Daily union appeal. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-186?, 1862-08-12
That "Evening stron.n

colonel of the Sixth Regiment Missouri In |
elegantly than truthfully expressed. In read |
ing the communication, fat contradiction to |
each sentence REQUIRED to my mind, and as its |
gross misstatements are calculated to do |
grave injustice to most of the officers of the |
regiment, it is proper that they should not pass
without refutation.
Your correspondent says that he " CHANGED
to pass through the camp of the regiment at
the hour of dress1psrade, and witnessed one of
the most enthusiastic demonstrations of conf
deuce aRd esteem which it was ever his good
fortune to meet with" When it is remem-
bered that this suburban stroller had but just
returned from several days absence without
leave, his candid confession that he found
himself on his post of duty by mere chance, has
q peculiar significance, and speaks more for
his good luck than for his soldierly scrupulous-
| ness in the performance of the functions of his
| office. And if at his mature age, d. ii. has
never met with more enthusiastic demonstra-
| tions of confidence and esteem than the one he
SO graphically describes, his career has been
/
few opportunities of witnessing the public
recognition of distinguished merit either in
himself or in others.
Passing by D. Ms Hattering reference to
Col Bland as an cable officer and soldiers
| friend wherein he certainly shows charac-
teristic acuteness of discrimination and keen
insight into character, which few, if any, be-
|
preasions which feel myself at liberty to con-
tradict. The 'short but able and soul-stirring
address was simply fattering harangue ad-
dressed to the rank and file of the regiment
with disparaging inuendoes and illusions to
the. officers, well fitted to bring them into dis
favor with their men, and to create partisan
feeling in favor Of the speaker. The widest
shouts of applause" which your correspondent
mentions were only given once during the
speech, and were no more thar could have
been expected from an audience of gallant SOL
diers when the ingenious and pleasing idea was
presented to them of bearing their flag aloft
through every peril, even to storming the very
gates of hell itselfl!"
D. Ms assertion that sat the close of the
speech the air rang with cordial and heart
felt cheer upon cheer for their gallant Colonel,
in which every man, without exception, bore
his part" is entirely at variance with the facts,
and comment thereon is quite unnecessary.
He calls this Spontaneous demonstration +"
If, by this, he means that whatever cheers
were given for Colonel Bland, were the nat
ural outburst of feeling on the part of the
men, without any care or effort of Colonel
BANDS, 1 must again take issue with him
1t seems to me that Colonel BANDS course on
the evening before this, in passing up and
down the company streets, shaking hands
with the men, and treating them with ia
miliafity and show of friendship which he
never before manifested-not caring, the while
to visit the officers line, except perhaps two OF
three tents-and in making the speech to the
men, which has elected so much praise from
D. NJ, is exactly the course that an officer, no;
over sure of the confidence and esteem" Of
his men, would take in order to secure theil
} good opinion. And 1 do not deny that his
efforts were, IL part, successful, and that many
of the men, whose grave ofenses against good
order have heretofore escaped serious punish
ment under his lenient administration. and
who have particular dislike for battalion
drills, welcomed him cordially, seeing in his
return an omen of good times coming. In
fact, whatever cheering was heard after the
parade, was owing more to their deliverance
from the usual evening drill than to any per.
sonal affection for Colonel Bland. When ]
add that only seven officers attended this
parade, it may easily be judged whether the
officers generally were disposed to make any
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES or otherwise
of satisfaction at Colonel BANDS resumption
of the command.
This faithful chronicler says that the "drill
and soldierly bearing of the men of the Sixth
show the ability andskill of their commander
If by commander" he means Col. Bland
justice requires that this statement be contra.
dicted. 1.-THE fact is notorious both in and
out OF the regiment that the excellent drill and
soldierly bearing of the men composing the
regiment, is not attributable to any skill and
ability of Col. Bland. He has been in COM
mand Of the regiment but small portion of
the time since its organization, and when he
has been in command, his ill-health, the presI
of other duties and other causes have prevented
his devoting any considerable attention to the
drill or instruction of the men,
In conclusion, I would recommend this
PeripGtetic correspondent of yours, either to
throw away his pen at once, or hereafter to
use it with decent regard to truth in hisco
munieations with your readers. r.
Another Combination.
CAIRO Aucsust 6-CamTnodora Porfa- opd