Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-04-30
A STRANGE MILITARY ORDER.

Inc following military order appeared in the Indepen.
dent Democrat published at Concord, IN H. on the 26th
ntno with the brief remark that the order speaks
Itself and makes good beginning there are other officers
who should be dealt with likewise"
liar Department, Adjutant Generals Office.
Washington. March Is, 1862.
81 BY direction of the President the following officers
hereby dismissed the Of the United States
Lieutenant A. j. Edgerly Fourth New Hampshire Yolun-
eers for circulating copperhesd tickets and doing all
IN his power to promote the Of the rebel in
his State.
By order Of the Secretary Of War:
l.. THOMAS AdjutaDt General
TO the GoDsrnor Of NsD Hampshire
The New Hampshire election took place on the 10th Of
March The order dated on the 18TH and doubling it,
genunensss we heststed to give it the place our CO
umns TO which legitimate paper Of the kind would have
been entitled But learning from late number of tho
Independent Democrat justifying this act Of the mill
tary power, as well from other evidence before u.s.
that the order is really genuine and that the original
file in the State House at Concord we rspublish il
of the remarkable incidents Of this unfortunate war;
together with the ateypubshed explanation Of the dis
missed officer in which lis justice is denied.
Letter from Lieut. Edgerly.
MANCHESTER, IN H) MARCH 90, 1869.
Editors If the Boston Post saw in your issue of to-
day the order dismrsirg Lieut. A. J.. Edgery of the
the United States for circulating copperhead Tickets
together with your thereon in which you say
you cannot believe it true that the President of the United
States would stoOp low to dismiss an officer for yot
ing the Democratic ticket, circulating tickets,
when it is notorious fact that the Administration had
their csrs and brought from all parts Of the cohn
try not only to vote for the Republican party but all
their influence to have others do the and for the
same party. rftsAa 1&
Why write this is to show you that the order is
genuine al hough have not been officially notified of it,
hi tha
at Concord and shall probably get copy when the printed
issued do not wonder that you are 10th to believe
it true for many OF the leading Republicans here those
who believe the dismissal merted If the charge true do
not believe they would s0Op the low phrases
atthe War Department in their orders but such arc
the words used in the order word for word, published
in The Democrat" at Concord
] send you copy of certificate given me BY the
Moderator Of the Ward in uhtch voted (ward six and
he is one of the most influential Of the Republican
party and Of the editors Of the American in tbis
city which goes to show the first part Of the charge Is
false, and for the other at loss to know what ia
meant by the rebel his State" unless il il the
Abolition cause and every man who ever knew me- or ever
heard me express my political opinions knows never did
any thing to help tiat but have voted the Democratic
ticket since 1850 with the exception of last March, when
was in Florida with my regiment.
The facts are these simply went to the polls and
deposited my ballot, as considered had perfect right
to do, not thinking that when took commission 10 the
United States army forfeited the dearest right of
American freeman the right to exercise the elective fran
chise according to the dictates Of his judgment and
conscience and do not regret the act and shoud do 90
again tomorrow should The opportunity occur.
You will pardon me for the freedom l have taken in
writing this to you not for publication only to show that
the order is not bogus" Yours. most truly,
A. j. EDGERLY,
Late Lieut. Fourth New Hampshire Volunteers
Certificate Of the Moderator.
MANCHESTER, IN H. MARCH 90 1853
This shows that am Moderator in Ward Six in this
city That on the day Of our annual election March 10TH
Lieut. j. Edgery came into the ward ROOM presented
his vote, and Immediately retired. He did remain in
the room over five minutes. did not him distribute
him had he been engaged in circulating them in the
ward room JAMES o. ADAMS
Moderator of ward g. city of Manchester, N. H.
Our contemporaries generally noticing the above ORDER
have fallen into by stating that Lieut. Edgerly
was officer of the New Hampshire regiment which was
sent home from the Army of the Potomac to recruit"
just before the regular time prescribed for the election
That was the Second regiment and not the Fourth Il
passed through this city homeward bound on the 9th Of
February last 1t is charged by the Concord Patriot and
other Democratic Journals Of New Hampshire that hun
dreds Of other officers and soldiers were rouphed and
sent homo about the time The Colonel Of the Second
Regiment has reported to the War Department that il
now ready for duty.
The following is the article Of the Independent Demo
cra above alluded to- It appeared in it's issue Of the
I'd instant
HOwL.-The Patriot and other treason -sympa-
thzng newspapers in State Ia howl over the recent
order from the War Department diminishing from the
service an officer of the fourth regiment who was at home
10 this State actively engaged in attempting procure
victry for treason in New Hampshre-a victory over
which the rebels, whom he commissioned to fight
and not to aid would have rejoiced az they did over
The result Of the elections in New York and some of the
Western States. Let them howl. An officer who will
aid and abet the election Of to places OF trust and
power who have from the outset opposed the COERCION
rebels who have declared and acted the declaration
that they would do any thing that be nterereted
Is 10 any way supporting this not fit to hold COM
ar in copperbead retracy home amid the scorn and
contempt Of all loyal men,"
The Patriot 10 commenting the above order has the
following remarks:
"Tha peculiar friends and organs of the Administration
are daily and loudly calling for united North' and are
feponR the fact that all citizens do give cordial and
energetic approval and support to the President This
order gives proof Of the kind Of unity Of sentiment and ac
hon that desired aud the way it sought to be secured
Onehaf Of tn, people of this Satethe thirty thou
sand men who voted the Democratic
vil6ed belied and prescribed an order issued by d.
rection OF the President And for WHAT For their
nest and steadast fidelity to the Constitution and their
shaken devotion to the Union 1t s for that aud that
alone II because they will not support which
they believe will prove destructive 10 the Constitution and
fatal to the dearest rights of free For this the Pro-
,fR cally denounced copperheads and rebels And
by Diminishing officer for supporting the Demo-
ratio party declares that he does want the services
4 Democrats in the army This 10 the adopted
" the President to produce a united North By this
course he expects to induce thirty three thousand New
their patriotic convictions their heartfelt devotion TO
Union and become moral traitors by Welding assent