Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1861-12-12

II R In justice to ali concerned "
publish the following sketch Of Gen
|. Pstterson's recent speech, premisinl
merely that tn. presumpspn is in favo
Of the truth Of the Veterans state
ments:
GEN. PATrERsos's DEFzscE. = Tn,
! members of the First City Troop, o.
Philadelphia, on Saturday, commem
GRATED the formation Of the company
in 1774 by supper atyhe Conzjnen.
tai. Gen. Patterson was-presentf snd
in response to toast and three cheers
made a fofcibIe speecbexplaining hii
reasons for not intercepting Gen. John,
ston previous to the BATH of Manasse.
Junction. He returned thanks for the
compliment paid him and for the man
ner in which it had been received. He
said that he was not in the habit oI
giving reasons for anything he did or
did not do, but in the presence Of men
of SO much intelligence ssahe members
Of the First City Troop, part of his
command in the short campaign in the
valley of Virginia, be s5nsidered it
due to them as well as % himself to
give a short statement of facts.
During the latter part sef July, all
August, and part of Sepfsmber, there
was no slander against him SO gross
that it could not be asserted and re-
iterated with impunity and swailoed
with avidity. The gentlemen of the
Troop knew how false these ISLANDERS
were. He had submitted to them in
quiet, although he had the documents
in his possession to prove that be did
all that he was ordered to do, and
more than any one had a right to
expect under the circumstances in
which he and his command were
placed. and he de6ed any man, high
or low, to put his fngefl on an order
disobeyed. Z q
The gentlemen of the troop were
witnesses of what was done, and he
asserted what they knew 10 be true,
that the column was well conducted.-
There was not false step'made nor a
blunder committed. The sskifmishers
were always in front and the fianks
well protected. They were caught in
no trap, and fell into no anbuscade.-
They repeatedly offered the enesay
battle, and when they accepted ifthef
beat them. There was no defeat and
no retreat with his column.
1t might be asked, "Why have ron
not made this statement sooner?" Be-.
cause the publicatioRof tke:documents'
sooner would have been most de.ri-
mental to the public interest. He pre-
ferred bearing the odium so literally
bestowed on him, rather than clear
himself at the expense of the cause in
which we were all engaged. The time
had arrived when the matter could,
without injury to the service, be in
quired into; and he was determined
that it should be done, and that before
long all the documents referred TO
should be published. and spread before
the American people, unless those
whose duty it was to do so should in
the mean time do him justice.
He would state a few facts. On
the Sd of June he took command at
Chambersburgh. On the 4th be was
informed by the General-in- Chief that
he considered the addition to his force
of battery of artillery and some regu-
lar infantry indispensable. On the
9Th of June a letter of instruction was
sent him, in which he was told that
there must be no reverse; check or
drawn battle would be victory TO the
enemy, filling his heart with JOY, his
ranks with men, and his magazines
with voluntary contributions; and
therefore, to take his measures circum-
specify and attempt nothing without a
clear prospect of success. This was
good instruction and most sensible ad-
vice. Good or bad, he was 10 obey;
and he did. /
On Friday, the 18th, he was inform
ed that, on the supposition that he
would cross the river on the next Mon
day or Tuesday, Gen. Mcdowell would .
be instructed to make demonstration
on Manassas Junction. He was sur
prised at the order, but promptly
obeyed. On the 18th he reached
Hagerstown, and on the 18th two
thirds Of his forces had crossed the
Potomac. The promised demonstra-
ton by Gen. Mcdowell, in the direc-
ton of Manassas Junction, was not
made, and on the 10Th, just three days
after he had been told he was expected
to cross, he was telegraphed by the
General in Chief to send him "at once
all the regular troops, horse and foot,
ard the Rhode Island regiment and bat
terry" and told that he was strong
enough without the regulars. and to
keep within limits until be could satisfy
him that he ought to go beyond them.
On the 18th he was again telegraphed:
"We are pressed here. Send the
troops have twice called for without
delay" This was imperative, and the
troops were sent, leaving him without
a single piece of artillery, and. for the
time, a single troop of cavalry. 1t |
was a gloomy night, but they were all
brought over the river again without