Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-04-11
EVENING STAR.
The Simons Case

In pursuance of the previously declared
purpose Of publishing whatever We can obtain
likely to aid in rescuing the reputation of Dr.
Simons from the stain upon it that might arise
from the unexplained action Of the late court
martial in bis case, we publish to-day letter
from another distinguished officer, which sheds
much additional light upon the facts involved.
1t is as follows:
FoRr RILEY, Feb. %, 1855.
Sir 1 deem it a duty that 1 owe to the
Army as well as to DR. Simons to say, that
of the cOurt-martial which recently assembled
at this post for his trial, have come to light,
which prove that his whole conduct, during the
epidemic which prevailed in July and August
Of last year, has been that of a high toned
gentleman, and a faithful and attentive off,
GER. l would state one fact which bears with
much weight on the conduct of DR.. Simons
The reverend chaplain, Mr. Clarkson, the
chief witness for the prosecution. is known to
have admitted, before creditable witnesses,
that he was with Or. Simons on the night of
the I'd of August, and that it was his opinion
that DR.. Simons was ill, and that such would
have been his declaration before the court
had question to that effect been put to him.
he further states, that though be does not
know from his own knowledge or from Major
Ogden himself, that it was his desire that Dr.
Simons should not attend or prescribe for him,
yet he was convinced that such was the fact
from Information derived from his friend, Mr.
Sawyer
There are other circumstances to the advan-
tage of DR.. Simons, which were not and could
not be brought out in evidence, but which, /
am satisfied, would place his conduct in an
entirely new light, and vindicate his hitherto
untarnished name. That DR. Simons was
placed in circumstances Of peculiar difficulty
and embarrassment, is evident TO every indi-
vidual at this post. That he was surrounded
by persons ininical to him, and who were
ready to adopt the prejudices and opinions of
others, does not admit Of doubt Without
friend upon whom he could rely for advice
worn out and exhausted by forty-eight hours
continuous labOr-and conscious that his eyery
act was scrutinized through a medium which
could admit of no sympathy or fellowship, L
can well imagine the conflicting elements
which tortured his mind during that dreadful
night of the 81 of August, as in the solitude
of his own home he listened to the wailings
of his dying child, the earnest entreaty of his
wife to take the advice Of Mr. Clarkson and
others, however doubtful its sincerity, and
remove them beyond contagion and to seek at
the same time that repose it is universally ac-
knowled was so necessary to a prosecution of
Under these circumstances, it would REQUIRE
better understanding of the workings Of the
human heart than such witnesses as were
brought forward by the prosecution to divine
or describe the motives of a person of the
Doctor g exalted character. Before he left his
post on the morning of the Sd of August
physician had arrived That he remained
from his post for several days was admitted !;
but the arrival of an officer of the line with
another physician, who had been specially
sent for his relief, relieved him from the ne
cessity of abandoning his own wife and child,
who were suffering with the disease
have forborne to dwell upon the high char
acter DR.. Simons has hitherto sustained in the
Army. 1t would ill become me to comment
upon his professional skill and reputation
Upon those points there can be no better
judge than yourself. Ny object is to present
to you his case in point of view which ap-
pears not to have been made manifest before
the court; and if, in doing so, L shall have re-
meved from your mind false impression, if
such exists and thus restore to your conf
dence, and to your corps, one who has been
an ornament to it, my task will have been &C
complished