The Case of George Fisher
The narrative recounts the convoluted saga of George Fisher, whose property was destroyed during the Creek War in 1813. Initially, Fisher did not claim compensation from the government, believing the destruction was caused by the Indians. After his death, his widow's new husband petitioned Congress for damages nearly twenty years later, claiming the U.S. troops were responsible. Congress denied the claim in 1832, doubting the troops would destroy what the Indians had already damaged. Years later, the Fisher heirs revived their claims, leading to a series of awards and revisions. In 1848, they were awarded $8,873, which included interest, bringing the total to approximately $17,870.94. However, the heirs continued to pursue further compensation, leading to a significant increase in their claims over the years, with various officials and auditors revisiting the case. In 1854, a new Secretary of the Treasury declared the Fishers had already been overpaid, but the heirs persisted. By 1860, under Secretary of War John B. Floyd, the case was re-evaluated, resulting in a staggering new claim that included inflated values and interest dating back to 1813. Floyd's calculations led to a total claim of over $133,000, significantly more than what had been previously awarded. Despite the extensive documentation and claims, a change in administration in 1861 halted any further payments, and the heirs found themselves once again without compensation. The narrative concludes with the suggestion that the Fisher heirs would continue to seek reparations indefinitely, highlighting the absurdity and complexity of government claims and the persistence of familial financial grievances. The work serves as a critique of bureaucratic inefficiency and the potential for exploitation within the system.
By Mark Twain · First published 1867 · Genre: Satire, Historical Non-Fiction, Political Commentary · 3,005 words
First lines
-- [Some years ago, about 1867, when this was first published, few people believed it, but considered it a mere extravaganza. In these latter days it seems hard to realize that there was ever a time when the robbing of our government was a novelty. The very man who showed me where to find the documents for this case was at that very time spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in Washington for a mail steamship concern, in the effort to procure a subsidy for the company -- a fact which was a long time in coming to the surface, but leaked out at last and underwent Congressional investigation.]
What this Textopian page supports
The Case of George Fisher is listed on Textopian as a short story by Mark Twain, dated 1867 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Mark Twain
- Date: 1867 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Historical Non-Fiction, Political Commentary, Social Critique, Tragedy
- Length: 3,005 words
- Structure: 1 section, 29 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Satire — The book critiques government inefficiency and the absurdity of the claims made by the Fisher heirs, using humor and irony.
- Historical Non-Fiction — It presents a factual account of a historical case involving government claims and financial reparations.
- Political Commentary — The narrative reflects on the political processes and the nature of bureaucracy in the context of financial claims.
- Social Critique — It examines societal attitudes towards government compensation and the exploitation of legal systems.
Tags
True Crime · Historical Fiction · American Literature · 19th Century · Mystery · Thriller · Courtroom Drama · Social Commentary · Satire · Humor · Dark Comedy · Crime and Punishment