Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1862-12-17
Judge Not by Appearances"

WE copy the following from the edlGl-
rial correspondence of the Cincinnati
Commercial from Washington. It is
giving justice only to an Ohio General
Mcdowell:
The newspapers have not given much
attention to the martial now sitting
here in the cases of Major Generals Nc
Dowell and Fitz John Porter. But the
proceedings of those courts will speedily
and greatly increase in public interest, as
it is likely that much of the matter known
as "the secret history of the wal" will
be brought out from official pigeon holes
and from the mouths of officers, which
have been hitherto closed by military
propriety." Generals Mcclellan and
Pope are summoned to testify in the case
of General Mcdowell, and from the pre-
cedents set by the court, judge the
range of testimony will be very wide.
Gen. Pope is here, and Gen. Mcclellan is
expected before the close of the week.
Both will be called in both cases now
undergoing investigation. There is no
question entertained by reasonably we'll
informed persons, that the trial of Gen
eral Mcdowell will do much to remove
the preiudices entertained by the public
against that officer. He has been charg-
ed with drunktnaess when response
bic for the discharge of important du
ties; and a New York Colonel was called
as witness on that point to day. The
Colonel had written letter to New
York paper, stating that he had seen
General McDewell drunk, and was called
upon to state why he made such CONS
munication. He was asked to-day why
he supposed the General to be drunk.
He said that he "knew the General was
man of full habit and forid appear
ance," but he chad never before seen
him so blooming as on that day" He
further stated that the General walked in
"zig-zag" manner, and was greatly
heated" II curious fact that Gen
eraI McDo,1eU ncUer dranb spurious or
malt liquor, tea or coffee. He has abso-
IuteIy nerer tasted those beverages. Isn't
it odd that he should be denounced as
drunkard? But it is precisely as sensi-
bic and just to call him drunkard as
traitor. Some faeetious gentlemen say
of his total abstinence "that's what's the
matter" But the sober portion of the
people are not likely to regard the inspi-
ration of whisky as inseparably associa-
ted with military capacity.
During the examination of the New
York Colonel, who Otesti6ad to the bloom
ing condition of Gen. Mcdowell on a
certain occasion, the Hon. Reverdy John
son, of Maryland, who was present, was
excessively amused. Mr.. johnson is
gentleman whose blooming" face (Which
is fair uniform rose color contrasts well
with his white hair, and the suggestion
of blooming gentleman seemed to hit him.
Several of the spectators, influenced by
the example of the distinguished Senator,
found it difficult to preserve their gravi
ty, but Gen. Mcdowell and the President
of the Court, Gen. CadwaIlader, were
impossible as wooden images. The pro-
cess of investigation by the courts-mar-
tial is excessively tedious. The courts
meet at II o'clock, and remain in session
about as long as the House of Congress
do before the holidays. The questions
and answers are reduced to writing on
the spot by the secretary. The employ
ment of a good phonographer would
greatly expedite business. 1t is weari-
some to see half dozen Generals, two of
them with double stars on their shoulders,
waiting more than half their time for the
secretary to write out the record in full.
Maior-G General Hunter is tired already of
Fitz John Porter's case, in which he is
the presiding officer, and has asked to be
relieved, that he may take command of
his department, which is understood to
be that of the South.