Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1861-11-14
The 9ntlaaa Rerala.
THURSDAY MORNING, NOV. IA, 1861.
GEN. DAVIS AND HIS REvILERs.

rnittee of Ways and Means of the House last
week, in relation to the condition and wants
of the Vermont troops,-Gen Davis report
and the memorials OF the officers of the second
and third regiments, having been referred to
that committee-all tends, in our opinion, to
establish the fact that Gen. Davis made full
and correct statement, even in the minutest
detail, OF the various articles of clothing,
camp utensils and equippase, required by the
Vermont regiments, to make them comforta-
bic for the winter. We are further convinced
from the testimony that the officers who have
rnemorialized the Legislature, did so upon
the suppositicn that Gen. Davis had reported
that the troops were not in want of any thing.
Letters written from the camps to individuals
in and around the Legislature, speak of the
gross misre presentations contained in Gen.
Davis report, clearly indicating that the i'm
preston has been produced there in some
way, and from some source, that Gen. Davis
reports them to the Legislature as being in a
comfortable condition. But when the memo
rialists and those sent to Montpelier in their
behalf speak IN detail of their wants, there is
not ane substantial discrepancy to be dlscov-
cred between their representations and the
report Of Gen. Davis. And how should there
he? For it was clearly shown before the
committee that Gen. Davis obtained state
ment in writing of all the various articles of
clothing, sc, wanted by the second and third
regiments, from the acting QudrtermaSterS,
and those statements 50 furnished to him, and
which he now has in his possession ,gere made
he 6asts of his report to the Legislature. So
that hs report must be regar.. B.. SOD 1 repre-
sentaiion of the actual condition and wants
of the regiments, mate By tie proper officers
McreoJ, through Gen Davis and that in
making his statements, be was but their
fnouth-piece.
1t is probable that the telegraphic message
Sent by Gen. Davis to Gov. Holbrook, in
which he stated that the troops were not suf-
fering so much as had beer represented, was
construed by the officers Of the regiments, as
meaning the troops were not suffering so
much as they had represented whereas Gen.
Davis intended TO be understood by it, that
they were not suffering as had been repre-
sented IN and ar0dnd The Legislature, before
he left Montpelier on his mission OF investi-
CATION. And We have not much doubt that
this false impression has been heightened and
confirmed by statement, sent back from the
enemies of Gen. Davis to the camps, with the
intent TO increase the clamor under the in
auence OF which it is hoped Gen. Davis re
election may be prevented.
The facts elected by the committee OF
WAYS and Means, revealed pretty large
sized cat under the meal The testimony
came chiefly from Scwall Fullam, ESQ. Of
Ludlow, who has recently spent two weeks
in the camps OF the Vermont troops, Lieut..
Beattie Of Co, / second regiment, Joseph
Poland ESQ, Gov. Fairbanks " financial
agent" and Gen Davis himself Itappeared
from the statement Of Gen Davis that he
spent two days and one night IN the camps
that he represented to the officers the pur-
pCse OF his visit, and requested them to make
a full statement of all the supplies they needed,
which they did in writing-that he examined
the clothing and quarters of the troops-that
be took the statement OF their wants to Quar-
master General Meigs at Washin2ton-in-
formed him that the troops needed those ar
ticIes without deiay-that unless the general
government could supply them at once, the
State of Vermont would that it was necessa-
ry he should make reliable report to the
Legislature-and requested him to state what
articles could be furnished by his Depart
ment and how soon, and to state the longest
time he required that Gen. Meigs checked
of upon the paper furnished by Gen. DAVIS,
such articles as the general government could
supply, and assured Gen. Davis they should
be furnished in two weeks from that date,
the oath of October, which would be sooner
than he could procure the material and get
the clothing made that he made bis report
accordingly to the Legislature recommending
the State to furnish such articles as the gen.
eral government could not supply, including
several articles to which the troops are not
entitled to receive under the army regula-
tons, which certainly does not show on the
part of Gen. Davis any feeling of Indifference
a. to the comfort of the Vermont soldiers
and which would seem to entitle him to any
thing but complaints from them. And indeed,
none would have been made, had they been
aware of the faithfulness with which he rep
resented all their wants.
Mr.. Fullam has two sons in the Vermont