The New York herald., 1851-11-04
The Recent Religious DIME ulty on Co
vernor's Island-COl. Gardner's state

The Recent HeiSHous Dmc uty on Co
ment.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
0ovEnSok's ISLAND, Oct q, 1851:
SR-The matter to which the enclosed letters refer,
s in tsek OF too little Importance to occupy so much
space In your paper their insertion requires But
80 mach has been and may ys. BE- made OF M y.r Of
imputston upon my character and motives that trust
you will allow this method Of defending both You
appssred-as most original things do-in your paper
but, let me add without any attempt on your part 10
prejudice the public mind oae way or the other'
With respect, am, your ODE dent servant
Colonel (brevet) U. 8. Army
GoyERNoR's ISLAND, N Y, Aug S 1851
0,,rp.L:-In the Nrv YoRg HERALD Of this date, sp'
pears an article under the heading OF Religious Free
dom In the Army" consisting in part OF letter from
the Hon Secretary OF War which Is Of nature to do
me Injustice In rejecting the best mode Of defend
ing my character in the to to address
yo that remarks may be submitted to the Secretary
for such action as he may deem proper
The letter Of the Secretary Injuries me by Its inexp
citness II does not touch the essential point in the
case and thereby leaves it to be inferred that the Ro
man Catholic soldier in question tried and punished,
by the court of which was presiding officer simply
and pontsdy for refusing to attend Protestant Church
Now it Is tru. that the man in common with all the
troops ordered to attend the church servce but
they all knew by force of well known ard invariable
custom OF the service that either Of them would be
cused from so doing on application TO their command
ing officer alleging conscientious objections; and this
most especially the testified be-
fore the court and admitted by himself as you will see
by the record that he had been the previous Sun
day personally told by the officer who gave the testi-
mony, that he could be exempt from attendance on
such application Before the appearance of the
arys letter content with the vindostion afforded
to and the court by the clear and explicit language
Of Eastern Division Order, No IL, promugsting the
anding and sentence Of the court it appears in the
testimony" says General Wool that the prisoner had
pr vously notified that he desired to be excused
from going TO church account Of religious scruples
he should make application to that effect to the COM
mandpg oc Of the post In refusing to do so" (not
be observed for refusing to attend the ohurch and
in leaving the company without permission, he only
disobeyed orders" (those namely, req quring such app
cation "but showed an insubordnate psit, which de-
eerves punishment
Notwithstanding this plain statement Of the true
rits Of the have since been held up to public
odium by several religious newspapers terms of
opprobrious ipport-a detestabe bigot petty tyran
unworthy officer ofs gallant army, and 30 forth,
Amid this storm OF vituperation L have remained
SILENT because believed the object OF my sbusers
by provoking reply in the newspapers, TO kndls up
public excitement for ulterior and mschievous ends
That design is Incidentally should say accidentally
aided by the preliminary statement OF the Secretsrys
letter in these words-"Compsints have been made to
this Depar tment that soldier OF Fort Columbus who is
Roman Catholic, ordere to attend Pro.
testaDt church and on bis refusal to obey the order he
punished for disobedence OF srders Nov the allie
CATION herein not being denied explained by the Sc
cretsry in conformity to the record will be understood
confirmed by him, and afford new starting point of
misrepresentation and abuse and s Of this complain
To obyiste this evil, L wouli r--pe tiuly suggest
through you 20 him that "ofho,al" publication be
made Of this letterof my testimony before the Court
called By che prisoner himself defence--or the
whole record IL he pesses and OF my post order here
with sent yousetting forth the practice which has al
ways been observed throughout the army. and which
after this mans confinement was issued only to make
what already assurance, doubly sure have the
honor to be- General very respectfully your obedient
servant, JOHN l.. GARDNER,
Colonel (bvt } U. s. Army
MAJOR GsNrRAL Josrs.
Adjutant General, U. g. A,
Washington, d. G.
L.
QRpEs No. SO
HE.D QvAr1xRs, Fort Columbus N.Y.
May 4, 1851.
enlisted Of this garrison who have conscientious OBJ
ecors to attending divine service under the
are be exempt from such attendance but they are
required n order TO the preser ration OF dsciplne
report themselves every sunday morning immediate
ly after guard mounting at the Office Of the commanding
further required to cophne themselves strictly their
quarters during such divine service-otherwse to be
arrested and conhIed to the guard-h1use to await
trA for such disobedience Py order Of Col Gardner
A p. HOWE, Adj Fourth Art.
Was DrrARrMTvI, wAsHrSGroy,l
October Is 1851
slR Your letters Ct the 9th and 18th August ad-
dressed to the Adjutsnt General duty transmitted
for my pspeeton but owing TO occasional absence from
the department and 10 the press of business since my
return 70 IT. perused them yesterday the irst time
You complain that my letter Of the 18th OF July ad
dressed to Msjor General Wool in relation to the pro
ceedngs against private Duggan Injuries you by Hs in
expcitnes that IL does not touch the essential point
In the case an thereby leaves It 20 be inferred that the
Rc man catholic soldier in question tried aud pun
ifhed BY the court Of which (you wsre the pred
ing oihcer simply and ponteiy for refusing TO attend
Protestant church when ordered 10 So" This matts
wss brought to the notice Of the department by lette
from the Roman Catholic Bishop Of Connecticut COM
planning Of the 10 which Duggan had been sub
jected. 1 directed General Wool 70 make report On
the case He did 50 End appearing that the punish
ment awarded by the court had been substantially re-
mtted. the case did not seem 10 call for any further
action en- the part Of the Department. but determined
TO give such instructions 10 the Comma eneral
would prevent the Of similar complaints Thi.
the object of letter to General wool and the
Of Dugp only incidentally referred to- having
gested the necessity of the order explanatory its
object IL was official order, addressed to the very
o Ger who had convened the martial aud revised
it, proceeding and who Of knew about the
and not for publication il sufficiently explicit for the
purpose for which II was intended.
In my answer 20 the letter Of the bishop however Ia
copy Of which b enclosed did explain the proce sdings
At length and although did not because could not,
entirely approve them did ample justice to your
tives. also enclosed 10 the bishop copy Of General
Wools report TO well Of my letter TO him; and
II one OF these documents Wa published without the
other, II was through no agency Of mine.
You will perceive by this statement that you have
yrouDd Of complaint against this department As
Misfortune TO which the department Is itself
xposed and against which IL afford you protec-
ion. Very respectfully your obt servant.
C. NJ. CONRAD Secretary CT War.
Brevet Colonel JoHS l. GAsDNER,
Fort Columbus, New York Harbor.
Brooklyn city Intelligence.