Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-10-16
SKETCHES,
FOR FACTIOUS PRINTS-lNo. 2.
COLONEL DUANE.

The Editor Of the Aurora denies that
" he was stript of his Epaulettes'- lie
was stript by his own hands Tsays he1 aft
ter assigning reasons. such as the foregoing,
to the head of the department" This al
fusion is to his conversation with General
Scott, in which he declares he told that
gentleman his motives for relinouishing
the army thath had perceived a pref
ligate system of intrigue, destroying ev-
cry man who posse sscd merit and inter-
rity that :his system was so successful. as
to make dRfcs Of every man qvho had been
az the head Of tie Department and as he
had entered it with reluctance. and did not
choose to be either party or victim, he
would retire from station in which he
could no longer render useful service, and
resume profession, in which he could
be at least check upon public villainy.'
We have seen in cur first Sketch low
worthy of credit is this account of hi S con
versation with Gen. Scotland that not
oae atom of this hig toned sentiment ever
passed his lips.-We shall now see how far
the other allegation is to be received as
orthodox.
Wishing to state nothing but what was
true; wishing TO do even Col. Duane Jus
tice, by conte sing our mistakes, we have
anxiously sought for information. which
would either vindicate Il s character from
the charges which we had made, or sub
stantiate those charges. On this point. as
well as on others, we have anXously SOUGHT
the truth A; and we are sorry 10 say. that
the accounts we have received are by no
means caculsted to support the allegations
OF character OF the Aurora.
Did Col. Duane resign his commission.
or was he dropt from the rolls Of the army :
this is the question.
1t Col. ID. did really resign his commits
sion, assigning the reasons which are stated
to " the head of the d, paitment." he can.
OF course, producehls letter to that effect
Let that letter then be exhibited.
But that he did nor resign his commission.
e Was in truth stript of his epaulettes."
may we think, be inferred from the cir
cumstances which we shall state--These
will give us peep into the history of Col.
D's military achievements.
Major General Gaines commanded the
4th Military Department, we believe, from
about the LIST October, to the 10th or 18th
December 1914. Colonel Duane was Al
J1tant General OF this Department. and
was sent to the camp Of Msjor- General
Worrcli's division of militia, near VII
mington, on duty. Most Of the PennsvIva-
mans regard Col. ID. with contempt & detes-
tation. A boiy Of soldiers, by way of ex-
pressing these feelings. land contrary to
the spirit OF subordInation,) eoru,ed them
selves around his tent, and began to marx
time according TO the mode prescribed in
the Hand-Book-The Adjutant caused
some Ut them to be imprisoned. Neariv
the whole camp was immediately in mo-
ton--ihe prisoners were released, brought
in triumph back to Duane's tent, accom-.
panied by some thousands of he Division.
when the whole resumed the offensive ex.
ercise. The scene was an improper one
though nothing but ridicule was intended.
The adjutani, howev, r, took fright; lean
ed upon his horse, and fed through briar
and bramb c. over hedge and ditch. nor
stopped, nor ceased TO roar murder. unt,l
he had tied some distance from The camp.
The ways indeed declare, that he contin-
ued the roar all the way up to rhiIadcl-
phia-Ihe division pursued him a short
distance, calling upon him to marx ft,,.e
but IN vain. --Worreli's democratic d,yis- !
ION lad thus got rid of him and he burst
hot for his life, repair to the federal camp, |
commanded by Cadwallsder.