Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-07-27
BRHRRLY. Va. Jnln 10. 1871

EDS. LKADKR; As some accounts Of an
occurrence at Buekhannon, in which Lieut..
strattOn and other members of Company C,
10th Regiment were implicated, have
found their way into the public prints,
deem it but just that a fair statement of
facts should be presented for the purpose of
placing Lieut.. stratton in a true position
before the public. In doing this, shah, Of
course, refrain from censuring any one,
leaving all retributive measures to be deci-
ded by proper tribunal. The facts of the
case are simply these; Our march to Buck
hannon was forced one. We reached our
camping ground in the midst of pelting
storm, where, owing to lack of proper means
OF transportation, we remained some thirty
six hours with very scanty supply of food.
Driven by necessity, a number Of our men
went TO the houses of certain rebels resid.
ing in the vicinity, and levied upon sundry
chickens, turkeys and sheep as contraband
Of war. Others went out and seized on GER
tain rabld secessionists residing in the vi
cinity, brought them to Headquarters and
compelled them to take the oath Of alls-
glance 70 the United States. Among the lat
ter, was Lieut.. Stratton.
Learning from the Union men of the Vi
eiRity that q certain notorious secessionist
lived about Eve miles from town, he took q
Sergeant and six men, and in the eompany's
wagon, drove out there. On arriving, he
found the house deserted and pillaged.-
Presently the owner made his appearance;
but when arrested showed papers that he
had taken the oath. he charged them with
rObbing his house. This they Indignantly
denied, and demanded that he should search
them. he did so, and found nothing Of his,
upon them, or in their wagon. The next
day he came down and made complaint to
Gen. Rosencranz that he had been robbed Of
gold watch and $l75 in cash. Lieut.. STRAIT
ton and command were arrested. A court
of inquiry was called, and after several days
suspense they were ordered home under
guard. The company was also dissrmed and
Ordsrsdba ok to Columbus. Against thii
letter act, the officers of the 10 n unanimously
tested and rendered a resignation of theil
commissions. They in body waited upoI
Gen. Mcclellan and procured an order re
storing the arms and reinstating the com
pany. Not man in the 19Gk regiment be
lieves Lieut.. stratton to be guilty. Tn
only evidence, aside from the traitors oath
than anything was taken, is this: durin
the investigation watch was found Outsid
the guard line, which the rebelidenti6ed q
his own. Jid a5ai
Many of the loyal citizens Of Buckhanno
do not hesitate to pronounce it a conspirac
got up to annoy those who arrested him.
Some twenty-five of his neighbOrs stan
ready to swear that they would not believ
him under oath, and stated the same in
Petition 70 Gen. Rosencrans, asking thu
the sentence be suspended till q full invest
J CATION could be had. These are the facts
: the case. A candid public must draw il
} own conclusions. In my humble opinion
till the crime can possibly be proven again
Lieut.. stratton, the whole head and frOl
Of his offending is simply this that hetOC
a squad of men and the company wsgC
snd left camp without orders. Whether q
7 crime deserved the punishment, higher a
thority than I, must determine. askt b
q YOU publish this statement of facts that ce
: tain misrepresentation which have be-
going the rounds of the press may be &C
8 T.ctsd, sld the meter placed in its tr
Light.
r YOuri Respsctfully,