Washington telegraph., 1862-02-12
IFor the Telegraph.


Mr.. EpIroR = In the issue of the Ar
kansas State Gazette of the LIST inst, L
notice W til much regret what / consider
to be an unwarranted attack upon Col. +
w. CAN'T aud his regiment. Why or
wherefore Col. CAN'T should be singled
out for remarks by the editor Of that Pa
per is matter Of some surprise IL may
be true that at the time he was promoted
:, the rank Of Col. he was not thoroughly
vcrsed in the art Of war and military tac-
tics, yet we may pertinently inquire how
many of the various officers thrown into
service, were Many Of them knew moth
ing of such things and what is more un
fortunate hadn't the brains even to learn.
| Col. Can't is man of extraordinary en-
ergy and has a quick and perceptive mind.
| and could in as shor, time rs any man
who has been promoted, acquire know
ledge of his duties. Who in all his regi-
ment was better qualified for the position!
The sequel has shown that the selection
was good one After he was sta.
toned at Memphis, by bis energy and per-
severance he succeeded in procuring uoi
forms, arms and clothing fer his regiment.
lie made several trips TO New Orleans,
and had the country guns with which hi>
men had been mustered into service, repair
ed aud bayoneis attached, besides procur-
ing a qnintity Of arms for those who had
none. Severa different Il mes he received
orders, 10 march his regiment to Colum-
bus. but not being prepired 10 do good
service, he obtained a revocation of the
orders, and only went when his men were
armed and properly prepared To commence
a campaign. Those vino know Col. CAN'T
intimately, know him to be a man of the
most untiring energy and industry, that
ne never does anything by halves, and
that he would scorn 70 hold position, he
could not perform the duties Of. As an
evidence that he has lalifed himself and
has faithfully discharged all his duties, he
is e:ninently popular with his command
has the especial confidence Of General
Folk, and stands in high estimation among
all his superior officers. As proof that
Col. CAN'T was not qualified to fill his
place, the editor attacks the regiment and
pronounces 1t with some exceptions, ga
drunken and pestilent mob" Now in be
half of the regiment aud Of those men
who are absent from their homes and ia
miles gallantly defending their country's
rights, enter a solemn protest against
any such wholesale denunciation. The
18th regiment has in its ranks as many
good men, as any that has gone from the
State. There may have been some men
10 it who miSbehaved at Little Rock, aud
who were not bred 70 gentility, bat would
hazard little, ] presume. in venruring the
assertion that their department. at that
place would compare favpratly with any
other body Of men that has been there,
which had not been l,nger in the service
The editor having been soldier himself,
we'll knows that body of men just orsa-
nIzed, is much more refractory, than after
| they have gone through cours; II discip-
line. From present indications IL will not
be many moons ere the 18th will have au
opportunity of proving TO the editor o;
that paper aud the world, that they are
true aud brave men, aud that their officers
are equal to these of any other. That
Col. CAN'T does not know regiment from
A democratic caucus, or that he has e.
have a uniform on aud a commission In
his pocket to identity him as Col, are
remarks calculated 70 injure Cpl iiantt
where he i unknown aud 20 destroy hi
usefulness where be Is. Tney are SIMPLY
unworthy of notice
Again, il is insisted that Col. CAN'T
wants to be Brigadier-General,a and that
many respectable people have signed his
petition for promotion. What better
proof of b 5 capacity for the position than
that men of character aud standing l.
dorse his claim. The editor would write
them all down as asses or knav, 5, bu
leaves it doubtful which.
have always held the editor of the
Gazette in high esteem for his candor ana
trankness in dlscusssiUn, and have b .lieved
that he was above descent upon any
n4n without good cause shown. And
| now think that fit Of Indigestion was
upon him when he penned that article
de instances Gen. Clemens. as mln VIII
made the place and not the place the ma
aud that he was now serving as a com non
soldier; bat the instance wants applca
ton, tor Gen. Clemens held himself equal
to the command of regiment in Mexico,
and accepted the place Of Major Geueral
in the State of Alabama, but is only quail
| fed for the duties of the common soldier
in the Confederate service. Surely he
has lost caste wonderfully, or public con-
| idence was greatly abused at first. |
wonder how many Of tie duties of th,:
common soldier Gen. Clemens per.urme.
1 have known other instances Of men
claiming high position who enrolled them
selves as privates but never answered 10
their names al roll call, aud who nev y
refused promotion when it was rendered
and l venture the assertion that Gen
Clemens Is now looking to some promotion
and he will be worse deceived tLan if
he does "a; get it. The editor of the Ca
zette has buried the tomahawk with his
old political enemies and argues that every
thing should b, done by all men to caa-
tribute the greatest amount of good to our
common cause. Tnis is right. But why
should Col. CAN'T, # all the five hundred
Cvlouels of the C,nfederates States army
DC selected As a mark to shoot at He /
nvbly striving 70 DO his duty, enduring
| tha t.iia and n. rl .tirs .,f Tho n.rn a.,