Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-04-29
The Case of Gen. Seymour.

The case Of Gen. Truman Seymour Illus
trates forcibly the folly of hasty judgments
He was ssyagely assailed after the disastrou.
battle Of Olustree, on points affecting hi.
military reputation, and his personal reputa-
tation loyal and patriotic officer. Not
little hue and cry was made over the alleged
facts that his advance was made without
skirmishers; that his line OF march was nd
icnlous; that his artillery was marched in
front; that the engagement was sur
prise, and be was further charged with
being virulent pro-slavery man ; with sys-
tematic i'll treatment Of the colored troops
and unwillugness 10 carry out the policy OF
the government in respect to them with in
sulting and unjust treatment Of Robert
Small, the colored pilot and capturer OF the
little steamer Planter and with having leen
once semi from the department Of the South
by Gen. Hunter for mruly conduct In
these grave charges. one or two Of our Yer
mont leiers, les jealous than they might
have been of the reputation Of Vcrmonter,
a regularly educated soldier, au old artillery
ofhccr, vino did gallant service in Fort sum
t.r and at Fort Wagner and elsewhere, eager
ly joined.
But the Investigations b. the Government
and the Committee on the Conduct Of the
War, and published documents over the
names Of responsible parties, have fully vim
dicated Gen. Seymour on all these charges
Tie dues not Inderd come out free from all
blame, but the fault remaining at his door i
one not originally charged upon him. and
one for which some excuse can be readily
found. It is that be assumed the response
bility If the advance from jacksonville. con
trsry TO his instructions. which were q" not
to risk repulse. or make an attack where
there was prospect Of much loss For
this Gen. Seymour must answer to the prop
cr tribunal. For the rest the evidence is
conclusive that the advance was properly
conducted that the line of march was com
pact; that the batteries were marched in the
centres of the Brigades to which they were
attached that the use OF skirmi4hers
and sll proper precautions were NOT neglect
ed that there was DO surprise, or ambus-
csde. and that after hard fght our
forces were beaten by an enemy having
the superiority both Of numbers and
position. In reply to the chary
in reference to his treatment OF col
bred troops. the y. T. Eve. Post, which had
freely published them, now publishes letters
from Gen. Seymour and from the officers Of
TIE colored regiments Of his command, which
II is Obliged to own form - complete and
satisfactory erorerGfio1." Gen Seymour
says pro-slaverv sentiments even in mod
crate form, | mover entertained. TIE field
officers Of the c0lored regiments testify TO
the full military equality, and fair, kind and
courteous treatment Of themselves and their
troops. accorded them by Gen. Seymour
Robert Small writes 10 say that Gen. Sey-
mour has always shown him " the greatest
regard in public and private, and that he
was never treated contemptuous' by Gen.
Seymour or his aids.
We are glad to see so thorough vindica-
tion Of zen. Seymour, and so far from
hoping. as some have, that he may never
have another command, we trust that he will
still be permitted to do service for his coun
try and he allowed an opportunity TO retrieve
the fame. now clouded by disaster due to
an eager desire to find and strike the enemy
to the want OF which on the part OF our
generals, many of those who bavc assailed
Gen. Seymour have been won't TO attribute
the slow progress of our arms.