St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1862-07-17
Conversational Nominations.

sent from his regiment since his connection
with it unless detailed for special duty. or when
indisposition prevented him from being with
the gallant men who compose the First. We
blame Col. Miller for letting Colonel sully
have the command of such staunch stuff as the
First is composed of, when he could have had
command Of them for the asking .-Hastings
Independent.
Why, Brother Stebbins VIC did not
dream that of6cc-sccking was such car
dinal virtue, in your estimation, that you
esteem it crime for man to neglect an
opportunity OF securing bis own clcva-
ton. Has it indeed come to that, that
you consider man worthy OF condcmna-
ton for prefering the welfare Of his couu-
try, to his own personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ?
1t is we'll known that Col. Miller was
civilian, and but ,mperfectly acquainted
with military affairs when he received the
appointment he now holds. On going to
Fort Smelling he devoted himself, heart
and soul, to the study of his profession, in
tending to resign if he did lot feel that he
could qualify himself for his post before
he should be called to active service. He
soon satisfied himself and his superiors, as
we'll as interiors, in command that he could
fill the post of Lieut.. Col. efficiently and
at the Battle of Bull Run had an oppor-
tunity Of verifying the correctness of this
opinion. Owing to the fatigue and expo
sure endured there he has never had a
days health since. At the time he might
have been Colonel Of the Third Regi-
ment he lying i'll at Harrisburg with ty-
phoid fever and his physicians had little
hope of his recovery; but he was sustain
ed through his long illness with the hope
of being sble to resume lis place in time
to join his regiment before it moved for
ward and be in at the taking of Richmond.
That long illness so interrupted his mill
tary studies, and so diminished his strength
and powers of endurance as to render him,
IN his own estimation, unfit for higher
post than that he then occupied and he
honorably declined all attempts to win
place, aud all acceptance of any place that
he felt another might occupy with more
advantage to his country. To the excel
lent tactics of Col. Sul'y, ut the battle Of
Fair Oaks, it is believed the safety of our
gallant First is due, while that brigade
saved the day Col. Miller might have
commanded it as we'll, as is now shown in
lis success in carrying them through the
late battles, and We with other friends be-
lieve he underestimate his own abilities
but as this is a species Of fault not very
common in public men we feel that he may
hope to be forgiven by the public.
Those of US who are more interested In
his personal welfare than in his official
promotion deeply regret that he canno: be
induced to resign and leave the army,
since that old Bull Run butchery has ap-
parently developed the seeds OF consump-
ton which he only escaped some years ago
by emigrating to Minnesota. From re-
ports we get FROM other sources than him
self we fear that six months more of army
life must seal his doom to die Of oulmona-
~ disease, and so far as he is concerned
this, more than anything else is the rea-
son we wish him congressional nomina-
ton. If Richmond were once taken and
be nominated we believe he would come
home and canvass bis district, feeling that
by aiding to prevent the Governments
falling into the hands of Northern synpa-
thizcrs with secession he could more effect
ually serve his country than by wearing
out the few poor months of consump-
tive's life in gelloping around after gangs
Of guerrillas.
True, be writes US privately and posi-
lively that he will not resi- gn until the
war is over but one at least of his superior
officers has already advised him to resign
that his regiment may have the advantage
, of the services of a healthier man in his
place, and from the readiness with which
he has declined promotion we feel that he
will certainly yield TO- such suggestions on
, his first discovery of want of strength to
perform his duty. From the effect ou1
, climate had upon him at first, 1t is fair to
suppose that an autumn and winter al
home will re-establish his health and We
want to present the temptation of 'oork te