The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-09-14


the earth and ashes of which mortal bodies are made
returned to their kind
Earth to earth, ashes ashes. dust to DUST
their rest should be profound, he disturbed
save for the purpose and instruction, wher
the act justified and s"nced by the indulgence Of an
affection which looks to the more sacred preservation o
what be the remains of the tenement filed by the
immortal spirit Of him who has passed from among us
when considerations like these can he truly invoked the
act becomes only cXcusabe but is honorable to the
human heart in whose emotions it finds ample endorse
ment Not otherwise.
These reflections to be due to this days
cises The Chief Magistrates of the State and City and
the Officers Of the Municipal Government, large share
of the citizen soldiery and vast numbers of the peO
pie, young and old, testify not only by their presence
but by respectful and decorou behavior they regard
thi, pageant to crafty foolish curiosity
but something W. ich belongs to higher dignity
For of truth if those who here be what they claim
for themselves and what gives sincere pleasure
acknowledged rational congregation, then, the occa
sion is one to warrant the sacred just per
formed.
WHAT the occasion? pous remembrance of services
supposed least to have been rendered claims that it
shall signalize itself in form permanent, and in
language emphatic than heretofore it has had utter
ance 1t seeks expression which, while it honors the
dead shall tell the present and those yet to come that
grateful hearts perpeuate the recollection of noble
and manly deeds, and thus make known a lesson to
Others emulate what is claimed to be shining virtue
These the sentiments take it, which influence the
committee having this business in charge and which
bold enough to presume, not foreign to the
others Of this audience.
1t now more fortyfour years since those whose
bodies are this day recommltted to the TOMB surrendered
their lives in the vndication of the honor of their country
and especially in the defence of this city This lapse of
time has dmmed the recollection of many who bore part
in the conflicts Of the day wherein WELLS and MCCoMAs
fell And sadder yet it has swept far greater mum
Der to that undiscovered country from whose bourne no
traveller returns Yes time more desolating than the
battles of man. has tnned the ranks. has moved whole
columns down Of those who in their day and generation
the pride and buwark of this fair city. That which
lived only in t'a" na"nnarias lives mora Ile sonnty
memorials preserved, are, indeed but slender record
The main facts alone survive. The minut;e-the hllng
up of the perfect ana full story by the suroundn ng of the
principal acts with their proper ncdents-is wanting All
now to be CLEANED in too instances is from the un
certain recangs Of those whom time has strongly
placed his withering hand.
From limited these it is rewarding labor
to gather materials Nor is their paucity the only obsta
Gle to research What there is of recollection on many in
terestng points not always consistent but the
trary, often contradictory and confused.
am aware that it is most emphatically denied by
some persons while with an equal earnesness asserted
and believed by others, that Wells and McComas
titled to whatever honor belonged to the death of General
Ross But it is dispute have no means of satisfactorily
determining Having personal knowledge Of the crcum-
stancen fact not then in eXstence would be extreme
y presumpouS in to attempt to settle the question
Satisfied that both parties to it equally sincere in their
convctions to the true state of the shall never
heess in Reference 10 those who naugu.a ate this
ment, and to this respectable assembly, assume for the
nonce that the Immediate agents III bringing anout the
death of the British commander Wells and McComas
do this because deem it fit in itself and moreover he
cause am convinced it is the tradition which has received
the greatest crcdence Apart from this, leave the eSti
mony, pro and where found it, with full consent
that each and all shall draw their conclusions.
Wells and McComas rifeea, and, from this fact,
urged neither Of them could have caused the death of
Ross. Among the strongest evidence adluced in support
of this denial is to be found in the official reports of Gen
Brooke and Admiral Cockburn. published by the British
government wherein it Is stated he disposed of by
naSet ball Whether this declaration made with pre-
else accuracy aftera particular examination of the forma-
ton of the extracted ball designed simply to state
the fact that he killed by ball from Hg aS and not
from cannon know not. In my judgment these reports
are not conclusive of the ouestion We have in ocI
munications, made by both Gen Ross and Admiral Cock
burn positive contradiction of the statements made by
each other in reference to their dongs at Washington
The burning of public libraries, the defacng of mOnu
ments, and the like acts Of outrage provoked
from British well as Americans This induced excuses
+I,n
horse havinl been killed. Others said this done
while the General accompanying flag of truce and
that $50 direct breach Of the law of nations justified
the subsequent atrocities Now these statements are ty
refued by Admiral Cochburn in official letter of 18th
August 1914 Mr.. Monroe the Secretary of State,
nouncing his intention to deoy and lay oaSe sch orS
ami districts HpoR tie coast as mag be f0und GrGdnJle'
Admiral Cockrane in his official account says nothing
of flag of truce and General Ross himself in his dispatch
to Earl Bathurst, is also silent in regard to the flag lie
says, 'gDg II n consequence to comD'c The destruction
Of the p'i'c 6n"dgS @ta he least pos&tbe de'y so that
the army might retire ci0m i0SS Of time; the foiOring
bnidags aere consumed the capitol dc > tde object
tin"es he Of the epedHon hprg beer Gccom'iSed de-
Admiral Cockbum subsequently said, ''lc had, upon
further reflection experienced much regret that should
have been done and declared that if it rcyOCabe it
would not be repeated under similar circumstances
In this we have but repeated the story of Sir Walter
in the street. afterwards discovered that others having
opportunity, equal with himself to know what lad
Cured differed wholly as to the true satc of the fact he
Justly concluded that human testimony is be but little
depended upon and particularly when it relates to
things accompanied by excitement.
With this statement consider it but proper to express
views with perfect candor in regard to of the cir
cumstanGss sad to have attended the klng OF MAJOR
who have heard Of the mater-beeve that he was killed
in violation of the rules Of war and as a consequences
accumulate reproaches upon those who did it, If their
version of the fact be correct for am free to it
not in my Judgment honorable TO those engaged in its
preparation
Civilized warfare has its laws International ethics
should prevail during the time of war as well as during
peace. among the greatest achievements of religion
and civilization has been soften the horrors of and
condemn savage barbarity and skuking ambush. 1t
q
but, above all, condemns Indian strategy
The story off the enemy is that their General assas
snated by those who concealed and not killed by
enemy situated to take the penalty of the action,
least the ris, demanded by the rules of war.
The bas-for lie had more than one-which killed the
General may have been fired from spot, which, though
noticeable before the firing, yet if it spot
located that the discharge of gun from it would in
stanty draw upon those who occupied it the fire OF the
foe, then it justiabe according to honorable
fare According to account have heard, such
place occupied by Wells and McComas, and at such
it is thought they received instantly the deadly penalty
OF their temcry from voey poured in by the British
If this statement be correct they without fault in the
particular supposed not only but directly within the
line of duty and tn promptness with which they acted was
commendabe The true point of time ought to have been
| aValed of, for
| s'That we would do.
We should do when would for this 1cOuld changes,
And has abatements and delays as many
As there are tongues, are hands, are accidents
And then this shonid is like spendthrft sigh
| That hurts by easing"
have thus dealt with the story as it has been given
both by the enemy and by of the friends of those
whose memory this day honor. But | have the au-
thorty of one who ought know and, doubtless, does
know, much any of the subject and whose
city will question that General Ross fell under cir
cumstances nOwiSe in conflict with honorable warfare
General Benin c. Howard, in address delivered nine
teen years ago aludng the of the death
of the British forces INDUCES in the
following language:-"A story says he obtained par
tal currency time perhaps be repeat
ed that he was slain by some person who had climbed
tree and was thus enabled to overlook the ground Moth
ing be more absurd ridiculous than this idle tale
There neither time opportunity for any one to
adopt such device The British General was slain in fair
and opcn combat by those whose persons were as much
exposed as his own and it hoped that the prepo
and derogatory story will never again be mentioned
This positive denial of witness so Intelligent and
trustworthy ought forever to put TO rest the allegation OF
foul play 1t was but strictly right such statement,
avouched by such should be Incorporated into
the authentic history OF the country In the spirit OF
gallant soldier he Indignantly wipes away the cruel STAN
sought to be affixed to the honor OF our name lie Justly
defends eacn ana an VINO TOOK partl the coct IN wc