New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-07-21
A Eepiy Ahout Col. Craig.
he n. Y. TnbuD,

Eepty Ahout Col. Craig.
Correspondence OF The n. Y. Tribune.
r--.- vT WAsHISGroS, July lG, 1861.
"Time was that when the brains were oat the man
would de-" That that good time has passed and gone
is attempted to be proved by the appearance Of two
communications recently, in The ". Y. Tunes, show
ing thar the loss of brains has not produced the na raj
result in the case of Colonel Craig, whom "Obser-
yer asserts 10 be still alive and efficient though suf-
fering. But stop I may be drawing conclusion
without due regard TO premises. Has that old
tanned such loss Can man lose what he never
had Wei told, however, that from him that hath
not, shall be taken what he hath, and t may be
that Colonel Craig comes under this rule Be chat o.
it NAV, all who have had knowledge of, official
businoss With him while filing the place of Chief of
Ordnance and obsructing, not doing, the duties Of
that Department, must fully admit that he pre-.
sents the phenomenon of man living 10
good or, more truly, a bad old age,
without that appendsge considered necessary to life,
the possession OF brsins. The want Of intellect how
ever il not his fault but bis misfortune and wonld be
the subject only Of commiseraion and pity did not he
OF his ndisCTeet, hired friends, for lim thrust bis name
so prominently and fooGsbly before the public and
convince the world that the loes OF brains IN bis case
has been huDdfedfold compensated BY the nc1eage Of
his inherent stock OF snspicousness and InaigDty.
Those characteristics of Col Craig display Themselves
prominently in the articles Of TIE ~ L. IfneS before
referred to- by the unjust, unfounded attacks the
Secretary OF War and three more officers OF the
army whom he suspects, without fact to justify toe
suspicion, of having induced his supepeduIe 10 the
charge of the ordnance department.
In order 10 answer the tssne of nfsepres entaion
and naigBity such as it is difficult TO conceive il
possible 10 coDdeDse 10 such an extent in the
space of The Times articles, 1t is only requisite %
state the truth of the care Colonel Craig succeeded
| IL H.
Ordnance Department nine yc4Ts since. under
stand that he found The DeI artrent well vsSar lied,
lie busnets systemazed and properly eoppuctsd, and
everything pertaining TO il carried on with efficiency
aud reenisrty During tie short time he let matters
move on smoothly, "a he found them, there was no
compliant end he Lad no difficulty Earring with any
one This wise course, however, it SEEMS that il was
IN his nature 10 continue, and he under
took 10 strike on a for himself, which brought
him more to the notice Of the War DepD+ ent his Ia
competency became manifest that two successive
! heads of that Department lost all confidence ~
| his advice or information, and sought them
| from other sources. This appears 10 have arous-
ed the natural maignty OF his dispoeihon and
10 have rendered him deadly hostile 10 all whom be
suspected Of being more highly estimated for proet-
sioal c9paciiy than himself Nor were his suspicious
and has consequent enmity founded On any inst
grounds they simply he result Of weak mi ell
ltct, morbid from the long treasurng up a. envy
hatred and malice and all hatitableneas." This
produced instability and fretfuness which show cd
/
that was proposed by others THAI his own favories
and led TO complaints OF uncourteOus treatment 10
hose who had business with the Office, and OF capiious
unfounded opposition 10 everything that proposed
in the way OF invention Improvement in weapons
Of war The Heads of the War Department,
from regard 10 his age and length Of fsr.
vice, bore all this long and patiently,
until Il became glazing, that TIE late Adlinist ion
found itself comptiled assign hilu sther and hou.
orable duty where be might possibly advance stead
Of obStucng the public service Soon after this the
deno1ement Of Mr. Floy ds Official career TO light
aud this act, with many Others Of his ne IL pos
sibe 10 undo, was snndlled aud Col. Craig was re-
stored 20 his position chief of the Ordnance Depart
nent with all the ecat derived from lns having been
"a victim OF Floyds rsscality. lie found himself
with all this prestige az the head Of the Bureau, the
incoming Of the present Administration; Of the
political party, and with every thing him very
degree Of consideration respect and favor, whch the
present Secretary Of War was well disposed to
grant him and did grant BIN, ill 90 fond
lin out As soon rs the present difficulties OF the
country came upon us, and the War Department was
taxed TO its utmost energies 60 meet them, 1t must
have become evident TO the Secretary OF Wartbs, COL
Craig incompetent TO discharge the duties of
important military buresa, and that the public VOL
fsre demanded his supersedure by an active efficient
officer; for it is well known that Iieut Coz Ripley,
contrary 10 Bis wishes, AID without the slightest
agency in suggesting procuring the removal ~ Col
Craig, was substr1ted for him, and that Major
NayIadier was, against his wishes, and much 10 HE
regret aud loss, personally and psoJnisTily, called
back 10 the bureau from which be had been recently
removed a. tbe instance OF Coi. Cruig. =
1t 10 thus made clear that tbeeuie transaction was
simply and solely one OF public necessity done against
the personal ana wishes Of both Breves Gen
Ripley aud Mai. Gaynsder, ard with 10 conceigaols
motive OF the Secrstsfy OF War, or tho Adjui;lnt-
General, save the interest Of tie military service
Yet Tor this oil tbfDe officers are scur1ilousy aud LIBEL
ohsty attacked and naigned In the articles signed
" observer, In The ~. y. Tfiafs. Col. Craig, or
his friends, would fam make him the victim Of a
rnsrceizry crew Of jobbeTs and pecua,oTs" aided
and abetted, Of course by the Secretary of War who
mas told hun why be was removed but Il nf believed
when IN truth me IL no victim az ALI bu. s;,Dplv hss
found the level VI his capacity. or more nrone5v
bis incspscity. The naniicst nntrntbfnalnes. of
the stsieo,ents In tbese ariieles. and tbe,y svi
dent Nindictiveness and nalciooxpess ,o say
nothing VI their folly, in a,tributing ube, ~
called Secretary Cenerons iavors TO Gen Riolev and
Major Msynsaier TO Mr.. Fieyds psrtiaIi.y "a ibo.e
officers must disgust aud nauseate every ieadar Io
pays any attention 10 them, md who has ANN rso,6
for truth for the responsibility OF the pbiic nyess
There parts OF these srelcs which assaii The o
ciai acts OF ibe War Department indicating beyo.d
reasonable doubt, that tLey must have orisis,ed a.
rectly or indirectly with ailny ofEcere DOCS n nat
become those whom the honor and the pajufenancs
Of the respecHbity Of that Department is iutfrsed
TO make searcLing investigation into the matter ard
to apply the proper penalties 10 those who have pros
ututed the public prcss such base purposes for the
qualification OF PERSONAL spite and malice hl
The savage nature Of the rebels was fully shown
al the skrnish at hiddle-Eork Bridge. A correspon.