Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-09-18
For the Enquirer.
GEN. EUuER


r. the records Of history did not inform us
of the amount Of unmerited obloquy that
former ages had heaped upon some of the
best and noblest Of our race, our surprise
would be unmitigated at the untounded and
unreasoning abuse thati Gal!y bestowed up
on some of our worthiest citizens and soldiers.
Where has any officer heen Sc virr'antly
maIigned as General Huger, for the evacuation
of Norfolk, and yet the publication Of his
orders and his letters have radounded 20 his
honor in refuting that SANDER and proving
the direct reverse to have been the fact, VIZ
that he had strongly opposed and protested
against it's abandonment. Equally unfound-
ed has been shown to he the chsrge that his
troops were not engaged in the battln OF the
Seven Pines. The proof is afforded By the
very officer who made the charge. 1t ap-
pears from the o6icial documents that on the
10th Jaly, General Longstreet reported to
General Johnston that the troops Of HugeT
were not ut that engagement; and on the
18th General Longstreet issues general
order that there shall he inscribed "the battle
Of the Seuen Pines" up1n the banners of the
principal regiments of Huger's division. That
General Huger'a division was delayed in ar-
glFl0g on tue Ilelu IN dlO cttNiA
by that officer, hut bis official letters fully
account for and Justify il. General HUI
gers letter states thlt he was delayed first,
by the necessity Of binding bridge to
cross the swollen stream in his front, and
secondly, 10y General Langalree:'s troops
crossing the bridge Ersr, thus delaying for n
considerable time the crossing Of Euger 3
division; it being supposed at the time
that Longstreet was the senior officer
Thus completely have these TWO charges
been refilled, :.bd quite Ns easily and en-
tirely can every other charge be dis
proved when the proper time shall arrive
In regard to the charge that Gen. nuger had
allowed Mcclellan to escape hy the road he rs
pursuing to the JumeSrirer itls we'll known to
every officer in his neigthorhood that liuger
was not stationed on the James river, but
that his position was between the York River
Railroad and Charles City road and that, in
pursuing Mcclellan, he was compelled to
move down tho Charles City road. 1t was,
therefore, only in the power Of Gen. Holmes,
who was stationed on the James riTer,ro have
advanced on Saturday down tue James river
to Malvern Hill md the Turkey Island road.
tby which road Mcclellan escaped Gil Satur-
day night,) and to have Intercepted the enemy
ny obstruct;ng his !.asas.c to the James
river. Thus simply Is n'n Islander repealed.
1t is rumored that ten. tiuger has demanded
Court ri Inquiry 10 disprove these several
charges, ard bope and t:,iS; he has done so.
would remark. il, coi.clu.ion that the
abuse heared upon Gen. Huger loT rot soon
er rcs;gning from the United States army and
coming to the South,is equally slanderous; for
he had only retained his cid commission whilst
he deemed compromise could be effected.
which that arch traitor, Gei,. ScotLpersuaded
him was then in process Of honorable al
justment. But the moment force was or
dered by the United States Government he
resigned biz commission and came to the
South. CoND1.