Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-03-31
The Case of DR.. Simons.

The Case Of DR.. Simons,
The friends Of DR.. Simons, lately dismissed
from the Army in obedience to a sentence of a
court martial pronouncing him to have been
guilty of the gravest offence known to mill
tary law-the deserdon of his post in time Of
danger-have, we frankly confess, greatly en-
listed our sympathies in the work of rescuing
Ms reputation from the stain on it, involved
in the action of the court martial, we think
unjustly, under the circumstances; though
we cast no reflections whatever upon the
motives of those who composed the court.
Since the execution of the courts judgment a
food of light has seen shed on the case by
the arrival Of letters from officers on the sub
ject of the charge against DR.. s., which, we
deeply regret, were not at hand and available
upon the trial; as they would certainly have
resulted in his honorable acquittal. We have
obtained copies of some of them from friends
of DR.. s in Baltimore and shall spread them
before the Stars readers in justice to that
gentleman, as in that way they can best be
brought to the notice of all his late associates
in the service, the Star having subscribers at
every military post of the Government of the
United States, On both sides Of the Rocky
Mountains
FORT RILEY, Kansas, Feb. "a, 1856.
SIR: The numerous friends Of Dr. Simons
at this post feeling solicitOus that the Chief of
his Department should be correctly informed
upon certain points, connected with the prev
alcnce of cholera at Fort Riley during the last
summer, have been requested to address
you in the hope that the expression of their
opinions, based upon facts and circumstances
which have come to their knowledge, and
which did not appear in evidence before the
Court may diSabuse your mind, and the minds
of his brother officers of the Corps, of any un.
favorable impressions against him. In this
hope l cordially sympathize. When the six
companies Of the I'd Dragons arrived at Fort
Riley the officers were much distressed to find
their former friend and associate, the subject
Of rumors prejudicial to his personal profes-
sional character. Their former knowledge of
Dr. SimOns led them to believe that the tongue
of SANDER had been busy with his name, that
his character had been maliciously assailed,
and his conduct grossly misre presented The
evidence elected before the Court, to which
they were attentive and deeply interested lis
teners, confirmed the impression that great
injustice had been done to his fair fame, and
with the most friendly anxiety, sustained by
hope, they have watched for the arrival of
every mail, trusting it would bring the well
come tidings, that the Court of distinguished
officers before whom he had been arraigned,
would vindicate his character, and restore him
to the Army with unsullied reputation. A
review of the circumstances as related by eye
witnesses, makes it clear that during the prev
alence Of Cholera at Fort Riley, DIR. Simons
was subjected to very sore trial. With
health and strength unimpairsd, the medical
man can look with calmness upon the ravages
Of the most hideous pestilence, but there is n
limit to human endurance, and that limit
seems to have been reached in hiscass. There
are moments too, when tho bravest heart feels
the need of sympathy and support. DIR. 81
mons stood alone, without sympathy, and with
out hearing the encouraging voice OF a single
officer, in the midst Of frightful epidemic,
and breasting storm Of prejudice which had
been raised against him. There cannot be
doubt that DR. SimOns was exhausted by I'M
firing devotions to his duties; that he was for
yeight hours without rest; that be was sur
rounded by enemies, deeply sympathizing with
favorite chief, who had conceived preju-
dice against him, who had expressed a want
of confidence in his professional skill, who had
even treated him with indignity, when waiv-
ing all considerations except such as arise in
the mind of the physician, when duty is be.
fore him, the Doctor had requested him to
benefit to him. AS additional evidence that
DR.. Simons was exhausted by the faithful per-
Torrance of his duties, and very sick, it is
very well understood that the Chaplain, a wit
ness for the prosecution, paid him a visit, and
seeing his feeble condition, rendered the con-
ISOLATION of religion, spoke Of the fatal nature
of the disease, the absolute necessity of his
having reposs, and of his being too much ex-
hausted to render assistance to the sick His
friends then cannot but believe, that the Doc.
tor was worn out by fatigue and Frustrated by
sickness, that he left his post, only when in
capacitated for further exertion, not however,
until physician had been employed to take
charge of the sick.
His friends regret that he did not meet the
prosecution upon the testimony proposed to be
introduced to prove that his disability resulted
from the improper use of opium and brandy.
1t is my individual opinion that the prose-
cution would have failed of proof; that full
investigation would have resulted, if not in Q
triumphant refutation, at least in impressing
the mind of the court with the doubt, of which
DR.. Simons would have had the full benefit,
whether symptoms, supposed to result from
INC upJustifable use Of the aforementioned
articles In his case, might not with equal fair
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