St. Mary's gazette., 1864-02-18
INTERVIEW BETWEEN IMR. TN
coin AND a DISMISSED oF'FI-

i. GER.
Il. Tie Boxso,a ss,monreesh ..repe,Irtea
10 b. Sir s;umrer'f argas.. iepublishes 4
pamT hte, BY NJ. Morris C.,peiand. who
was dismissed from the army 10 August.
1862. Mr. ropelan.l's acrouut Of his 10.
iervhw with Mr. Lircoln is rather funny.
Having reminded the President of his
Uniform good conduct while in the army,
and ef his many services. aud having offer
cd {" produce numerous letters from vari-
aus generals. recommending him in the
highest terms for promotion. Mr.. Copeland
eoutinued:
/ mo complaint. tha, know of. has been
made against NE; aud yet am dismissed
The service. with no mere ceremony than
one w"nld kick out dead dog. VIII you
allow this. sir? Will you allow the repu-
tation ] have made. :,y own and my chill
dren's property. to be destroyed in
the dark ? VIII! you not consider my
friends /"
The President replied. "We.l, sir. I
know something uhou: your case. and III
iell you what I know You're iha. man
who went Z" Boston about the time Jack
son brokc through at Front ROYAL, and
swote letters and editorials abusing the
administration. and made speeches.. and
did all that yon could to make f,,ss.''
lrrlied, ''isir. how have you become
possessed of this errouenus idea I never
did anything of the kind i.
"Well. knew all ahoui IL; I've been
Informed by gohd authority ahout ycu"
"Will ycu permit me, sir. TO explain the
trushT
Yes"
Il cane to Washington on The 20ib Of
May. aud. willis, hire. was directed BY
GeE~ral Banks TO apply to the Secretary
of Wa: for reinfo, cc,nenis. as be was liable
to be destroyed without them. saw the
Secretary. and explained the urgency Of
the case; aud told him that. to the best Of
NY belief. Ranks. If rot reinferccd within
ibrcc days. would he cut of. he sneercd
az me. saving all generals were calling fur
triaps. and thss during .her DAY. three hatll
telegrspled 10 Iti,u that jackson was ii,
ffoat Of tbe,n. I stiIl urged the matter:
anc at last he consented Is send troops. -
l hasiencd to Boston. and, arriving on
Saturday. heard ON Saturday night that
Keuley had been cut of at Front Royal.
and knew, that. il such were the case,
Banks must be in a critical condition
Monday morning brought the news Of bis
disaster and ,he Secretary's call for troops
I went 81 once 10 Governor Andrew, and
asked hin for. the latest news. He gave
it; asked me ny opinion Of the coudi:ion
of affair; and then asked me- TO write
letter Which would arouse the people of
Massacbnsetts to enlist. by presenting the
fruth Of the matter. Excited by appre-
hension u wha, had probably befaIlen our
army. aid the regiment in which I had
several dearly loved friends. sat dowa
and, wrote an appeal TO the people of
Massachusetts. and gaze it TO Governor
Andre ". wbo sent il, With a note, to the
escni,g tareis for publication. When 7
saw il IN print. for the first time realized
the Interpretation which might he pu. upon
it by che Government. hut il was then to-.
late Following the letter. several editor
ials wsre Eriiteniu B.'ssou popers. severely
attacking Mr.. S,anton's war policy, whish.
] havcaL bern told. we're sent to SIr. STAN
ton.s rs wTiiienat my irstigaiion. but wirh
which ] had no connection, having been.
ut that time. warm defender of Mr.
Stanton. further told him, that the
editor Of the offensive paper. who charced
TO be my brother-iu-lsw would make aifi-
davit 30 the fact; and that had always
been warmly attached to the raaicn! party,
whilst the aforesaid editor was orc Of the
ssrnngrst conservatives"
The President said. in reply. well I
did not know ynu we're dismissed. never
saw tie order that know If. until to-day,
though. of course. IL ha. been laid before
me and received MY ofEe:al sanction; and
] don't know what the charges are. But
do know THAT ynu .snt a.. a impropcr and
n,slicious Telegram In cipiur to Boston
editor, which no ofictr hal n right to do,
ssying I vas scared. McCiei 'au was 20 be
captured. aud W were on going 10 ruin
You thought zen were very shsrp. and
put II in scmr kind of 1 cipher ..u made
up; but we've ga, some very cute fellows
ID the tell erarh efice. and one cf then,
wolk. d It oct and sent. it 70 me TO read.
and Icautd .cs phinly eaopkh that you
belcrg ! to THAT class Of men wko are try
ing ID make sll the mischief FOR the Gov
eminent Isl,st they csn Fact i. believe
you vsut 70 help run this Govetnms.ns;
and, tscsAsc you dsn't get ~ much notice
o. yee siiink Won deserve, you are irving
10 usakc trouble" - sc -.
s'e"sir, said ''will son permit me TO
explaiD the ,elegrs.u r. which nos for the
irst timc came into my memory ssa ean-e
ct complaint against me ..When the
nsws came tn Us in camp ihat Mcclellan
had Suffered HE reyer.rs before RieI,nspDd.