Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-04-05
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(Confdenfml J

MADIsoS IND March 10. 1864
Gen Merrill BariOp. Quartsrmaster General Of
Ohio
DE.R Sm-In the strietea and most sacred
confdenee Of gentleman, write a. follows:
Your report of this hospital, published in the
Cincinnati Gazette Of yesterday. severely crit
cising Surgeon General Grant. surgeon in charge,
is creating quit a stir. and a buzz. and beg ot
YOU, on the honor OF gentleman, 10 keep every
thing may have said to you. you promised,
sfrictly IN confidence; you remember you
promised me, nothing should .eDer be said as
coming from me-" A. you refer to the assistant
surgeons and chaplains as the source of your in
formation We are called upon to sign paper ex-
oneratng DR.. Grant from the IL esations brought
in your report. Now you will please remember
that my position is peculiarly delicate.
The surgeon in charge is ready 10 suspect me
"a having something 10 do with everything said
against him, and hence my great caution IN
talking TO you. Relying on you as gentle
man Of honor, and even after imposing pledge
of confidence, l then only gave some ihtmations
about furlOuqhs-about their delays, &c
charged DR. Grant with nothing, but said they
1.-THE furloughs) STALLED" somewhere. And you
remarked Yourself that you were satisfied OF
where the stall" was. or words TO that effect
The inference as TO irhere was your own. rs
charged nothing on DR. Grant. And now. Gen
eral | make point Of honor Of II. and feel salts
fed you will not make me suffer Tor lev init
nations given YOU IA confidence, and so ex-
pressed at the time. Now appeal TO you, most
earnestly, not TO mention my name nor refer to
me as having given you any information directly
or indirectly, matters pertaining TO the admit
istration OF our surgeon in charge. Tie Is my su-
perior officer, and il would be cruel 70 place me
in jeopardy for some confidential intimations N
which there was nothing direct, and what little
was minated was with the most distinct under
standing that nothing TGS eUer 10 be sad as com
inq from me And now, as gentleman Of honor
/ know you will not make me sufferer. by any
thing said by YOU publicly or privately
If know my heart, have no other wish ONLY
to benefit our soldiers as their chaplain 10 loot
to everything that concerns their happiness anC
welfare. In my present capacity. NV whole TIM
and attention are given to the sick and WOUNDED
soldiers of this hospital, as they all will testify
But enough OF this.
Even this letter must be strictly confidential
even To the tact of its being written Read
and then burn il, lest it fall into improper hands
Let me hear from you if YOU have time for
line.
Most respectfully.
Your obedient servant,
[Signedl WM NJ. DAILY,
Chaplain. L. ). A.
The two other persons who sign the paper nav
not been 40 kind as furnish me with write
evidence that they made the alleged communlca
tons to me. therefore leave them to the quie
luxury of their private reflections, trusting TIA
under the ministrations OF ''godly teachers, the
may soon arrive at such degree OF perfection
as will enable them to tell the truth-or telling
lie. adopt the worlds motto. "stick to il.
Congratulatlng you upon the apparent falsit
Of the information communicated to me by thes
trusty men,
am yours very respectfully,
MERRILL BARLOW.
Quartermaster General Ohio.