Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-10-22
General kearn-y'> Lpter-'eheraf Bir-
ney'~ tOpsuIrnt On IL.


The following letter from Brigadier General
BiIn,y l. published:
SEMINARY. Va, October l., ieil.
he DcGr FrisHd. / deeply regret the criminal
rcnCuCf Of Pet I!al>t.ad' iii publishing kear
nry l. IT. T. when thar gallant soldier lies moul-
trrIn- in tn. grave. and canuo: defend himself.
A. lhc s.rior officer OF his division, second III
command To- hilr. and Iny brigade nnmb' ring
more ;liGn on half his command, L was on
v.ry iutiHlGt' relations With him. and enjoyed
fully his confidence.
H. va moody. anal under temporary reyozs'S
gave way 10 dependence and 1t ~uch moments
WIS IN lined % rhap> tu" strongly, to crI!Icisc
tf. conduct of tn" war. This 1't''r vas written
NJ HarTisons I-andin". in one of these moods. IN
Stric: con fidCnce Ia intimate friend, with no
thought ihat Il would ever is. published 10 IN"
world and call forth from iIe Bullcun, and the
nrrSs generally. such 4 torrent OF remuneration.
Most CALAMITY did kearney support Generals
Hrint2clman, Reyes, and Mcclellan At VII
Haulsbur. his ..tiShIing division" arrived III
good time, and mad is marx while ut + ar
Oaks. Glendale. ana Malvern Hill, the rebels
had cause remember the lone armed devil"
as they call'd orr ubiquitous general. In
neither of thes,' battles waS his 'hghting Ill
vision Re pulsed, hui held the field. Generals
superior ~ him. i'll ali official reports, mention
Ii, s.slIaniTy and efficiency. At Harrison
Landing. kearu'y first r. al POps'S orders and
programme, and they suited admirably his i'm
petuous NATURE, and, IN his fear of being LETT
inactive. hr asked TO ~ sent 20 Pope; but he
did full Justice 10 Grr. Hct'lelian, and exacred
from his command the most implicit obedience
TO th, orders OF the General commanding the
Army OF the Potomac, and certainly the high
reputation OF Our gallant and experienced
Hcin!z,.lnlan did not suffer from having in his
corps kearneys division When the division
joinrd POpcs army, he bent his whole head
and heart 10 aid that general in checking the
advance of Il vastly superior enemy, and some
of ms think that Pope did nearly all that could
have been expected OF his small army. Ger
tainly kearney and his ''iightin% DIVISION As
he fondly termed il, We're not und listing uiShrd.
On Friday. ut Bull Run. holding the right,
this division drove the enemy from its position
with heavy slaughter leaving one thousand OF
its own dead and wounded, and holding It's po-
sition all night and next dry. During the re-
trrat and dlsgraceful conduct OF some other
troops, the division under Krarney remained
in IN. field until ten O'Clock ut night, with the
enemy in rear. front and on the right, and then
retired in good order. Chantilly wound mp the
glorious history of this division, and saved
long train Of artillery. ordnance and wounded
from being intercepted and the army from being
pierced and separated. The extract which you
send me says: He did get with Pope, and
Pope led his fighting division to defeat and
himself 10 death" kearney's division has,
fortunately for It's tame, never been defeated.
At Williamsburg. Fair Oaks, Glendale, Bull
Run and Chantilly this division held the posi-
tons assigned 10 it, rrpuisrd the enemy, and
gave Kearney greener iaurels than had ever
rraced HE brow.
Notwithstanding his caprice and ;mpetuosity
of character, the division loved him. and now
ing OF Indignation towards the ghoul that has
exposed his bones 10 insult and reproach.
Fleet foot in the cOrrie,
Sage counsel in Cnmber,
Red hand in the tOray,
How sound is the slumber
Like the dew on the mountain,
Like the foam on the river,
Like the bubble on the fountain,
Thou art gone and foreverr'
Gen. Mcclellan, who knew him well, had
often smiled Al his hasty, impatient speeches,
and repruaches of himself; for, 1T the same
time, he knew that in neither of his many gall
liant generals could he repose deeper trust, and
the plans of his campaign You must excuse
my long letter, but / feel deeply the reproaches
heapcd upon my friend and thought that per-
haps my words might change the feeling of
disappointment IN my own friends, on reading
his severe, moody letter. No general in the
field was so ready 10 take counsel from juniors
or seniorr: none more strictly and promptly
obeyed orders. He was entirely free from
Jealousy" ori subordinate sclf-conceit," and
was ever ready 70 atone Tor the results of his
impulsiye conduct. He had q remarkable
memory, grrat desire 10 do Justice 10 all OF his
command. and remembered every gallant act
of each soldier. Ny brigade will always re-
his conduct could not bt made with safety be-
fore any number of il. His presence on the
march always drew forth their cheers, and on
the battlefield their pride courage and chiy-
airy. L have many OF his letters, giving full
credit 10 Generals lcintZelman and Nc Clellan
j am proud OF his friendship. and of hav ing
commanded Z brigade in his division, and trust
that his confidence will be respected, AT least
until This war l. over. and his entire conduct
and correspondence can be given.
Yours, respectfully, ID. Il. BIRNEY.