Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-09-05

The Caledonidn speaks pertinently of the
deleterious effects on the discipline and efTicien-
cy of our troops by the PRONUNCIATION of loose
reports and hasty judgments "on the conduct of
officers and men surrounded by adverse circum-
stances, such as we in peaceful homes can know
nothing OFF, and adds the following:
The opinions of military men of long expe-
rience and thorough education we believe should
have more weight with us than that Of any one
influenced by Jealousy or smarting under rep
rimand for misconduct and imprudence, to at
tribute nothing worse to them, and an investi-
CATION would prove, we believe, that much of
the disaffection expressed against Col. Whiting
arises from what even these fault finders will ac-
knowledge to be the very thing for which he
should be sustained, to wit: that he is a thor
ough disciplinarian.
The following letter coming from Lieut.. Col.
Stannard and Surgeon Ballou, which may be re-
gardcd a semi-official, we are permitted to copy:
CLERMoNT, NEAR ALEXANDRIA,
August 5th, 1861.
Hon. ErdStas Fairbanks:
SIR On the second or third
day after the battle of the 21st ult the COM
from the various commanders of companies, to
be han led to the colonies of their respective
regiments, the commissioned officers of this
regiment were by request of Col. Whiting as
sembled in a room of the market building in
Alexandria. All the officers were present ex-
cept Capt. Todd who was absent sick, and Capt.
Fullam whose company being stationed at an
other point did not receive the message to
attend in time
1t was then proposed by the colonel that in
turn each captain speak of the proceedings OF
their respective companies. The colonel stated
to the officers his proceedings during the time
of battle. which corresponds to the one made
to the colonel commanding the brigade. Col
Whiting then called upon each officer present
to state then and there if he knew anything
conflicting with the statement then made by the
colonel, to which not one word of objection was
made. After various other officers had stated
their proceedings, the colonel then called tht
attention of the officers to a rumor that he ha(
Just heard, that there was some dissatisfaction
felt in the regiment with regard to his conduct
in some respects of which he was not informed
He then called upon all upon all officers prest Mt
that since they had behaved so well on the field
they would also be brave enough to state plain
ly whether they have any cause of complaint
that perhaps the cause by being stated nigh
be remedied to which no one uttered a word
And we are satisfied that the first intmatiol
that the colonel received of any dissatisfaction
with his course at Bull Run was through tn,
papers published at Montpelier and Burlington
Vermont, which seemed based upon the report
of Sergeant Major Guinon, whom the colonel
has felt obliged to reprove sharply for dsgrac
ing the regiment BY getting drunk in New
York on his way here, and afterwards, for all Of
which reasons, and the character of said Guinon
we were astonished that the conduct of Col
Whiting, which we believe was approved by thu
commandant of the brigade and division, wa'
so fully taken up by the press, which in thesr
times ought to repel instead offanning possible
spark of discussion.
GEO. J. STANNARD,
Lieut.. Col. ID VT. Reg't
n. IL. BALLOU,
Surgeon I'd VT Reg't.