Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-10-28


cable to make need hardly to add that it is not de-
signed to ectfrom yourself the officers OF your
any statement which may lead to personal criminal
ion but only 10 attain information Us may properly
De procured tor the information and guidance of the De-
partment 1t is earnestly hoped that such explanation
may De gwen by the officers concerned will entirely
lam, Sir. very respectfully.
Sgued) s. COOPER,
Brig Gen. II. L. BssSrSo Com'ds, &C.
HsADQuARrERs BENN1No's BRIGADE,
- Asdr CHATTANOOGA, Sept 2S, 1868. !
SF:-Late yesterday evening received your letter of
the in which you say that the President has been in
herd and other officers Of my brigade prominent
Leaders, and it alleged if not with my consent at
least with my knowledge There particle ofruh
at Raie CD with part of he brga the beginning of
night and Immediately busted myself in procuring trans
porstion for the troops this direction Having arranged
tns IN an hour or returned to the depot where the
troops were, lay down with my head cross tie and
slept till eleven oceck when the train to carry the troops
the cars Whilst engaged in that work heard for the
nrst tms OF the outrage on the printing Office was then
too lale for me to do thing preventive remedial
!emp'eteo Nothing came to my notice on the way to
Raleigh or after arrived there to excite suspicion that
any plot was brewing against the Standard newspaper If
Inspected such thing, should have taken the most
rigorous measures to suppress it. And far as could
learn no officer of the brigade engaged in the affair
AS to Maj Shepherd Colonel it should be the impu.
ana unjust He was cnspicuous in the suppression of the
outbreak When it commenced he was at hotel await
ing his SUPPER and was found there by Gov Vance He
Immediately accompanied Gov Vance to the place. and
aided him to the work Of destrucnn 1t he who
after Gov Vance address, ordered the troops and they
without word obeved him. All this he told himself
and he 10 man Of character and perfect veracity He
now absent having been wounded in the last of the two
battles on the Chickamauga. will send him copy of
your letter to me- with instructions to give you according
to your owninuncton, full report of all the facts Of the
case within his knowledge
The true explanation 81 the affair take to be this:
when my brigade arrived at Weldon, we found there
party Of Norh.Caronians, commanded by Lieutenant,
who informed that he ordered to the vicinity Of
me to let party 20 along with brigade for the sake
odspatch IsAid yes if he could find in the train
Tor bis party He replied hat he could take the tops of
DINGHY he and bis party took the tops the and went
with my brigade through Raleigh. After we left Raleigh
this party freely avowed themselves the authors of the
of into it with them, and have doubt they did,
but think not many, and these merely unorganzed nd
viduas each acting for and BY himself These things
learned from officers and who heard the talk of the
North. Caroiniuns On the train after it left Raleigh.
learned them first at Charlotte when the train stopped
there but the North Caroinans were then off the cars SO
mat had Nd opportunity t. quest ion them myself Thus,
Sir you have such account Of this affair is in my
| power to give you. am, Sir.
Very respectfully, your obi servt.
|. HENRY l.. BENNING.
| Brgadier General.
10 Cooper Adjt. AID lnsp. General Richmond, Va,
COLUMBUS Georgia. Oct. 9Th, 1862
| Cooper, Adt. d Lasp. Gent Richmond, To-:
DEAR Sra: Accompanying this present communication,
is letter from Gen Benuing in ITSELF perhaps viudica-
tion in full of the reputed completely Of myself
mander of he second Gega regiment in the receut law
less proceedings against the Raleigh Standard.
would be content to rest my vindication upon the
statements contained in Gen. Bennings etter did Lot
proper respect for your office, less than a compt
ance with the wishes of Gen B. require defence at my
own hands, Let me add, twha perhaps however is Who'll
Is s Of
stances of Gen B. during the outbreak in question.
1t was matter OF no greater surprise and modification
more particularly Georgans under my command
should be involved in riot which is to be hated ouly less
than the common enemy Ny first knowledge of the dis
for this purpose al the hotel eaqurng rs Gen Ben
ming and in his absence for the commander of the second
Georgia regiment. Accompanying Gov Vance, proceed
diers were engaged in the disturbance, within the
building and others without many Of whom recognized
1t is to be marked that not officer by the
mi list Of this outbreak experienced no difficulty what
ever in resto ing order; Immediately after which Gov
Vance addressed the crowd who listened with respectful
attention and dispersed in body Allow only to add
shat Gov Vance publicly thanked for my timely
position and that many of the officers and men of The
brigade invited share the inequalities of the Ex
ecutve mansion.
have this day written TO Gov Vance, requesting him
have the honor be- yours sf' : 'sssRRf EMEkD
| Lieut.. Col. I'd GA R-g't, Behring'S Brigade
1t common rumor in Raleigh that the North.
lima troops, of whom mention is made in Gen Benning
letter. the leaders in the riot conducting others to
tho d"ird Office and first taking part in it's destruction
| W. S. s.
COLUMBUS GA Oct. eth 1858.
Hi Enasleney, Co.. Hance:
DEAR Sig Enclosed please find copy of letter of en-
qury from Gen. Cooper to Gen Bennng forwarded by thu
latter from Chattanooga to at this place requiring
dcaton especially my own hands of alleged compci
outbreak against the Raleigh Standard lhave easily
and presume satisfactorily to the Department. vndcaed
my conduct against accusation which is palpably
contradiced by the facts to of which, at least yol
will remember you yourself wi ness Instead Of in
stgang or in any manner participating in riot, which
| every good soldier hate only less than the com
mon enemy, you will doubtless remember my prompt j
accompanying you to its suppression In my explanation
to the Department stated my intention to communcat.
with yourself, who 1 doubted not would cheerfuy co
operate in my further vindication. To this end you will
please favor me by writing at your earliest convenience
the proper Department. With grateful recolIecons
your kindness to members of my command while in Raj
egh and with soldiers full appreciation of your
agency in suppressing the mob,
am yours very respectfully, nr,,n
1t. Col. ed Ga Regt, Bennmg's Brigade.
STATE OF North CAROLINA
Enecutire Department. ,
| Raleigh, Oct. Is, 1868
Hon. Jas H. Seldom, Secretary of Var:
DEAR SIR:-The letters of Gen. Benning and 1t. Col
Shepherd of the I'd Georgia regiment in reference to tn
mob this City, received. They satisfactory,
far their denial of their participation is concerned
though cannot but think Gen B. is mistaken in suppo
sing that there were any lumber of North roop
in the riot In my letter to the President said that
Benning remarked to Col Whtford transportation
here some hours previous to the mob that he should
be surprised if bis did tear down the Standard Of
fee he had heard it threatened; and that during thu
prevalence of violence sent fer him and he could not b.
found and that nv mes senger for him. was driver