, 1856-09-05

now despatched my report, written on the
previous morning, expecting the express 10
explain the changes. The timber conceal
cd the number Of Indians opposing rs, hut
my second report did not justify the Gen
erals statement that with this sn.alLforce
,i0 effective mem he succeeded in making
good lis retreat, followed two days and
nights by 1900 Indians because express
y stated that before ,pudown on this day,
we again charged the lndians, drove them
out Of the timber, and after that they did
not mOlcst us. Our total loss was five
killed and seventeen wounded much great
er than would appear from the Generals
statement, who draws the conclusion from
his statement, that, "undcr the circum-
stances | did not consider such any tncHy
greatly to be dreaded"
Here are the main facts, as briefly stated
as clear understanding Of the circum-
stances hy the reader, will permit, and they
are substantially the same as those sub
mttcd in my reports. l have contrastcd
the facts with the distortions and cyagger-
ations of Gen. Wool, who with an cllrout
cry which even his white head ought not to
protect from rebuke, adds, think the
number greatly exaggerated" My csti
mate Of the number, 1900, or at most 400
Indians, does no materially differ from the
statement Of Father Plndosy, Of the Cath
Ole mission, iwhoSe letter is hereto annex
cd, (markcd B), at the period ofmy retiring
from the Simcoo valley, but the Father
shows that even the Generals 1900 Indians
falls far below the force that could be col
lected to fight against me.
The General has in his letter voluntarily
charged me, first, with exposing unguarl-
edly, " l0l rank and file" to an ambuScddc
Of 1900 Indians--a criminal neglect in u
commanding oGlicer-and afterwards ex-
presses his conviction that have cxagger-
ated the number of Indians, therefore, in
the second place, made false report
Even if the Generals charges were true,
the columns of a newspaper are not the
proper place to arraign the offending Off
Ger. The charges are very serious then
why has he not arraigned me for trial be.
fore a general court martial? Here the
General, | fear, has oycrshot his mark
He has convicted himself either of gross
neglect Of duty in not causing an inyestiga-
tion, and the punishment of the offender,
or he has graiaitOusiy, not to use harsher
expression, made charges to the injury Of
the military character Of an officer placed
under his command.
And l regret to add, that in looking
around | car find nothing to fix upon to
exculpate or eXtenuate the Goacrars CON
duct towards me. had made an applica-
ton to him for a court Of inquiry, long be-
fore his letter was written, which would
have investigated the truth Of my reports
in relation to this expedition. He actually
promised to grant the court, 5at IL has
Rerer oORre,lcd. And when 1 learned, casu.
ally, that the General had sent report Of
this expedition TO Washington, at variance
with my reports, and calculated, feared,
to prejudice the war department in regard
to my military capacity, | respectfully re-
qucsted, in due form, a copy of his report,
and he refused to grant it. 1t was by the
merest accident that became aware, in
this Isolated region, Of his unofficial attack
upon me before the public, in your paper.
As Gen. WOODS statements and charges
have been published by you, l respectfully
request that you will also insert this letter
in the columns of the Rtciiigencer, and
obligc' Yours truly,
G. o. HALLER,
Capt. 4tA Inf, and Bt. GLaj. u. s. A.