Daily national Democrat., 1861-08-21
71ailp Natlonal1rmorr

Dofense of Col. Miies, who is Charged
,y;,h drunkenness at the Disastrous
Battle.
Col Miles has published card, defending
,..,.slf against the charges of drunkenness
,od inefiiciency, made in Col. Richardson's
ofSeiul report. The material portion Of the
defense is as follows:
No one has ever before been hunted with
.,oss assiduous, malicious svituperaton and
n'i.sbood since tile Battle of Bull Run, than
,,rself NV name, | am tod, has been
i..word in the streets of Washington, and
,scomes more and more derogatory of my
nheraeter 1t was stated that had deserted
so The enemy that | was a traitor, being
from Maryland, and a sympathizer with the
rebels that gave the order to retreat; aod
NOW by Col Richardson, reported drunk.
ahall not copy Richardson report; but cor
rect the errors he has committed, leaving to
fnture days the remorse he must feel at the
;rreparable injury he has inflicted on an old
brotber officer The order for the retreat
f,om Blacburn's Ford as communicated by
NV staff officer emanated from General Nc
Dowell, who directed two of my brigades to
march on the Warrenton Road, as far as the
bridge on Cub Greek. | sent my Adjntant
General, Capt Vincent, TO bring up Davies
and Richardson's brigades, while gave the
order for Blenker's brigade at Centerville, to
prSeeed down the Warrenton Road. | ac-
eompanied these troops part OF the way, en-
peavoring to collect and halt the routed SOL
,diers. | returned to Centeryille Heights as
Col. Richardson with his brigade was coming
into line of battle, facing Blaekburn's Ford.
gIis position was well-chosen and turned
snv attention to the placing of Davies brigade
and the batteries part Of Davies com
,,and was placed in ccheloH of regiments,
behind fences, in support of Richardson.
Another portion was in reserve, in support of
Hunts ard Tidbalrs batteries.
After completing these arrangements re-
turned to Blenkers brigade, now near mile
from Centreville Heights, to take regiment
to cover Green's battery, and then returned
TO the Heights. When | arrived there, ust
before dark found all my previous arrange
ments of defense had been changed; nor
could ascertain who had ordered it, for G Ten.
Mcdowell was not on the field Col Rich
ardson was the first person | spoke to, after
passing Capt Fry. He was leading his reg
imept into line of battle on the crest of the
hill, and directly in the way of the batteries
IN tnt TeuT. IL was mere Juc COHNSTSHIiOu
between the Colonel and myself took place,
which he alludes to in his report Gen. Me
Dowell just afterward came on the field, and
Iappealed earnestly to him to permit nae to
command my division, and protested against
the faulty disposition of the troops to resist
an attack Hereplied by taking command
himself, and relieving me. Col. Richardson
relates conversation with Lieut.. Col. Ste
vers, of his command. | never saw Col |
Stevens, to my knowledge. never gave him
or any one else the order to deploy his col
umn. The order must have einaaated from |
some one else, and hence my misfortune for
his impression that was drunk. Those not
Immediately connected with me rnng it over
the field without inquiry on investigation.