New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1862-02-06
Gen. Bonham's Resignation.
From the Charleston Mercury.l

We learn from Richmond that Gen. Bonham has
resigned his office of Brgadier-Genera of the Con.
federate States. The reason Of his resignation, we
understand, to be as follows: "
Gen. Bonham was Majors General Of the forces of
South Carolina, when he received an appointment
Of Brigadier-General. of the Confederate States,
and was ordered to Richmond. He was appointed
a Brlgader.General Of no particular regiments
formed into brigade. Indeed, there were no
regmentsin the Confederate service at South Caro-.
lima when he was appointed. BE went on to Rich
mond, however, with Col. Gregg's regiment Of in
tantry, sent on by the Governor Of South Carolina.
This regiment was put under his command; and
then came Col. Kershaw's, then Bacon'a, then
Cash's, and other regiments from South Carolina,
which, as they came, were, without discrimination,
put under his command. Ia, e.cs.s,...s,.
Col. Gregg's regiment being enlisted for six
months only, was disbanded by the expiration Of
its term of service before the battle Of Manassas
whilst there were four other regiments under
General Bonham. General Bonham remained in
manded them at the battle Of Manassas. He re.
mained in command Of them as his brigade, until
October. At that time he was informed by the
Executive that his existence, as an officer in the
Confederate States, had expired when Col. Gregg's
regiment was disbanded on the ground that his
Brigade consisted of but two regiments = Col.
Greggs and Col. Kershaw' 's-and Col. Gregg's
going home, his command and his office were dis
solved. This was news to General Bonham. He
was never told that his command consisted of only
these two regiments. On the contrary, when he re-
ceived his appointment of BtigadierG General, here
ceived it without having the command Of any regi-
ment-and afterwards, when the South Carolina
regiments came on sucoessiyely, they were sue
cessively and without distinction placed under his
command. A brigade may consist of five regi-
ments, just as well as Of two Hence, being in
command of tive regiments as Brigadier, he
could not understand that one Of them going out
of service dissolved his brigade and abolished his
office.
The Government seemed to have the same view
of the matter when it allowed him to remain ii
command of the four regiments which remained
after Col. Gregg's regiment went home, and to
fight the battle OF Manassas with these regiments
and to continue in command of them until the end
of October, when it informed him that he had been
commanding, and receiving pay and ratons with
out any authority, for he was no officer at all oil
the Confederate Government; and then rendered
him new commission coeyal with the departure
Of Gregg's regiment, of the 14th Of July. His first
appointment was Of the goth April, and put him at
the head of the Brigadier- Generals Oldest il
the service. The second, of the l4th July, put a
dozen Brigadier Generals above him-among them
Gen. David Jones, who is closely connected by
marriage with the President. Strangely it happens
that Gen. Walker. of Georgia, was superseded by
Col. Taylor, another near connection. General
Bonham consulted all the general officers in the
Army of the Potomac, and they all agreed with
him, that such treatment Of him was q wrong and
ing letter to the War Department. 1t appears tc
us that he had no other alternative bat to leave
the service:
[CoPY.l -=
HEADQu ARTERs lsT BRIG ADE, lsT CoRps,
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
....,.. , Near Cent1evile Nov IL, 1861. J
Hon ). 2. Benamin Acting Secretary OF War: ~s
Sd'--1 have not expressed myself happily, if !
have conveyed to your mind the idea that main
tain you can date the commission you now tender
me so as to make zone commission overlap the
other.' should more correctly express myself
to say that, il the law is such the President
strues it, viz :such as to cause my commission tt
expire when Col. Gregg's six months regimen
went out of service, and such as to admit Of youl
giving me on the 2lst of October a commission
| comforting rank from the 18th of July, / do no
| perceive why the commission should not be suel
as to prevent g loss of the rank, y or "as to gvt
| the rank first assigned me-"
Ido not otcomprehend how my commission Of th
goth April last is not operative but desirons Of re
| naming with my brigade, as the enemy is SO nea
in our front, and may advance at any Moment
accept the commission now rendered. desire
| however, at the same time, respectfully to stat
that Ishall ask leave to resign as soon as some
thing decisive shall take place, or we shall go int
| winter quarters. 'rE ~ '9<
| ,aE lam, sir, very respectfully,
/ Your 0hedient servant,
| CSienedl NJ l.. BONHAM,
| Brig. Gen. lst Brigade lst Corps
| Army of the Potomac.
| E1HjciaN ,JSO WYTIIERs A. A, Goperul,