Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-12-04
,,rFcH FROM GEN. PATTERSON
ri, Campaign Defended-statement of
~ the orders which he received.

Ma Campaign Oelouucu -otdIculcHI U l
~ the orders which he received.
"a much has been said in denunciation
.fecn Patterson, who was in command
!, tbs vicinity OF Harper's Ferry at the
,ne of the battle of Manassas, that we
r,ke room for the following synopsis of a
,eech recently delivered by that gentle
nan. lie speaks as by the book, and
hous that the allegation that he los, us
As htile of Bull Run" &c, is entirely
rntutous, and made either through gross
,pompce or criminal prejudice;
At Philadelphia on Saturday afternoon,
,sh ult., the members of tie First City
Tnop met in commC moration of the for
n,icn Of the company in l774. After
,.pnbling at their armory, the Troop
,yceeled to the Continental Hotel, where
lsv partook of the anniversary dir ner.
Upward of eighty members, in their
! l,pdsome uniform, were seated around
he table. At the further end OF the room
IoDe the old flag of the troop, which was
Iune through Ihe battles Of Trenton and
PhnCeton
After these lad been ably discussed,
Zen. Paterson, in response TO toast and
hfee cheers, made fol chile speech, ex-
Daining his reasons for rot intercepting
len. Johnson, previous to the battle OF
Manassas Junction. lie said le was not
m the babit 0! giving reasons for anything
| e did CT did not do, but in the presence
oimen Of 80 much intelligence-a part of
| hs command in the shoit conpaign in The
nIley Of Virginia, he considered it due to
lem as well as to himself, to give a short
hement Of facts.
The SANDERS against Gen Patterson,
During the latter part of July. all Aug
g, aud part of September, there was no
sander against him so gross that it could
no. be asserted and reiterated With impu.
ry and swallowed with avidity. Tie
s0iIemen OF the troop knew haS false
hee slanders were. lie had submitted
| 10 them in quiet. although he had the
Mments in bis possession 10 prove that
sdd Nll that lie was ordered to do, and
rNo than any had right TO expect un-
Ia the circumstances in which he and
scommand were placed, and he defed
g man, high or low, 10 put his finger or
norder disobeyed.
No False Step Made.
The gentlemen of The troop were wit
ses of what was done, and hn asserted
uat they knew to be true-tbat the col
lnn vas well conducted. There was not
hl,e step made, nor a blunder commit.
Nd. Tie skirmishers were always in front,
nltle hanks well protected. They were
aught in no trap. and fell into no ambus.
aie. They repeatedly offered the enemy
ate, and when they accepted it, they
vat them There was no defeat and nc
ereat yith his column.
AFull Investigation Demanded.
ltmight be asked, "Why have you not
made this statement sooner? ?" Because
The publication of the documents sooner
culd have been most detrimental to the
Ollic interests. lie preferred bearing
The odium so literally bestowed on him,
nIber than clear himself at the expense
dhe cause in which we are all engaged.
The time had arrived when the matter
Uld, without injury to the service, be
inquired into. and he was determined that
lAould be done, nd that before long all
IedocUmcnts referred 10 should be pub
Rhed and spread before the American
Ope, unless those whose duty it was to
)so should in the meantime do him JUS
tie,
Some of the Facts.
lie would state few facts: On the I'd
dJune he took command at Chambers
ug On the 4th, he was informed by
Ae General in Chief that he considered
The addition TO his force Of a battery OF
rlIery, and some regular infantry, indis'
Isnsable. On the Sth of June letter oi
hructlOns was sent him, in which he was
0d that there must he no reverse ; a
deck or a drawa battle would be q veto
qOthe enemy, filling his heart with joy,
mnnks with men. and his magazines
'nh voluntary contiibu ions and, there
me to take his measures circumspectly,
ndattempt nothing withouta clear pros
ltci Of success This was good instruc-
,oa and most sensible advise. Good OF
'd, he was to obey; and he did.
Important Orders.
Vn Friday, the 18th, he was informed
n't on the supposition that he would
aoS the river on the next Monday o.
IOssday, Gen. Mcdowell would be instruc'
Ato make a demonstration on Manassas
,'nction. He was surprised at the order,
A promptly obeyed, On the 18th he
,ached Hagerstcwn, and, on the 10th
sNlhrds OF his forces had crossed the
donac. The promised demonstration
| Ten. Mcdowell, in the direction ot
A0assaS Junction, was not made ; and or
Ai6th, just three days after he had been
W. he was expected to cross, he was tel
| saphed by the Commander.in-Chief &c
ga him "at once all the regular troops
Ieand foot, and the Rhode Island Res
.aent and Battery" and told that he
%arong enough without the regulars,
lio keep within limits until he could
Iey him that he ought to 90 beyond
%n On the 18th he was again tele'
a'phed, I'VE are pressed here. Send the
SNF have twice called for without de-
~ This was imperative, and the troops
aessnt, leaving him without a single