Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1814-01-01
GEN. sMYTH. PETITION.

Inc !0itUWVsS AS fS a.
mortal Of Alexander smyth, laid
before the House Of Representa-
tiyes on Tuesday. and by that bo-
DIV referred TO the secretary OF
War.
To The Honorable the Senate e House
Of Representatives. Of the United
States in Congress assembled
The petitisa OF -i.exahdsr smytll,
a citizen ofYirgiaia. respectfully re-
presents. That having in 1907 writ
,cnio sn honorable member OF me
House of Representatives. that II
ease Of war with Great Britain lie
va. desirous to enter int the regu-
lar service, be received in 1903 an
a,pointment us Colonel of Regi-
mrnt Of Kitlemen. That although
war had not commenced. yet. Tue G.
vent being probable, he abandoned
his profession. which was then lu.
crs,iye. left his family. vacated his
seat in the Senate OF Virginia AS the
Representative of thirteen counties,
and ieined the Army Of the United
States. That your petitioner had
the good fortune to give the utmost
satisfaction to his superiors, General
Wilkinson, Gen. Hampton, General
Dearborn, and the late Secretary Of
War, While acting under their ina
mediate orders; was promoted to
the rank Of Brigsdter aud inspector
General in July 1912; given the
command Ola Brigade iu September;
sna Of ON. Of the Armies OF the u.
States in October in the same year.
That at the expiration offive weeks,
during which period ne made every
exertion i'll his power 10 serve The
nation, he foun il necessary TO put
his troops into winter quarters. hay-
iag determined on that measure. as
your petitioner had been absent from
his home the last eight waters, much
the greater part of,he last FIVE years.
and the whole Of the last fourteen
months, and had been refused leave
to visit his family in the month of
IuIy preceding. and calculating that
il was probable the campaign OF fSts
might terminate his existence. he,
without resisriRg h. command. ask
ell for leave Of absence. which was
granted until the first Of March 1913.
at which time your petitioner was
ordered to report himself to the
Secretary Of War. That your petit
toner left his troops In environments
under the command Of "a officer Of
So years experience, and In Februa.
ry 1913 reported bimsclfhy letter to
the Secretary Of Var. and solicited
-r,,..S, aad as tire failure OF your
petitioner TO take F'crt George,
York, and Kingston. and TO winter
in Canada, az h,' was instructed. had
created some clamor, your pstition-
cr proposed that an enquiry in,o his
conduct should take place. which the
Hon. Secretary. through the medi-
um OF the Adju.ant Gen. sas
pleased 10 promise since which
time your petitioner has not had The
honor to hear from the War Office.
Your petitioner would further re. |
present. that he has heard that some
members Of your honorable body arc
Of opinion. that by an act Of the last
regulating the staff Of the
army OF the U. s. your petitioner !
las become a private citizen and
with This opinion, bis own might |
perhaps accord. were it not impossi-
Die to believe that The Congress of |
he {. S. al their last session, could |
have Intentionally, committed an act |
IF Injustice.
Yonr petitioner af!irms that he has |
not done or omilted any thing to the
injury Of the nation that his chief
i not his onI, error has consisted in
TOO freely bis Indignation
against those who had done Injuries, !
Dr. emitted TO perform dates, 10 the I,
laiion. Ihemetive which led axtra,, Z,
,e conceives might procure for this /
'rror forgiveness. That this afr. !
ration is true. he believes he can
a;is!y a committee or committees If .
'oG' honorable body. on short notice. +
Yonr petitioners has essa, ed TO en-. /
age again in the pursuits Of civil !
ife ; hut he Ends that. While the din
f war continues. il is impossible for
i'm to give the necessary attention
o any peaceful pursuit. He desires
o serve, 10 die il Heayea wills il, in
he defence Of hi. country country
hat has protected his infancy given
i'm a family, and AT times distin-