The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-07-03


pened that thad many acquaintances on
the grourd, whose opportunities for know.
ing the true history Of that battle were
fully equal to yours. and in whose intelIi
gence, integrity aud disinisreStsdnsss. l
had quite as much confidence as l had In
yours. ..
To give you an idea Of the class of men
wi.hwhom ! eonversed, on the subjec ctI
will say to you tina. | visited the quarters
OF Gems. Buell., McClernand and McCook;
that met Gens. Boyle, Garfield aad
Crittenden. Col. Smith. of the lst Ohio,
Pairott, Fyff4, of the goth Gibson. Mason,
Muugtee. Smith, of the 84th; Hawkins,
of the 18th Ohio; Leggett, Couucll, aud
others that do not now recollsct. / also
saw and conversed with many company
officers and privses with whom was ac-
quain,e1, hany of whtm were gentlemen
of intelligence aid character. whose state
ments are entitled to quite as much conf.
donce,as the statements Of gentlemen who
wear shou ulderstraps and stars.
spent two days upon the battlefield,
in consan. intercourse With men Of. cvery
grade and rank. froh the General com.
mGnding to tho men il the ranks, and /
saw but one man who said the attack was
not a surprise. and that man was Colonel
Legee,t, Of the 6Sth Ohio. Every other
man otths hundreds. whose opinions l
heard expressed upon the subject. said
the attack was a surprise that was the
result If the gross negligence OF the
Commanding off ers.l
You charge me with relying on the
opinions Of the fugitives and towards,
who took shelter under the banks Of the
river.
Whether any with whom conversed
were ofthat number. Ido not know ,butI do
know that many Of them were, at lesst,
your equals in intelligence, integrity and
S5dfage, and some Of them in rank. and
that their statements are entitled to the
mos. explicit confidence. II is very evi-
dent from the manner 10 which you as
sail me for not coming 10 you for intelli-
gence instead of obtaining it from men in
subordinate positions, thatyoI have great
ly mistaken your position, and the char
aoter Of the men under your command
You should remember that you are not
commanding an army that was recruited
a, the FIVE Points. and in Mercer street,
New York. 1.-The caukers Of calm world
aud long Freeze" and 1T only for food,
,or powder, but an army whose rank and
6'e is composed of intelligent and eduea
led farmers aud mechanics, who in every
thing but mere military rank. are the peers
OF the Generals and Colonels by whom
they are commanded.
They have gone Into The mil,sr5 Ser
vice, and placed themselves Under you'
command, from motives: of the pursst pa
trotism; and while they obey your CON-
mands. and submit to the indigni,icf
which you may heap upon them as your
interiors in rank and position. they are
nevertheless capable Of comprehehdint
i. the movements Of the army and detecting
the tlunders of the officers who command
them.
They are abundantIy capable Of obser
wing aud stating truly, acts which COM
; under their observation; and l have NJ
] hesitation il giving full credit to thei
statements. .r....
And now for few facts. A soarworl
: veteran from Mich igan, who was wound
ed in that battle, came up with me in on
Of the espital boats which accompauie
10 the battle field. He had bullet thrc
o hi, leg aud his clothes were riddled wit
grape and caDistn. He was man {
! intelligence, good sehee add hHdoubse
e courage. lie was in Gen. Prentiss' div
! sion, aud his regiment, or a consiterab'
J. portion OF il. cut their way through tn
II enemy ranks after they were Surrouudet
He told me the first notice they had {
: the attack, Tie enemy was upon Lhel
nhae Msy tere in their tents, and that b
II fore they ,rsre drawn up in order Of 6aIH
they psrs surroUndsdGy The enemy an
70 their retreat cut OF.
~ You say. and you say that Gen. Bea'
10 regard concurs with yod, that the 81
D, Regiment occupied the key toyour who
rs position. As an excuse Tor putting ra
N and dndisciplined troops in front TO =
o. ceive the first shock of battle. you say
le was where they wished to be- ASto Il
Or 57th you say, i. was in the very fron
L the place of honor. to which Col! Mung'
or hio men could 40. object. Their frol
Fd was guarded by themselves. aud fneg
a gence is justly charged it belongs
"a themselves 1t isr TO ts' preshnied. th
all every regiment in tie army desired I
nd post of honor, They could not all ha
10, il. Whose business was i. then to det'
or mine what regiment. was best entitled
ry il2 WAS il not yours,as the Command
on Of the 'division2 .s,
~ ~" And then you say thsir front "
q" guarded by themselves, and if there y
:, Il negligence il was cbargeable to the re-
':o .: ment. And so you considered yours
~ ~ iustifable AS the commander Of the "
'ss M key to our position. in putting a perfsC
eu green regiment commanded by Colo
VI taken from civil life. who had not b.
IH IN the service one month, in the post
me honor and Of DANGER and suffer him
"a. ' station his picLets and guard his f.
.Gu according to'his judgment Of the exig
Nv -. cies Of bis position.
- - Do you not see that thisi rs q full Q
,rs. % fe.sion Of eli, all and more, than Q
mr.. charged you with2 .
,At An assistant Surgeon or HospitsI al
.es. ard of the 57tb, we'll known 10 me to
ee- a man Of unimpeaohsble character,
o. -. II IL tk.k 80 and.