Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-09-18

GENrLrNEN:--
A wriTer in YOUR parer Of the alst July over
nc s; sua,ure OF "Nash ugton," having called
on me TO state distinctly whether the ODD r IN
c,estion. referruc to the Stony Point desert
ers was issued by Gen. Washington or whe-
tbtr i not issued by another, ard whether
ON tn circumsta. &C Of he head being brought
into Camp he officer issuing the same did
not receive the disrieasure u Gen. NashlnS-
ton" Truth always MARCHES direct on Tue
b;pb wav. straight 10 its object. Without adj
hitting the RICH, Of an ANONYMOUS writer thus
to call on me, when my proper name had been
given to the public. vet waving every other
consideration, and willing that this and every
o,ner transaction Of my public life should he
known if necessary, candidly and dlsu city
shall ansu or the questions do aver that the
order alluded 10 was given BY Gen. Washing
ton himseifto Col. Henry Lee OF the Virginia
line and by him TO me, so make examples upon
,he spof of az deserteys taken going 10 the Enc
n9v'' y'his in substance was stated BY me in
nv remarks on the Seminole war, which book
see.l cannot quote accurately, as the book
is not now before me- The order If Col Lee
rested on that of the General in-Chiet, and
was only rep tition, or ex ract from IT. Lee
himself ordered the head 10 be struck OH.
Now e; Us consider for moment what Gene
raj Washington meant by making examples"
on the spot Of all de,erters taken in the act of
going 10 the enemy" The cat O. nine tails
and Tie hickory had been well tried, and failed
washington had meaning, and plain one
too, in all he said or wrote-he intended to
maxi examples in this case, as he subsequent
Iy did with the Jersey mutineers What was
his policy towards them? Instant deoft 6g
shooting on IRE SPOT See Narsha!Ps life of
Washington, Vol A. page 4os. The language
in both cases would admit no other Construc-
ti.n. The examples in both had the Same sal
utsry influences: desertion, lnutiny and treason
ceased: order and obedience were restorrd-Cn
these de1ynd the salvation of the country. 1t
is in the very nature OF high military COM
mand that the usual efficient and sp' edy pro-
cess of the Law Martial should on great and
urgent occasions be dispensed frnn History
abound with cases confirming his assertion,
= 2 in none more than in the annals Of our
evs..ra, rev olu,ion. Summary process is used
in "A armies; for example, soldier is shot
dow who runs away in time of action The
ARTICLES r. var do not authorize This summary
moe ut punishment 1t might perhaps with
prariictv be called ths common ur,rriften ta,c OF
5yra;es. Necessity, and immemorial usage
resulting f-opl necessity, sonnet mes Justify the
,ct The order BY o. 70 the decapitation
formed no part Of the punishment Of the sol
die he was a.. eady dead; he felt not the stroke
of TIE axe; il only made the example more ap-
Mailing by this additional circumstance; by a
ublir exhibition Of the head in the view Of the
army.
The detachment which commanded wasin
advance Of the American Army IA or Is miles.
This Circumstance is worthy 81 notice, many
drser,rrs might have been shot going 10 the
enemy. il would have been heard as tale that
Is Told "but the effect would not have been as
terrific AS he awful Sigh; Of The he al OF sin-
ole traitor exposed TO the view of the army
Having disposed of,hs question, | proceed to
The second. "Wkether on the head being
brought into Camp, the officer issuing the or
der, did not receive the d,splcasure Of General
Washington" The detachment TO which
belonged remained on the lines until the close
Of the campaign, during which, nor after
joined the army. did ever hear one word re-
Iative to the disapprobation Of the aoI by Gen.
Washington; neither do think that any dis
pleasure was ever evinced BY him. Mr.. "Gor-
don, the authentic historian" to the contrary,
Notwithstanding How indeed could Gen. w
here express displeasure when the order eman-
ated from him! His subsequent department
towards Lee and myself, fully evinoed tina, no
displeasure was ever entertained by the Gem
erai Soon after the war the mouraful account
In Mr.. Carcy's Museum, ! believe without re
mark. Whence then is the propriety, as the
Maryland Republican seems TO think Of an ex
PLANTATION by any OF The persons concerned? No
person was impugned in thai publication. But
Gordon, ay Gordon, the authentic historian, IN |
= statement similar in substance, has remained |
unconiradcted until the debate on the Seminole
war in 1919. II his history as also in Carey's |
Mussum,,he orders are attributed 10 an uniform
officer and who is said to have heen censured |
by the Commander in Chief. Ii is true be.
heve tina, Gordon has said q have no, the book
before me, although have endeavored TO obtain
it, and this article has been delayed for that pur-
pose that on the presentation Of the head Of
the deserter at head quarters, Washington as
disguised; that the officer name net mentionedl
afierwar a,oned for the offence by his brave-
~ 81 the s,orming Of Stony Point" l, may
NO. be improper 10 say that was the officer
alluded 10.
WhatM Washington Disguised at the sigh,