, 1863-03-25

Editors Chicago Tribune:
As" "uartsyille" (whosc letter to the Mis-
sourl Dt7hocrat appeared in your columns
some weeks since} and his associates still per
slst in slandcring Col. Merrill, of the a1st
!oTa infantry, and grossly misrepresentiug
his conduit at the late battle Of Hartsyi1le,
you will oblige the friends Of Col Merrill by:
giving publicity to the following testimony
of fCaptains Crooke and Benton, who acted q
conspicuous part in that engagement, and
who are well known in this community IS
reliable and truthful men. Captain VIM. b,
Crooke company B, 21st Iowa infantry in a
city, referring to the battle Of Huntsville and
the conduct Of Col. Merrill says:
I thank Jon for writing me, bnt do not think I
an entitled to any particular comml ndation for
the course took in reference to the vile couspira-
some time past TINT the spirit cyinced acai1st him
Ind snbsdcd. that in fact his own sturdy honesty
q sha1aetsf, and the exhibition Of his practical
mics and Crushed the conspiracy. But unfortunate.
j, I ind that the battle of Haftsville where the
to!one{ commanded, has furnished another oppos:
insnbotdinatc officers their animosity. With
reckless Disregard Of truth, it las been
asserted oyer and over again, that in that action
he was guilty Of cowsrdicc; that after the com
Mencenient 81 the fight he was never seen upon
tue battle field: and that when the retreat was or
dered he let the s1st to their fate It viii ever b.
ennFee OF gratifeation to me that was in that
engagement myeen, and that the position occu-
rlctl enables me- to give the most emphatic lie to
tho first two calnmnics hare mentioned. At the
to TN nds4 q the ms.ts fss was
companies 3 and G, and support the artillery, and
was engaged in that service during the 'eptir,
fight, and know that at least twice that after
noon. when grape and canister fell like hail
around us, Col Merrill rode up to sec how wo
we're progressing and the coofnczs and courage
d,sp1ayed a ny him. won my admiration and secured
raw him at greater distance on other occas.
ions, but always engaged in the line Of
bis d1t5, and In positionn where his
assured. As to h1s abi1lties as comn,ander, @ ie
can only say that insu's qualities arc proven By
position occupied By our troops that day. were
taken By his express o:dcra. and the fact that in
those positions chosen By him. little force Of
pulsed with loss, force Of siI Tines their
number; With compsrativelr lttle loss to our
ii 5 e &se 9as c es
considering the disparity Of forces, VIC won most
eIoEion1s victory and i any one doubts that Col.
that result, let him tel nc IN Gods name whose
was the directing mind As to his leaving tho slsl
on ths field 1t can ha proven beyond cayil, that he
ssnt the order to Col. Dun1ap to retire: Major
DnfHcld, Of the Sd Iowa cavalry. was with him at
the time, and the failure Of Col. Dunlap to receive
the order nuet be deemed one OF the aecldents Of
tE1AE- nHL III 4Hi3 CQnuccIt0u, Let me aud that
the Orderly who was gent with TIC order. states
cmphaticany that lIe gave it.
VIZ D. cnookE
Capt. II. 4. Benton, Of company G, of tho
same regiment, in letter to a. Pearsa1l, esq.,,
Of this rlacc, aflcr giving III account Of the
engagement, says:
AZ a matter Of course, Col Merrill did nothing
.ight-taknE hts snsmies word for it, for they hail
to Go was:to open their mouths and speak their
piece don't he!ieve any General could have
taken butter position done better than he did,
ut, perfectly saticGed, and have more confidence
In him than ever.
might add the testimony Of scores of other
respectable and truthful witnesses, who par.
ticipated in the fight at 1nrtsylllc and wit:
messed the conduct Of Col. Merrill on that
occasion, substantially Of the same character
as that borne By Capts- Cooke and Benton
but the aboye is sufficient to refute the vile
SANDERS Of 1fartsville and his co-conspirators,
who would By the yilcst calumnics blackeu
the reputation Of brave and patriotic officer
to subscryc their own selfish and base pur.
poses. Yours, &c,
WILLS DRrMMnSn