Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-10-22

For the I0necfnfoa.

Mr.. EDITOR IL see from the last few issues of
your paper several calls upon, and the cards of
several prominent gentlemen announcing them
selves candidates for seat in the Confederate
Congress from the Augusta District These gen.
tlemen have long been known as leaders of DO
ftisal parties, during the existence of the old
United States Government. Now. wish to call
attention to one who has never, to any great ex-
tent interfered with politics, and who would. :
think, from his attainments, both in civil as well
as military re, be well calculated to make ms an
able, Jealous and ever watchful representative
L allude to LIEUT. Col. William s. H. BAYLOR
a gentleman who is well known to You as we'll as
most of the voters of this District, as one emf
nenty qualified, and was one of the first. when
the alarm was sounded at the beginning of this
unholy war, to buckle on his sword and with two
companies of his Regiment (5th Va. Vol.N pro-
ceeded to the then thought field of danger-Har-
pers's Ferry-where in a few days he was ioined
by the other COMPANIES of his Regiment, making
eight in number. "A few days after the passage
of the Ordinance OF Secession, the Convention
passed an ordinance removing all General and
Field Officers from their commands, by which he
was removed with the rest; but, while all the
Generals and Field Officers returned to their
homes, he, like true and trusted officer remain
ed with u.s. using all his great influence to get us
to muster into service. In day or two he sue
ceeded in overcoming the great dissatisfaction
iment. While he was engaged in these patriotic
efforts for the cause of our independence, Col.
Harper and Lieut.. Col. Harman, who, having
held positions OF higher grade, being removed
by this same ordinance, and had returned to their
homes, were appointed and assigned to duty in
this Regiment, he receiving the position of Ma
ljor of regiment he had raised and marched into
the field. Feeling confident of being restored,
| Gas all the other volunteer Colonels had been }
he accepted the position at the request of a ma
jority OF the officers. He served in that capac-
lty until about the 10th of September, when, by
Col. Harper's resignation, the office of Colonel
was made vacant. A large majority of the off,
GERS thinking their wishes would be consulted,
signed and forwarded to the State Government a
petition requesting his appointment to the posi-
tion, but, for some cause, for which | cannot ac-
count, no attention was paid to it and Col. Har-
man received the appointment. Lieut.. Col. Bay
lor being assigned under commission of date
about the Goth June, which he had never accept
ed, preferring to remain with US to receiving a
| higher position in another regiment. [ cannot
assign any for his being thus treated, hav-
| ing never heard of any being given. 1t cannot
be on account Of incompetency, for every one
who knows him, will join me in pronouncing
HIM as being we'll qualified, and no one can doubt
his courage. l have been near him in two en-
gagements, and must say that l did not see a
cooler officer and consider him as being as brave
as the bravest. Why is he the only volunteer
Colonel who held a commission prior to the 18th
April who has not been recommisSioned and as
signed to his command +? 1 should like to hear
an answer to this question.
Believing that he has not received what was
due him, and that the District will sustain him,
[ call upon him to announce himself as cand-
date for Congress, assuring him of the hearty
support of many members of the Regiment.
AUGUSTA.