Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-07-22
could have ELECTED such replies from such men
must have been of peculiarly interesting
character.

couIu nave enclted Sucn replies 1r0m sucn men
must have been of peculiarly interesting
character:
from Miles, Register, April 10, 1881
HEAD QUARTERs-DIvIsIoN OF THE SOUTH, }
NASHVILLE, Dec Sd, 1917
SIR,-I have been absent from this place
considerable time, rendering the last friendly
office | could to particular friend, whose eyes
/ closed on the Goth ultimo. Owing to this,
your letter of the 4ih of October was not re-
ceived until the first inst
Upon the receipt of the anonymous commu-
nication made me from New York, hastened
to lay it before you. That course was suggest
ed TO me, by the respect felt for you as
man and soldier, and that yon might have it
in your power to answer how far you had been
guilty of SO base and inexcusable conduct.-l
Independent of the services you had rendered
your country, the circumstances of your wear
ing the badge and insignia of soldier, led me
to the conclusion, that was addressing gen.
tleman. With these feelings you were writ
ten to, and had an idea been for a moment en-
tertained, that yon could have descended from
the high and digni6ed character of Major
General of the United States Army, and used
language opprobrions and insolent as you have
done, rest assured should have viewed you as
verse with you on the subject. If you have
lived in the world thus long in the entire igno-
rance of the obligations and duties which hon
or impose, you are indeed past the time of
learning and surely he must be ignorent of
them, who seems so little to understand their
influence. Pray, sir, does your recollection
serve, in what school of philosophy you were
taught, that to letter enquiring into the ma
ture of supposed injury, and clothed in Ian
guage decorous and unexceptionable, an an
swer should be given, couchej in pompous and
bullying expressions! had hoped that what
was charged upon you by my anonymous
correspondent was unfounded. l had hoped
go, from belief that General Scott was SOL
dier and gentleman but when see these
statements doubly confirmed by his own words,
it becomes matter of enquiry, how far man
of honorable feelings can reconcile them TO him.
self, or longer set up claim to that character.
Are you ignorant, sir, that had my order, at
which your refined judgment is so extremely
touched, been made the subject of enquiry You
might, from your standing, not your character,
have been constituted one of my judges! How
very proper then was it, thus situated, without
a knowledge of the attendant circumstances,
for you 10 have pre-judged the whole matter.
This at different times. and in the circle of
your friends you could do ; and yet had been
arraigned, and you detailed as one of my judges
with the designs of an assassin lurking fair
exterior, you would have approached the holy
sanctuary of justice. Is conduct like this con-
genial with that high sense of dignity which
should be seated in soldiers bosom! Is it
due from brother officer 10 assail in the dark
the reputation of another, and stab him at
moment when he cannot expect it! might
insult an honorable man by questions such as
these, but shall not expect that they will har-
row up one who must be dead to all those
feelings which are the characteristic of gen.
tleman.
In terms polite as was capable of noting.
| asked you if my informant had stated truly
it you were the author of the publication
aud remarks charged against you, and to what
extent. A reference to your letter, without
any comment of mine, will inform you how
far you have pursued similar course-how
little of the gentleman, and how much Of the
hectorng bully you have manifested. If moth
ing else would, the epaulets which grace your
shoulders, should have dictated to you differ
ent course, and have admonished you, that
however small may have been your respect for
another-respect for yourself should have
taught you the necessity Of replying, at least
mildly, to The enquiries suggested and more
especially should you have done this, when
your own convictions must have fixed you as
guilty of the abominable crime of detraction-
of slandering, and behind his back, brother
officer But not content with answering to
what was proposed, your overweening vanity
has led you to make an offering of your advice.
Believe me, sir, it is not in my yower to rem
der you any thanks. think too highly of
myself to suppose that stand at all in need of
your admonlions, and too lightly of you to
appreciate them as useful For good advice
l am always thankful but never fail to spurn
it when know it to flow from an incompetent
or corrupt source. The breast where base and
guilty passions dwell is not the place to look
for virtue, or anything that leads to virtue
My notions, sir, are not those now taught in
modern schools, and in fashionable high life.
They were imbibed in ancient days, and hith-
erto have, and vet bear me to the conclusion,
that he who can wantonly outrage the feelings
Of another-who, without cause, can extend
injury where none is done, is capable of any
crime, however detestable in its nature, and
will not fail to commit it, whenever it may be
imposed by necessity. shall not stoop, sir,
to justification of my order before you, or to
notice the weakness and absurdty of your tin
sci rhetoric. 1t may be quite conclusive with
yourself, and l have no disposition to attempt
convincing you that your ingenuity is not so
profound as you have imagined it. To my
government whenever it may please, hold
myself liable to answer, and to produce the