In 1869 there arose a bitter controversy between myself and A. J.
Fountain, who had for several years been my special deputy in the
customs house at El Paso, which controversy attracted great interest on
this frontier, and even in Austin and Washington City. There was much
angry correspondence and an official investigation, but as I came out of
the contest unscathed I will content myself with publishing only one of
Fountain’s letters and “let it go at that.”
EL PASO, TEXAS, May 13, 1869.