counter attack had been hastily thrown together by Brigadier General Stephen Dill Lee (above), whose 2^nd brigade was facing an attack by troops from Logan's division, coming up the wooded and ravine cut northern slope of Champion Hill.  But Lee knew the vital point was, in fact behind him. 

So around 1:00pm, Lee collected about 400 survivors of the 34^th Georgia regiment thrown back by the first Yankee thrust, bolstered them with his own reserve, the 31^st Alabama regiment, and launched an immediate assault. 

This first counter-attack was quickly cut down by deadly accurate fire of the 45^th Illinois and 23^rd Indiana regiments, and flanking fire from the 24^th Indiana, but mostly because of the two cannon from the 16^th Ohio. As his troops fell back. Lee ordered a second assault, this time adding the 23^rd Alabama regiment drawn from his own front line, directed specifically to silence those Yankee guns.

The history of the 16^th Ohio notes the bravery of the rebel assault. “... though the slaughter was appalling, still on they came.....as fast as one line was shattered another took its place.” 

But the account also records the cost. “The brave Captain (James Mitchel) remained on his horse... A whole volley was fired at him by the enemy concealed in the ravine...near the house. As the horse was hit he sprang forward, throwing the Captain off backward...(James) rose from the ground, pressing his hand to his chest, the blood flowing freely from his wound. Lieutenant Murdock sent back for surgical aid, but the Captain insisted on sitting down with his back to a tree at the roadside near the command...” In such a way the second assault was thrown back.

About 1:30pm, Lee's division commander, General Stevenson, sent word to Pemberton, asking for help. Not waiting for a reply, Lee launched troops on yet another attack to retake the vital road junction, adding the 46^th Alabama regiment to his punch. Some of these troops were making their third charge against the Yankee line. 

Out of canister shot, Corporal Belmer's gun was hitched to its horse team and sent racing back down the hill. The gun manned by Pomeroy Mitchel however, kept firing until Lieutenant Murdoch saw the rebels closing in. He waved his pistol and yelled, “Quick, boys, out of here!”

The 16^th not only saved both their own guns, they captured 2 cannon from The Botetourt battery, and spiked several of the guns abandoned by Waddell's battery. Meanwhile, the third rebel counterattack was thrown back, leaving the 46^th Alabama regiment embedded in the Yankee line. Exhausted and bloodied, the brave Alabamian fighters suddenly found themselves surrounded. When demanded, the Confederate regiment was forced to surrender.

It was now almost 2:00pm. The isolated battle for the crest of Champion Hill -  now called The Hill of Death - had been going on for almost 2 hours. The first brigade of General McGinnis, comprising the 11^th, 24^th, 34^th and 46^th Indiana Regiments and the 29^th Wisconsin regiment had suffered almost 90 dead – including Captain Mitchel - almost 500 wounded and 23 missing or captured. On the opposing line, Cummings shattered Georgia brigade had suffered 121 dead, 269 wounded and 605 captured, and Lee's Alabama battalion had sacrificed over 40 men killed, 140 wounded and 600 captured. The other causality was Grant's patience

At noon Grant had ordered an assault all along his line, but neither Osterhaus's 9^th division, nor Carr's 14^th division in the center had yet to move. It would later be determined that the messenger carrying the order to attack had gotten lost, and had just reached General McClernand's headquarters. Grant might have expected McClernand to have launched his assault on his own initiative, upon seeing Hovey's 12^th division desperately battling on the crest. But the midst of a battle was not the time to deal with McClernand. Grant was was assured the entire line would be advancing soon, along with more support for Hovey's brave men.

Meanwhile Pemberton was having his own command problems. His first choice to support Steven's hard pressed men was to call for one of Loring's 4 brigades. “Old Bizzards” was still trading long range skirmishing fire with Smith's approaching 12^th Division and Blair's 2^nd. But in response to Pemberton's orders, Loring pleaded that he was about to be attacked and could not spare even one of his brigades.  And no matter how many orders Pemberton issued, Loring simply ignored them.

That left only General John Stevens Bowen's smaller division, stretched out along the north/south Ratcliff Road, in between Steven's and Loring's divisions. They, at least, had the advantage of being closer.

The closest unit was Bowen's 1^st brigade under long dour faced 32 year old Brigadier General Seth Maxwell Barton (above).  Shortly after 2:00pm he sent 3 regiments against the flank of the weary federal troops, charging with the 40^th, 41^st and 43^rd Georgia Regiments, supported by the 4 guns of the Cherokee Georgia Artillery, under Captain Max van den Corput. 

Falling on the Yankee flank, they broke the line and pushed it off the vital crossroads, 300 yards back to the crest. But there the Yankees reformed. So Barton threw in his reserve, the 52^nd Georgia regiment against the vulnerable right flank of the new Federal line, crumpling it and sending the blue coats streaming for the rear.

And at that moment, after almost 3 hours of violence and bloodshed, the weary men of Barton's brigade was within 5 or 6 hundred yards of complete and total victory. Because at the bottom of that hill, gathered around the Champion home, were almost 200 Yankee wagons loaded with ammunition. And without those wagons, Grant's campaign would be a disaster. 

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