, 1863-12-04

ecs hayegiVea rise torcports upoc which your
assertion may be based:
7 Iwas ordered by Gen. Rosecrans to send
six horres to Lebanon, Kentucky, for the Use
Of party OF telegraph operators, WHO were
horses were not put OF at the proper point
on the railroad, through inattention Of the
man in Charge Of them; they arrived at Louis
lie, where they were properly tnkeu care Of
By the quartcrmastcr Of the post. These arc
the only horses I ever sent out Of the depart
ment-
Thus having disposed Of your statements,
and Which are mainly, rciterations of Nash
vile street reports, which lived and died
there, months ago, permit me to add few
remarks respecting the army police. This
organization -was attached to the Provost
Murshal Generals Department Of the Army Of
things subordinate. Much care was taken in
tue selection of good men for the police, and
they were Invariably given written Tor rather
pHnted) instructions, were put under official
oath, and were held to strictacconntability.
!. All seiz ures Of contaband goods, with the
Marshal General, and BY his special or general
orders, were turned over to the proper de-
: -partmentB, nnd to the custom house officers,
The examination OF all arrests and seizures Of
property was made by the properly appointed
officers, and the facts were presented to the
tfofObt MtIsAa1 dGuefdl- AIS NuIel OF f0-
lice did not cont1scate property Of any kind;
he had no authority to do 30. No man ever
came to me with complaints, and was refused
hearing; and where the charges made were
In any wise true took all possible care to
make ample restitution and to prevent their
future occurrence. Such complaints were
very few, and mainly Of triyial Importance.
Having thus disposed Of the charges against
the army police, Mr. Editor, will close with
brief allusion to It's good results. The dis
ordered state Of society and affairs at Nash
ville when arrived there, is known to all:
The city was invested by rebel army. Tho
state House and public streets were barrica-
desperate people, and spies and smugglers.
From small beginning, the army police bus
mess grew speedily to considerable proper
tions. The city police proved powcrless in
encountering the evils, and an army police
mails and the scouting (spy) service, in con
nection with the police, probably gave to tho
latter greater appearance to tho casual OBJ
server than it really mcritcd- That I should
meet with much Misrepresentation and oblo-
lie character, md knew well 1t must and
should undergo the closest scrutiny For
this lave been at all times, and am now,
fully prepared. But, Mr. Editor, that res
pectablc newspaper, friendly to the cause Of
the Union, SHOULD originate or aid in clrculat-
Ale5 %lu AAAuHAuG4 aQeuIU Aut uuu
cry, as you layo done, had no reason to cx-
pect. Had you, in your representation Of the
army police, shown cny desire to portray the
good work accomplished by it, your case
would NOW be better for you. Ny army po-
lice work extended during some five months
Of last winter and spring. resigned the go-
sition Of Chief Of Police in July last. Why
did you wait until this particular time to
bring forth your chargese When the army
police was doing its heaviest work, none |
were more loud in its praisc than the Union |
men and press Of Nashville. As regards Its |
expense to the Government, my organization |
sayed thousands OF dollars to the country |
IN one case it thus saxed an amount greater |
than its entire cost. No other department of |
the army can present such a sclf:sustainIng
record as this. As for myself, will only add |
that have abstained from all private busi- |
ness pursuits whatever, while in this service,
and that hare always, and do now, court In |
vestigation respecting the army police, and /
my connection with it.
Very respectfully, xodr obd't serv't,
WILLIAM TRuEsDA1L,
Formerly Chief of Police, Army of the Cum
hnr1hr1