Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-02-14

HoTIcB.-District Of Columbia Advertisement
20 be inserted In the BALTHdoRE SUN are received
At and forwarded from THE STAR Once.
The WAR DEPARTMENT AND THE NATIONAL
h.,,s Gco",sspSTSsnes S eortssponaene.
relation TO the refusal Of the Department TO com
mission Capt 8. has appeared.
In letter No. I, Inspector General Stone inform,
Captain 8. that he has been commissioned maio,
Of the 18th regiment District Of Columbia militia.
No. Is the reply Of Capt. 8, declining the ma
jority, but states that himself and company are
ready to march at a moments warning in defense
OF the Government or public property Of the Dis
trict of Columbia, when attacked or threatened by
violence from any quarter, come It from the North
No. 3 10 from Gen. Weightman, requiring the
return Of the howitzer In the possession of the
Rifles to the Columbian Armory, and giving
notice that their howizer drills must be hereafter
conducted at the Armory.
Capt. Schaefer replies, saying the demand has
been complied with, and adds :" With every dis.
position, as IL 1. my duty to obey the orders Of the
Major General, feel constrained to say that such
unreasonable commands, II not 30 Intended only
serve to hamper my command in their efforts
hitherto perseveringly made, to become proficient
in military tactics %
This communication Is returned to Capt g., en-.
dCrsed: Respectfully returned TO Capt Schaef.
fer, the General Comdg declines to receive a
communication from a subordinate officer, char
acterizing one of his orders unreasonable A
repetition of such language, in official correspon.
de3ce, will uleet with different notices.
Capt D replies to Gen Weightman: Your
endorsement upon my brief note Is to me vague
and ambiguous, and in language inharmonious
You pleased to say cit Is respectfully returned
thereby and thus far correctly assuming that no
disrespect was intended by me, which is a fact
The unintelligibility of the language Of your en-
dorsement consists In the expression that similar
communications upon official correspondence will
meet with different notice / am of opinion
that correspondence Of official character should
be conducted In perspicuous language-espscially
In military matters-hence address you this un.
oficial note"
This note was also returned to Capt. s. en-.
dorsed {: &" Respectfully returned to Capt. Schaef-
fer The Major General Commanding does not
see At to enter into private correspondence Of
On the 5th of Feb. Capt s. received the fol-
lowing vote:
"MosDAY, Feb 4, 1861
EGen weightman will thank Capt Schasffer to
call at the library Of the Patent Once as soon
az his convenience permits'1
At the interview had with Gen. weghtman,
In compliance with this request, Capt Schaefer
was informed that his commission was ready for
him; but that as rumors, the correctness of which
the General had no reason to doubt, had reached
him, toucb hing the loyalty Of Capt s., he deemed
IL proper that the Captain should respond to few
questions, which were put to him by Inspector
General Stone, viz:
In the event of the State Of MARYLAND seeding
from the Union, would Capt s., take up arms
III the State of Virginia should secede from the
Union, would Capt, 5. aid the general govern
ment with force Of arms to coerce said State,
To the foregoing questions, Capt. s answered
''l would not" To the question what would
Capt. >. do in the event OF the secession of both
the states named, he replied that he belonged to
the Maryland line.
Capt g. was informed that he could not have
his commission. He then asked for the interro-
gatory in writing, and was answered that thew
would be furnished him
February 9th, Gen. weightman writes to COL
Cooper, Adjutant General U. s. Army, returning
Capt Schaetfer's commission TO the War Depart
ment He writes:-"l deem II improper to de-
liver said commission to Capt Schaeffer for the
that he has declared that, in case he should
be called upon by the government of the United
states to defend the property Of said government
against the action Of particular State, he would
not render the service, but would instantly resign
and Join the forces of said state
On the same date, Inspector General Stone
writes TO Capt 8. that his Commission has been
returned to the War Department.
On the 7th Of February Capt Schaeffer writes
20 Gen: Weightman, requesting TO be furnished
In writing with the interrogatories propounded
On the same day General we.ghtman replies:
''Atthe interview alluded to, you were informed,
verbally, that certain reports had reached these
headquarters concerning declarations made by
you. These reports you REQ uested to be furnished
YOU In writing, and you were promised that they
should be so communicated. Positive information
has been received at these headQ uarters that you
have, at various times, declared that in certain
contingencies you would not serve the United
States Government for the protection Of its prop
erty In this city, as against the forces Of State
but would resign and join the forces Of that State
The Government Of the United States desires no
unwilling service, and do not deem 1t consistent
with my duty to hand a commission to any officer
who makes his fidelity and obedience to orders In
any manner conditional
Capt. Schaefer replies on the 9th Of February,
characteriZing the letter Of Gen. w. as 'edis n
genuous," and adds -. Had you intended to do
me the least justice, you would have stated what
you knew TO be the fact-that the proposition dis
tiEctly made TO me was would l, In the event of
III. State Of Maryland or the State Of Virginia Sc
ceding from the Union, take up arms against said
states, or either Of them! Such was the test of
loyalty applied to me, and which I, on the in
slant rejected; such is the condition upon which,
In my humble opinion. every honorable man,
native and citizen Of Maryland should accept a
commission for service In this District.''
The CoscERr To-NIeHT.-Read the programme
OF the concert to be given tonight at the Smith
sonian Institution, for the benefit Of Com pany C.
Washington Light Infantry. 1t will be seen that
the selections are well made and that some Of the
ticipate. The full Marine Band has also been
engaged, and will perform In Its best style several
popular oycrtures Hon. John Cochrane, of New
York, will be present In behalf Of the ladies Of
Washington to present beautiful stand OF mark.
ers' colors TO the company, and MIR. Clampitt OF
Company G, will receive the gift on the part OF
the corps There will be fine display Of uni
forms, an Company will be out In full numbers
and several other volunteer companies from
Georgetown and Washington have determined to
be present in full dress uniform great time is
anticipated, as Company c has determined that In
all respects this shall be the concert Of the season
The ARTILLERY COMPANY stationed in the CITY
Hall lot, paraded this morning, for the purpose
of exercising their horses, and made a handsome
appearance. They took the route through the
Northern Liberties portion Of the city. Some of
the horses lately purchased for the company have
not yet become accustomed to their military
harness, and sometimes give their drivers no
little trouble, as was the case this morning when
an unruly animal had TO be removed from the
fourth cafson and replaced by another.
Company A, u. 3. Artillery, stationed at the
Arsenal, also paraded through Pa. avenue to the
First Ward, making very hne appearance, their
old artillery hats with the red plumes attracting
considerable attention.
NEW DERRICK FOR THE CAPlroL-Mr Rives
the assistant engineer at the u g. Capitol extern
sion, has just completed plan for new iron
derrick for the dome, which has been adopted by
the contractors for the erection Of that structure
and 10 70 be immediately built. The new derrick
10 composed Of rolled iron beams, with wrought
iron braces, and when completed viii weigh not
more than one half AZ much a. q wooden one; can
be made for half the cost while 10 10 expected
that AZ will mot he liable n sneh ,ectSant