The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-08-26

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certificate
CLERMoNT, near Alexandria, !
August S, 1861.
Hon. ERAsTUs FAIRBANKS, Sir On the sec
ond or third day after the battle of the 2lst ult
the commander of the brigade having requested
reports from the various commanders of com
panies, to be handed to the colonies of their
respective regiments, the commissioned officers
of this regiment were by request of Col. Viii
ting assembled in room of the market building
in Alexandria. All the officers we're present
except Capt Todd who was absent sick, and
Capt. Fullham, whose company being stationed
at another point did not receive the message to
attend in time.
1t was then proposed by the colonel that in
turn each captain speak of the proceedings OF
their respective companies. The colonel stated
to the officers his proceedings during the time OF
battle, which corresponds with the one made to
the colonel commanding the Brigade Colonel
Whiting then called upon each officer present to
state then and there if he knew of anything con-
flictlng with the statement then made by the
colonel, TO which not one word of objection was
made. After various other officers had stated
their proceedings, the colonel then called the at
tcntion of the officers to a rumor that he had
just heard, that there was some dissatisfaction
felt in the regiment with regard 10 his conduct,
in some respects of which he was not informed.
lie then called upon all officers present, that
since they had behaved so we'll on the field they
would also be brave enough to state plainly
whether they have any cause of complaint that
perhaps the cause by being stated might be rem
edied to which no one uttered a word. And
we are satisfied that the first intimation that the
colonel received of any dissatisfaction with his
course at Bull Run was through the papers
published at Montpelier and Burlington, VT,
which seemed based Upon the report of Sergeant
Major Guinan, whom the colonel has felt obi
ged to reprove sharply for disgracing the
way here, and afterwards, for all of which rea-
sons, and the character of said Gunan, we were
astonished that the conduct of Col. Whiting,
which we believe was approved by the command
ant Of the brigade and division, was so fully ia
ken up by the press which in these times ought
to repel instead of fan possible spark of dis
sension. GEO. j. STANNARD,
Lieut.. Col. I'd Vt. Reg't.
N. H. BALLoU, Surgeon I'd Vt. Reg't.
We copy the above because it is the only re-
ply that we have yet seen from any authorize
tive source to the structures SO generally made
upon the conduct of Col. Whiting at Bull run
and, coming from officers of the Regiment and
addressed to the Governor who appointed him,
we are fairly justified in assuming that it was
prepared and forwarded at the Colonel's instance
and under his immediate supervision and inspec-
ton. Let us examine its logic and discover if;
possible whether it leaves the Colonel in any
better repute than it found him.
The certificate says that meeting of the
commissioned officers Of the Regiment was held
on the request of Col. Whiting on the q second
or third day after the battle.;' The Colonel at
this meeting, after hearing the Captains state
ments of the proceedings of their respective.
commands, and stating his own proceedings,
&C., " called the attention of the officers to a
rumor that there was some dissatisfaction felt
in the Regiment in regard to his conduct and
asked the officers if they had any complaint to
make, to which they made no reply. It quite
plain that the Colonel could not have then seen
the Montpelier and Burlington papers. What
credit then can be given to this certificate which
gives itself the lie by Immediately adding " We
are satisfied that the first intimat;ou that the
Colonel received Of any Dissatisfaction, &C.,
was through papers published at Montpelier
and Burlngt ton, W.?
But the certificate attempts to divert atten-
ton from COL Whiting by making scandal.
GUS attack upon Sergeant Major Guinon. We
had hitherto charged upon tho enemy the bru-
taIity of attacking our wounded soldiers, bat it
seems there are men in our own army who are
emulous OF the same infamous distinction.-
Major Guinon is abundantly able to defend him
sell, and we need only say here, that he denies ut
terly and absolutely and unequivocaly that the
Colonel reprimanded him as stated in the ccrtif-
lcatc, or had any occasion to do So How much
Col. Whiting reputation as q brave and gal
liant officer has suffered from anything said by
the Major we cannot say. We only know that
he has not said word to us about him. 1t is
quite possible his testimony when given at all
agreed with that Of all Others from the battle
field, but it is simply impossible that he should
have originated the stories that got here long
before he arrived. Even the certificate. as we
have before shown, proves the falsity of this
charge against brave officer, who, whatever
faults he may have, did not hide from the enc.
my in the day of his Countrys battle.