Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-05-27
TUESDAY M0RNING. alAY Il. 1852.
To tle Editors Of The Enquirer

~ t'to Gutto'b " tHe enquirer -. .
GENTLEMEN My attention bag bs=n called
to letter published in your paper of the
and dated Charleston May 18th, in relation tc
tE,e steamer Planter" which was recently
stolen from this city
The lcttec reflects very fairly tbs fsrful iu,
preston l,;de III this place by this zuntoWari
event, and tho writor doubtless believed ia the
rnrreelness OF the facts as hs states them. =
Your editorial comment accepts these facts as
true, which randcrs an explanation necessary,
and an unwilling to leave to your Judgment
! the measure and apportionment of tho blame
when tne real facts are in your possession.
By orders from Brigade Headquartsr3 Iay
10lh, Tas charged with the armament and
equipment of the batteries in Charleston Har.
bur. On tho evening OF the I2Lh Of May, the
tide serving, at six o'clock in the afternoon !
had four guns for tho Middle ground Battery
placed Gu board tho steamer, in order 10 cut
them in lfs fort at high Water in the. morning,
which would bo o. s,x o'clock. After taking
the guns at the R. r. Accommodation Wharf,
the steamer Gaa mnorcd to Southern Wharf in
front Of General Ripley's Headquarters, where
guard of twenty men has been statiuned
siacsgN November last, in ehaiga of MI ..:e pG.-
lie property there. Three ssntEsla nrs con
s'antiy on duly and enc Ul them within fes;
PAGES Of tia place whcro the bnat lay. And
shs was lsf; at the wharf for the night in
cha-ga OF the Captain, Mate gnd Engineer,
dodor the following standing Instructions:
"The Quarter masters Department will take
s9crT r.retautiun 10 have every available
mcaRs Of transportation in readiness for Ser.
7c., including sTch acilitol us cen he fur.
nishrd by he different railroads. Al! light
draft stea,nels in tie employ of the Govern
ment wiI oe in readiness to moro at once
their officers and creos s:hen at the scharf
rcmGining o'. 3o:;-i lag AID ni2ht"
Az three Of tho officers, white mc1, well
known 10 this piaoa, and of respectable repu.
ration in !heir occupation. The Captain, es.
rccially, inns bean for many years employed in
.hc inland steam nav CATION from this part,
and los always possessed tho confidence Of
Lne community as o sklllful and very trust-
mvrlhy officer. TIC cuat wa, seen to leave
Inc wharf by the sentinel on duty but the
bour at which sho started vas near tho sp.
pointed one there was no reason TO doubt the
rresrnce oi !he pr2prr .lRcers on hoard, and
every thing in her preparation indicated
regular and un:uSpicious proceeding. The
iJ5ence ol the officers was not within the no
cesssry knowledge OF tho sentinel, and pothing
urusual had occurred 20 excite his suspicious.
Sac eft i;,e wharf blowing her whistle, IS
u.ia, proceeded to neighuorng wharf, and
,acn wcat apparently Oh Der way down the
hari-1T. " hen she passed Fort Sumter she
blew her whatio aEa!n, to attract the attention
ho M
aagu as Il 1nsttor Of Course.
rlieso are ito facts. The Captain, Malc and
Eacln or, 1T violation OF eZ C ordors we're
absent from tLei7 posts, and shalr prcaence
would have been ,hs amPrst guarantee ior her
Gsauriiy. M blams csn attach to Gen Rip
leg. where general o,dcrs :Gordea sufficient
protection 10 MI property nnceT mis- charge
nor tC The senllnes whnre duty vss not no
elected ltmay bo thought that guard should
have b:on Pirccd in specis chirgc-if 90, it
wss my duty 10 havo asked loT it, But do
D0t think il Necessary titn, aid the known
Character Of the Captain, bis long experiences,
roe time be had been employed in this very
business Of transportation IN the hubor. were
all sscnri!ips ;5at his judgment and nis faith
iuInesS yond be trusted IN tEis case az they
had been IN nuu,brress others That he failed
in bis tlG:y in this instance is much 10 be re.
grsttoo, out il could not have been anticipated,
s,d no cira Cr precaution can relieve us from
TO necessity of relying upon the good faith oi
t"vse whose services are Indispensable.
respectfully,
'rHpuAs N. WAGNER,
ilent. CGl. lst S. o. ATt'y,
Inspector Art'Y, ID hhi'y Dist
Cn.sLE3r5:', 3. g., May slIt, 1862