New-York daily tribune., 1863-11-24
Interesting History Of the War in
Virginia.
HIS ARREST AND IMPRISONMENT.
The Part Humane Mon. Combatant
Takes in the War.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PorosAc. F,


SIR. have been informed that previous 20 tho
eco.sn Of the Rsppaannock by Gen Meade you had pre-
pared letter for publication in the Richmond pe,s and
Ano ns that anything from your pen, particularly q" TN.
time ha. deep interest the country would respectfully
solicit copy the letter behalf of the Associated Press
for publication. Respectfully
T. BARNARD, Core espondent Associated PFc's.
AUBURN. CuIPErPER COUNTY Va, Nov. p, 1863.
DEAR SIR Your note of to-day has been re-
ccivrd You no, been misinormcd as TO my having
wrtens letter publication Ia the Richmond papers
prior arrival Of the Union Army in this vicinity which
have suppose has before this reached the public
eye through The chsnne for which intended Therefore
o.e you copy Of the letter for the purpose indicated in
your notc. ain very respectfully, JOHN NJ. BOTIS.
! r. BAHSAED. esq Correspondent Associated Press
AuBuKS Culpeppcr Co.. Oct. ls, 1863.
! t. The Eddor Of The E1amiao.
SIR: Yours is the only paper published in
Richmond to which could make application with
sny likelihood Of success in order 10 set myself right
before the public; and YOU will pardon me for saying
that a BY no means confident ofobtainng such aprv.
eye at your hands; but think have right TO expect
IT, nasmnch you have chosen 20 publish an extract
from letter written BY correspondent t9r ana plo
shcd ip The Nel York Hsrald accompanied with some
uncallcd for and III natured comments of your own
But do not ask you publish IL for me- without max
ing suitable charge. which am more thin whNbgto
pav hope Therefore you will allow me to say that,
while | have long since forOorne "a make ecrrec-
tions Of any Of me by the public
press yet there some Of such nature, and calcn-
lated 20 beget so much prejudice in the public mind that
do not feel would be acting wisely OK properly 10 iet
them pass unn0ticed
am willing at all times TO be held 70 proper respon
sibnty for anything ] may say or do. but am not
Hing 20 De 80 held for what Others. who may draw
upou their fances for their facts may choose TO say for
me or Of me. have seen several statements IN the
Richmond papers lately copied from Northern papers,
calculated TO excite popular feeling against me- "hich
| had no foundation IN truth.
/ FIRST. Tina, | had been accostod hy some Indians
major then Engaged in a skiruish with some oi me
Rebel cavalry and on being asked which way they had
gone (Which by the way, II he was sAirmlsn,ng WIN
them be ought To have known for himself wlhon ask,
inc me) replied i not ai liberty 70 tel hm ~
was on my parole and then very gfatuholsly added.
that d" was Union man without any Us OF Outs
Now whatever my opinions and position On tis siJect
mnv be not trne that have had any such interview
have seen such major and had no such question: pat
/ 10 me and have given no such answer
Sec0adly. In the letter portion ~ which You have
copiea am represented by the writ as having said.
wished that the Federal Generals knew half that
/ have only q that said no such thing and Moth
iig hat would boar resemblance 70 L; and when
re4d ~ Herad containing ~ mentioned me error 10
other cOrrcspondcAis 81 that pd i ana ,skeu mem
10 have il corrected. which they promised should bc
done see nothing in II, If had said II, TO b. COM
planned Of by other parties II matters not what |
not disclose them 10 others. Icompained Of it because
Il made appear in the ridiculous attitude Of pretend
u
ton was obliged 10 know. IL was lfeposleFous IN
tt. eyfrere For al know tlat / am not in
the confidence # the Government or the com.
mandors OF lis forces. and therefore cord
know nothing Of their nientions and To their re-
sources profess 70 be profoundly isnor cithe. as 10
what they are or where they are W lat he sa!s aoo.t
mv purchases in Richmond Is true. For what would
have cost before The war at regular market prices,
s6l ID did pay : 3O- U3. But this dlscos ng 10
Important state secreil inasmuch yoa furnish them
th the prices current once or ~ lee week and these
current prices are wc known in New York ~ they
age me. But did not tel IL with any expectation
that WIS TO get into the Hspaqers. for when men,
toned lid lot know 10 whom Was addressing my
sof Tie gentleman came, rs many others did, to pay
bis respects and 10 Was not until De VAS gong away
that De handed ne Las card by w.ch aseeTtaned that
Dee was army spondent OF Itc NeN York Hrald
incidentally mentioned the fact in speaking OF The
great scarcity of alA high prices Tor egeIythlng 10
Ills l.t Of lis letter. therefore. made 10 objection.
liut in your comnelts On this letter you say Mr.:
Botts came io Richmond on quite . different egIand
dian on a marketing expedition. lie came Ia draw
some ..l2 900 $1,000 of the Government Which lo
delights 20 abuse and Affects 80 much to dcspise ne
4blor, fhe Go, rnMeAt, but loves rs money Ia the
hr.' place let say that, whatever | may think 0i the
Gu.ulAmclt yet l laye never lclt myself entirely nc
ag nst is administrations rs have read ln Your owned
orii columns. hut il have never made pio.esslonso OF
devotion TO The Government, have never celsg to
feel warm interest in the welfare of tie ieope az r.
g.nHn. with whose prosperity AID freedom My own
ala entirely identified and VIII take occasion O. say
hot, what said 20 Cen Meade, and lave sAld 10 az
It's, my earnest PRAYER is that this revolution may result
in whatever may contribute most 20 tue psaaHen9 pace
happiness prosperity asd Jre,d0m Of the people oi Viz
einin These are the blessings OF "a good government.
This is what suppose Is desired aud aimed az by all
uuess the selfish politicians and tie corrupt specuators
in and ont of the army may constitute an exception
They care not under what sort OF government they e
pro ed they ill tlo high places and haze their pockets
well lined. We may diner possibly, md perhaps non
esty rs to the best means OF attaining these desirable
ends If il Is by the OF the refonton then lrdy
God the revolution may succeed but If by restoration
of the Union then | hope the mon may pe restored.
What want is government that mas tie "ln anu 'HS
power TO protect my person ana my property against t
,buses. and that would prefer living rs dli before
the war 10 living have done since the war Delond
all question: ana would be mailman II a iOol IL uu
NOT and "A knayo hypOcrlte n were TO pretend
Ihirdly, / hope committed unpardonable Of
fcnse If did TO Richmond 10 collect ortTy to collect,
some 200 or : $40 ior which furnished supplies or
rather for which supplies taken nom me Tor the
use of the Confederate Army all of which were certified
10 as being due by the commanders of regiments or by
quariermasers but which were not paid because the
accounts made Oat IN tie prrcse iorlh huhor-
izcd At what You have called the Red Tape ana Cir.
cumOoution Offices, which accounts are stu due and
unpaid. and fear are likely 10 remain 50.
Finally It has been announced that have been
rested and sent TO Richmond but those who made the
arrest and those who made the announcement
have taken good caro- not to mention the
cnuse Of the arrest, thereby leaving
the public to infer that had committed some grave
oiIarse against the Government, which you say do
much abhor. God knows IT, and its agents have given
me no great reason 10 worship IL.
Let US SEQ how the account stands. On my part,
have done nothing from first To last of which this GOV
ernment complain unless IL be that have not be-
come democratiled and have made concessions 10
democracy and have none 10 make hereafter. and be-
cause have not chosen TO follow bAndly wherever de-
mocracy might choose 10 lead.
On the other hand, Of what have | 20 complain First
the legislative power of the Government mas Deeh
especially directed against me- while Was leading inc
most retired and secluded life. clearly admitted
by the Hon Henry >. Foote az the following sessoh vi
Congress when he said he had been Induced 70 'o,e or
the declaration Of martial writ Of haheas corpus u9ha
representation of the condition of things suppossu 10
exist IN the neighborhood of the City oil kiehhond olt
which turned out 10 be entirely groundless Second.