The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1863-04-25
COL. CLOUD AND HIS OPPONENTS.

COL CLOUD AND HIS OPPONENTS.
The following strikes afew Of our military men
some pretty heavy blows, and don't know but
they are needed. That Cloud has been wrong
ed but few doubt, and we are glad to see his
private soldiers take up the cudgel in his de-
fence, and as vigorously as our corresondent
does This is what he says:
SPRINGFIELD, Mo-, April I, 1863.
Things jog along here after the old style,
tha, is, plotting and contemplating for power,
without any regard to right, justice or decency.
Weer, Ewing, Blair, Bassett, and all the fol- !
lowers Of Robinson and Lane, appear to be
united to crush out Cloud, and to do this they
agree that it will not do to let him command
his regiment longer, as they all know that we
would follow him to the gates Of HI to fight
rebels and prove his vile, snesking and cow
ardly calumniators liars. So the programme
is said to be arranged something like this: BY
the help of Lane and Pomeroy the War Depart
ment is to decide that Clouds appointment to
the command of this regiment was done under
a misapprehension of the order, and that Cloud
then Blair is TO be made colonel, with Bassett as
lieutenant colonel, and all the officers that have
manhood or decency enough to attempt to vim
dicate Cloud are to be dragooned into submis-
sion. or compelled to resign. The uninitiated
would doubtless ask, Why is this? what has
Cloud done that he should thus be singled out
as target for all the other commanders? The
answer must be, even if their own cowardly
consciences were permitted to speak, He has
done too much hard fighting and service for
the Union and the military reputation of Kan
sas; hence, jealousy, Of the meanest, lowest
type, has taken possession of their bosoms.
They cannot be blind to the fact that he is the
most popular man in the Kansas District with
the men that have fought under him; hence
they fear that the universal voice Of the SOL
diers will be needed by the future historians of
Kansas and the seal Of condemnation put up
on their own cowardly and corrupt conduct
With all this array Of influence against him,
and military reputation to sustain him, backed
by the kind wishes of his soldiers, who are as
powerless as Southern slaves to help him. .
Blunt, too, is an earnest helper in this dis
graceful transaction. lie knows full well that
not few Of those best informed believe that
had it not been for the aid he received from
Cloud, that now, instead of being a major gen.
eral, with brilliant reputation, he would to-
day have been disgraced and defeated briga-
der Since he has been assigned to the COM
mand of District which the enemy don't pre-
tend to occupy in force he thinks no doubt he
can dispense with the services of those who
have military capacity sufficient to make them
dangerous rivals.
| But beside all these causes the great cause Of
the conspiracies that have been formed to ruin
Clouds reputation, and deprive him Of his
command, is the fact that all the officers en-
gagged in this disgraceful business are either
the sycophants of Robinson or Lane, and You
know that Col Cloud neither respects nor fat
ters either of them. He despises alike the
man who attempted to rob Kansas in her
infancy and the man who combined with VAL
landigham and other traitors in Congress to
rob the Treasury of the United States of mile
age they never had any rightful claim upon.
But the most sickening spectacle of all is to
see those who have been and still are the re-
cipients of the favor and help Of Cloud secretly
llending their aid to the afore mentioned con-
clave for the promise of higher promotion for
their treachery The spirit thus engendered
has been communicated to the smaller fry, and
lieutenants are hunting up old charges against
captains, captains against majors. ETC., all
seeking advancement by pulling down those
higher than themselves.
But will not pain you with the sickenine
details longer. Patriots who enlisted to serve
their country weep at the mention Of the dis
graceful scenes now being enacted by those
whom they have placed in power and fought
and shed their blood to give the reputation
they now enjoy. have long since ceased t.
look for justice or decency among the Kansa:
officials. was not disappointed to hear tha
the Kansas Legislature refused to allow soldier:
to vote. Such men as composed that Legisla
ture never voluntarily relinquish power wher
it floats airily within their grasp.
Bread Riot in Richmond.
Cal Stewart. Second Indiana Volunteers