, 1862-01-23

special privilege bclors1 one regiment over
anoilcrs it CERTAINLY does not belong to the
Twenty-tlliEd Illinois.
Iwould do 10 injustice to the 1eish Brigade
or IFS officers, They fought we'll; but no bet
ter thaE others. Aud if repeated acts Of dar-
ing and brave fighting arc to determine who Is
most entitled to public consideration, tic
Twepty~third would not be likely to win it.
Little notice Of the statements made by the
Irish Brigade has been taken by the officers
and men who participated in the defence Of
Lexington, because it was expected that Col.
Mull5gan would make IN official report Of that
engagement, when the whole truth would be
told, and Justice done to all parties. But Us
Lie lls moi done so, and us those interested
have waited until "paticnce has ceased to be
virtue" and the public have come to bellsrc
that the whole truth had been told, notice will
now be taken Of them, and corrections made.
without being is-ued "by authority aud if
III pfesentit 6 q more complete and fruitful
statement touching the defence Of Lexington,
and in correcting erroneous impressions left
upon the public mind, it should happen to
reflect upon the officers and men Of the Irish
Brigade, they will have no one to censure or
blane hut themselves.
As before observed, have no personal III
tcfest ~ snhserve i'll taking up the matter
unsolicited-in behalf Of those who have been
silent, and see officers, and men, WHO arc rs
much entitled to credit in the defense Of Lex
inHton as the Sd Illinois, so entirely and ia
sultingly ignored. # this is the Justice Fiat
Government, through the peoples repre=en-
tat1vcs, 1netes out TO men who brarelF fight
AID dic,i is time it was more generally known,
ard those interested could then govern them
selves accordingly. If it is decided that none
but Irish regiments arc or Will be entitled 10
special mention and honorable distinction, let
it bc proclaimed by sact Of Cougress,se aud ali
will then know what to expect.
But If this is not to be the policy, very re-
spcctlully submit, whether it is not polite for
}ou, as well us IN act of nccllul Justice to
others, that your " Resolution be rcconsid-
ments which participated IN the ttdeirnce Of
Lexington, or else omitted and rejected alto
getheF: I know the feeling upon this subject,
and suggest this amendment, unless Won are
prepared and willing to face the suspicion OF
seeking the favor OF one ct;ss Of our citizrns
| to the exclusion Of another.
HIS whole matter has gone quite far
enough, and the time has come when it will
be ventilated, and the laurels, if any there
are, which the Twenty-third Illinois have
so *lsalnelessly and exclusively appropriated
| to themselves, will be awarded by i generous
t public (who hive too long been Kept in i1-
| noraucc Of the whole truth, having heard only
| an t1 z>a74c statcmcnt), where tley belong
| Tic omission, if not the suppression Of facts,
! so frequently exhibited in the " "specches = oi
/ Col: Nulligan since his return, :lnd made es-
pecial1s noticeable in the frequent nleution by
| nanle Of officers III his own regiment, Is not
| the suEcst WAY to honorable distinction, nor
! fawnipg support and fulsome cuIogy, con pied
with special privileges by resolution in Con.
| gress, the most Certain method Of securin.
| public respect. Very truly Yours,
t. HENRY PAEKER, Surg. lst Ill CAY.
| Now at 5th and Chcsnut SIS. Afility Hos.