Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-08-10

mere Inc tllly htoly N lctteI II VIC ~
Terdld signed &c. s. b." pretending 10 de-
N this transaction Is q sillier lie, as was n
ell known to both writer and publishers. jc
t Fairfax Mr.. Wade and party paused for =,
bout two hours, to refresh their team, which
ave out, and exchanging Mrl Cowen, taken v
p as related, for Mr.. Eaton, who was wound v
4, we came on and arrived at Warrington /.
{ about one o'clock, where Mr.. Wade and
arty arrived an hour or two later. Mr..
Wade was neither lost nor supposed to be. a
All the way, and everywhere on our way !,
70 heard and contradicted the story Of gem
raj rout, aud everywhere explained the q
transaction as We understood 1t. @ In
! was kept up after my arrival till about
our and then arose at an early hour. Inform
.tion in tho morning was received that the {
Iisaster wss more extensive than we had
and that the stampede We had
Witnessed extended 70 the army and CON
ributed TO the disaster. still think this
lot correct.
Weary, exhausted, and excited with what
saw and knew, and ad heard-under an
intense and increased Indignation at the COW
ardly conduct had witnessed and have part
ly described-under the full influence Of all
these overwrought emotions, sat down and
without reflection or Seliberatien, hastily,
carelessly and confidentially wrote q person
al narrative to my a0ife of what / saw, and
did, and how / felt. Not q word was in
tended for any eye but hers, and, perhaps, a
few confidential friends.
That letter, without my knowledge, was
given to the public, and at once made the |
occasion of the attack Of the Herald, which |
shall receive at my hands no epithets, that |
could alone characterize it.
Itwas such a letter as a man may write to
his wife, and not be amenable to criticism.
As literary labor for the public, it is doubt
less below criticism. Yet for its contents
and expressions am accountable; not to the
public, nor any human being save her to
whom 1t is addressed; and if any discrepan-
cies can be found between that hurried, I'M
perfect narrative, and this more deliberate
recalling Of the facts, will personally apol-
oqize to Mrs. Riddle, but to no mottal be-
aide. fr
There is enough on the face Of that letter
es published to exonerate the writer from
cersure, or misconstruction, among those
who care to be just although its statements
are hurried, and its colors high.
pray you al, good people, to remember, as
stated in that letter, that at the time the stam-
pede commenced, our whole army were in
possession of the field, and stood with
arms in their hands, between the tugi-
tives, as they all knew, and all danger
| that these were not overcome, defeated
and routed soldiers, fleeing from death, with
a murderous enemy laundering after them;
but they were running away as the tinid
run, from no danger, without cause, and
without orders, throwing away the coats
they then dsgraced, and the arms they were
unworthy to bear, that they might the bet er
fee; rum ug away from battle where their
deserted comrades sti held the field against
fearful odds; where the flag was, where were
lhsir wounded and dying companions, and
where were their dead brave brotherss And
yet knowing this, seeing this, and feeling it,
am held up to execration because l did not
| sympathize with the alarm of these fleeing
men; because, quoting my letter against me,
refused further to carry one overcome by
fear alone This is the case made against me
from that letter The werld viii sooner or later
remember the difference between those who
still held the field, and those who, in advance
of defeat and danger, ran away.
Never on this earth did the proud old
American valor burn iercer or swell higher,
than on that day and field. And what a
reproaeh to the heroes who left the impress
of bravery and courage in thunder scars, on
that red valley, is th8denunciation OF me
for rudely speaking af the- canseleas highi
of the poor wretches who abandoned it,
for sketching their rout, with too fres
hand and bold colors, in letter to my wife
Remember that portion Of our dead still
: tester urburied on that wild plain, while
! am execrated for the harsh manner IN Yhict
| sneak of those who 30 unseasonaoly aban
doned then.
May / remind you also. that Nsssrs
J Washburue and Kellogg,of Illinois, two more
) of the ''cowardly Congressmen," at point
2 nearer to CentreVille than we were, with
= each a musket in hand, plunged into thi:
: rabble rout, and with bayonet point, endeaV
: ored to stem and turn it back, denouncinE
| the fugitives rs towards and poltroons !
: And that at another point still nearer Cen
treville, Senator Lane and Representative
: Shanks, of Indiana, made frantic efforts fo
the same purpose; and might give much o
the language applied by these gentlemen Il
the fugitives, and more opprobious than am
/ of mine. | might also quote TO you ftoe
the innumerable newspaper writers, who IL
their descriptions of this fight have portray
z ed the fugitives in language deeper an'
stronger, than any used by me, even il. tina
! private letter.
, The Herald intimAtes that the unpub
e lished psrts of the letter, contain reflection
upon the Grays, when one Of its own printe'
paragraphs, declares that the Grsys 'skir
mished splendidly." If have said or writ
/ ten word not in the highest trims com
mendatory of thet gallant corps, let it b
a published. If the inky slnms OF the Herald
can furnish a minion who dares say such
s thing exists, stand him forth, and let hin
: speak.
e AS to the imputations cast upon the gen
! tlemen with me on this excursion, renal
that neither of them at any moment lost hi
: perfect cool self possession, or exhibited tn
n least want of intrepidity AMI manly spirit
. I beg to remark, it is easy to make imputs
1 tious but thst in these rude times there ar
/ tests of courage more satisfactory than news
psuer paragraphs; and that those who afeC
to doubt, would do well to apply them.
I regret the necessity of coming thus be
! | before the public. ! have hitherto aToide
D newspaper, and other controversies. 1 dl
4 not seek this. As member OF Congress
r have extended to the Herald the same eonl
a tesies that l hsve to the LEADER and a
q other journals. shall continue to DO So
: lam not accustomed to call testimony
e sustain my own word, but for the substar
e tisl truth of this statement refer to Hor
0 q. G. Blake and Hon. Mr.. Norris Of Ohio
4 Thos. Brown, Esq of GlevelaHdi an
> Mr.. Cowen, of columbus, o.; also, to Hon
e B. F.. Wade and his whole party.
y Formy own Tindicadon l rely upon u
, good sense of a right-minded eommunit!
> WHO win finally find time and opportunii
to understand this matter, and who can hsI
|, no motive in being misled.
n Respectfully submitted,
A A. G. RIDDLE.
Mixed
= The sudden political somersault Of Il