Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-03-05
VOLUME XLIIl.-NUMBER 80.
10 Ms Eduors VI tie Enqus7s

enclosed letter, an requested me 10 have il pub
lished, il in my opinion the character OF Mr.. Dow
ming required il. Judging from tree and frank
conversation which had with Captain VIM. b.
Archer on the streets Of this city, am sure he
IS under an erroneous impression in regard 10
Mr.. Downing's conducf, although be expressed
10 me- with much honorable feeling, aha, he
coud moi think badly of Downing. as his prsvi-
Gus Conduct had fully warranted he opinion that
ne could do nothing dishonorable" For this
reason, You will oblioe me by publishing The en-
closed letter, or such portions OF il. as you nay
deem proper. No one who knows Mr. Downing
would dare accuse him of deserion. Cart. Ar
cher am sure mere, did, as he in the convc:s a
tion already alluded ID, expressed his high admira-
ton for Downing courage and eaanlry. ! am
sure The Letter will FULLY satisfy Captain Archer
ami his Company, and for him and them II is
mainly published W.P.B
Richmond, March 81, 1877.
BELLnAvES, Accomac Co., Feb -. A.
CAPT. ARcHER-Dear Sir: wrote 10 you i;.
about week after my arrival on The Eastern
Shore Of Virginia have, from some cause ne
yer received an answer.
When II was first proposed BY myself 10 come
over TO our LILLE peninsula alter recruits though,
that with perseverance could return within The
time specified ~ you. After consulting Two gen.
the packet between that place and Norfolk. AM
the further difficulty Arising from adverse winds
| acquainted you wiih these facts. You, never
lheless, told Inc that yon thought | had better
! come 10 accomac. | assented, rs have Inya-
| rlaby done in every instance when you wished
10 send me on any expedition connected with The
raising Of The company | le Richmond on Wed
nesday, 10 return The next week it'posslhle |
came down 10 Norfolk, and endeavored 10 char
-, a.U,, 4 "a 4
/ convey me across The Bav; but owing To the bad
nes, Of The weather she declined going. lei,
Norfolk on Friday morning, go, down 10 Oh!
POM, when the wind increased SO much iha, /
/ was compelled 10 s'av there until Sunday invn-
ing. While al Old Point on Saturday evening.
4 Wrote 10 Maj Early. lie sent Tor me in the
bar-room n French's Hotel and in our CONVEX
sation ne informed me, (if my memory tails me
nol,) that Gov. Smith 'old him that if Captain Al.
cheTs company did not receive The minimum
number Of men on or before The following Tues.
day, il would be rejected. and The Abingdon com.
pany accepted in lis place. arrived on The Ea.
t-ln Shore on Sunday, ard fastened home and
though very un|rll, and against The advice q.
mr. physician, used my most Strenuous eIeI
tons TO obtain The number 81 recruits wanted =
On Tho third ia; after my arrival, | had procute,!
six men, placed Them On board OF vessel 10
% 10 Oh Point Immediately, where imasined
vefsaon | could mol Al mat time accompany
them myself, owing TO ms ndispositior. ami.
cipaed going over in The packet on lie following
Monday, (cunIary 10 he advice OF my physicianl
On The evening Of The same linz that ! placed
these men On board al The vessel was returning
from recruiting expedition, when was inform.
Ell by TWO OF our most respectable and influential
citizens, who had returned from Norfolk bul two
DAYS previous that Capl. Arcber's company vas
4.cho la1 tl,,t. H.. I
attempting 10 re-organiZs H. Bearing this re-
port, and from men in whom hare The most uni.
med confidence, in addition 10 Mai EarIy's con
versa,ion n Old Point. fresh in my mind, could
mol tor single moment doub its CORRECTNESS.
though; would then carry these men L. Rich
mond, and from there 10 Washington; bu upon
reflection. abandoned this idea, not wishing 10
incur farther expense upon an uncertainty
then, upon The advice OF ms friends, concluded IL
raise company myself Tor The regular service
With this determination, wrote 10 Judge Bayy
al Washington Ter information relative 10 the
length II time would b. allowed IN organize ny
company and convey them 10 Washington
While waiting with anxiety for his answer 10 M
iYItt-ir giyins me- The information requested c.
February, Ina, the company was organized, ana
would sail in 4 week or len days. Ihis lnio.
ma ion reached me very unexpectedly on M"'i-
day. the 22i Feb, making an interval OF 10 days
cal,yc letter. was now in dilemma-l knew
no, which horn to take. 1.-The company Wa t.
sail in a week or ten days"-lhat time had cx-
pi,ed. | consulted with many nj my !liends
rs 10 what ! was 10 60. | o. them maj ms
absence, unexris iued might prove inlulou, ~
nv reputation. They ADVISED me TO 90 IN
mediaely 10 Old Point and zee you relative T.
Tins matter | took leave ot my irencS, arr
went in search OF some vessel 10 convey me m
inf IN fifp ] YFg
Birmingham, one ~ our frsi citizens, who ,cd
me that he heard you say n Walters Hetei, N
Friday night, the l9h Of February, that had
treated you badly; that il was through your exef-
lions | was elected Lieutenant in The Marshall
| Guards; and that you mad further elected VIM.
Allen, Esq, to oil the vacancy occasoned by my
ABSENCE Or, as you perhaps will have u, MY a.
| sr,i,0n. | used my utmost e1eriions u Gene 70
| Ol Point, not with The expectation 81 rcsaln'n@
nv commission, for thar was filled more ticicnI-
| IL By another, but 10 learn III what manner hal
! treated you 30 very badly; but all my endeavors
10 csoss proved abofve. ! wish you and al ihr
peo7le 10 scan with araet scrutiny my connfc-
ion with this company, and see how Cap'AiI,
| Archer has been ma.reaed. | left Accomac on
the 10Th Of December 1910 with the intention
| Of volunteering er.a As private III some voiun-
rper company. arrived in Richmond on sanr-
day, 81 h February, and saw Capt. Archer mat
4
| inin MS company. On Sunday evening cor
suited with him AS tc the pFopfciy ri scnd'a:
| some one ON a recruiting expedition 10 Norfolk.
| He asked Inc It. 90. ! assen'ed willingly. On
this, as AL others, paid my o%n expenses
| wpst 10 MOI ok used my best eXefiions; hut
tailed in he object o! The expedition leurne!
to Richmond on Thursday night In ! lev cay
aiIer. ! was sent On The same bu mess 'hiee day"
IN Hanover and Louisa coun'ies-l them cane
IN
some six men-l placed them on The vessel 10 60
10 Old Point heard from, as thought sood
authority, that the company was dshanded-l
had written by one Of The men, whom intended
sending To Old Point He assured me that The let
Ter was mailed. TO that letter have received
no answer. wrote 10 Mr.. Finneysa member 81
The House OF Delegates from Accomac. and ASK
ed him 10 show you his letter; to his have r.
ceived no answer. In all cases, when The inter-
cs, of the company was al sake, nave *
pended nv means freely; and know not mat
shall ever have cent refunded. But regret II
not il il has advanced the interest oi The company
O e iota ] wished 10 sec il raised, and reJoiee
that i, is. Now, for Heavens sake, tell me how,
or in what manner | have treated you ainiss.
have done nothing detfmentalto the company
| have said nothing derogatory 10 your chaFac-
,er-l have always done my utmost, as nv con-
duct has shown, 10 advance the interest oil the
company. How have injured you know not.
But Sir, assure you my conscience IS al lest,
not ruffled in the least.
Had you been acquainted with The Pari'
cuars. you could not, in my opinion, have sad
truly. that had uealed yon amiss. WHAT you
have said, may unexplained, prove injurious 10
me- liexpIainci, tea mol lbe consequences. ! as
vel, know mol what course 10 pursue 10 reference
10 il. Before bill you adiea, permit me TO sag
one word | sincerely hope you and all your men
may return covered with honcrs; and, il you DE-
enlombed in laurels ! swear had rather "0'0
be a serses nj in your company than lieutenant
in any in the United Stales.
Your friend, ,. b. DO" MINI
/ 1.-THE above Letter was address ed 10 Mr.. James
I w. Gusts, should CAPT. Archer have sailed 'ot
Mexico-as was the case.
A CAPITAL TOAST.
Il. IA; At 4 anis