The national Republican., 1862-07-23
THE oaARsEs AGAINST oGHnRAL
MHTCuDL.

THE CHARoEs AGAINST ogHnRAL
nHrCR8l.
The MOUNTAIN HAS LAsossp AND BHocosl
FORTH housK.-For several days pest, the
country hes been anused BY he nost sxtrs-
ordinary and absurd stories touching ths Coz.
duct OF General MrruakI- No one Appeared
to know, exactly. what terrible crimes General
ArcaEL bad committed, but that they vers
horrible, wss certain-too horrible, according n
one account, even for publication. At last, I,
WAS stated that Colonel Norton, Of the Twenty.
first Ohio regiment, was here for the purpose q
formally prsserriug charges against the General
(who was his superior otncer,) and hat b.
would soon be under arrest, and, Of course, BIZ
tair fame forever blasted; the Colonel, how
ever, has como TO the rescue, and instead O
charging -eries Of unnamssbls crimes ssains
General ArrcHEL, be simply made bis appear
ancs before The Congressional Committee on
the Conduct Of the War, aud made the follow
ing frivolous statement:
IL claim, in the arst place, that General
Mitchell took possession Of cotton in q rebel
fortihcaton, and sold that cotton for three cents
per pound tn man by the name Of Clark, when
he was onered seven cents per pound by man
named Fuller. Mr.. Clark lives In Ohio, and NJ,
Fuller in Athens, Alabama. I claim, also, thai
he gzve this man Clark and his associates the
exclusive privilege Of transporting cotton BY
Government wagons from Huntsville and Athens
to point on the railroad or roads leading to
use the teams or transport cotton BY them.
have statement here, as sworn to by man
named d. A. Saxon, who 10 In the employ Of
the Government-a mail agent between Hunts.
vile and Reynolds Station on the railroad-of
conversation In which Clark said that he got
his cotton through by slight of hand; that 1t
cost him nothing to get It through, rs Gen.
eral Mitchell sent II through in Government
wagons. Mr.. Ball, of Cincinnati, told me that
General Mitchell said to him that he had
made large amount Of cotton through
his son.in.law In North Alabama. His son.in.
law was there, and WAS introduced to him by
the General. That son-in-law was understood
to be connected with Mr.. Clark in these cotton
hItchel's statement to Mr.. Hail, that he had
made large amount in cotton through his son.
in.law.
~ charge Col. Turchn, and the officers and
soldiers under his command. with having com.
mitted outrsges and depredations upon the
people Of Limestone county, and the county
west OF Tusoumba, contrary 10 the printed
orders Of Gen. Buell. tor the government OF the
army under his commAnd-in that they have
stolen horses, mules, bacon, corn, and fodder,
from the Inhabitants, without receipting there.
for or giving any account Of the same. 1charge
that they have plundered houses, taken from
them ladies' wearing apparel, gentlemen's q
clothing, and have broken furniture and win
dows, broksn'locks Of drawers, and destroyed
everything in and about various premises.
charge them with committing rape upon ser.
want girls In the presence Of their mattresses,
with stripping rings from ladies' fingers, cutting
bacon upon parlor carpets, piling meat upon
pianos, and being qusrtered in houses when
they should have been Quartered In their tents;
robstpg citizens upon the highway, breaking
open safes and stores, breaking jars and every.
thing generally in drug stores, In two or three
instances. They have also taken away horses.
mules, busgies, and harness.
further state, that General Michel knew
OF these things; that took written statements
Ia him on two occasions; that I introduced
committees OF citizens to him for the purpose
OF getting some redress for these grievances
or u cessation of them; that he paid no attsn,
,ion to them, or rather failed TO stop the dep
redAtions up To the time the brigade was or
dered TO march to another section of the cOup.
try. 10 proof OF these charges, will submit
the sworn statements Of the citizens who suf-
Of oficsrs of the army who were
cognizant Of the facts. These sworn statements
viii be submitted TO the committee whenever
they ask for them. Ny regiment 10 located at
Athens, Alabama: and propose to rejoin it a.
soon ~ ! conclude the business that brought
me TO this city. Ny residence 10 Perrysburg,
Wood county, Ohio, and letter addressed to
me there. In care OF my wife, Mrs. J. 3. Nor
ION, would reach me.
General Mitchell required of those who ap-
Plied Tor permission to buy cotton, that they
should give him one cent per pound on all they
bought, for the privilege of buying"
These are tbs " horrible charges" made by |
Col. Norton against bis commanding general
hey are not only frivolous, but bear upon |
beir face the impress Of malice, and will con. |
ign Col, Norton TO that dirgrace which bic |
conduct in this affair justly merits.
To those who are unacqusinSd with this |
natter it may afford some light to state that |
zen. Mitchell Ia strict discipl marian, and that
ome time agohs arrested Norton for disobs-
Hence OF orders, and that this gave offence to
he Colonel, who Is now making these petty
forts to revenge bimself
The country may rest assured that there Is
20 foundation 10 truth for any Of Nortsn's
harges; and in relation to the cotton story,
be fact lie, that Gen. Mitchell did not sell Q
Ound OF cotton--that he did not even know
D whom II was sold, nor for what price, and
his is fair specimen Of Col Norton's truth.
Ilnes0.
Gen Mitchell has a reputation world. wide,
nd has lived tor half century without spot
r blemish upon his reputation everywhere
nown as man Of the highest and uoblest az.
irat'ors Of strict integrity, of unimpsaohed
ohor ana morality, aud whose whole life,
'oa boyhood up, has been 10 strict conformity
nth his profession OF Christianity.
or bis military career, we need not speak,
is brilliant operations in the West and Sou,h
,on won the applause Of Congress and the
administration, which they manifested by a
peedy promotion. We cannot afford to loss
10 services OF such = man, aud hope soon to
ear that hs will be assigned TO = command
orthy OF his high character NJ man and an
nicer.
~ The postags-stamp currency law does