Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1864-07-30
House OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
WASHINGTON, June 20, 1867

WASHINGTON, June ~, 1904.
SIR: The inclosed extract is taken from
speech of Mr.. Jane, published in the
Globe Of the 10th instant, but which was
never delivered in tie House of Represen.
ta,ives Mr.. Jayne left the city before it
made its appearance, aud before had the
means of knowl edge what it contained.
The charge brought against me is
very grave one, and if true. the records Of
the Adjutant Generals office will estab.
lish it.
beg to ask your attention to the
marked passage, and to request that you
will inform me if such a charge exists
against me in your Office, or whether the
fear Of d,smissa! from the Army for cowar-
dice was the cause of my resignation in
the year 1856.
hope you will be explicit, and will fa-
vor me with an early reply.
l am, very resp'y, your obedient servant. .
j. B.. s. TODD
Colonel E. y. TOWNSEND, Assistan. Adju.
tant General, U. S. Army, Washington.
WAR DEPARTMENT, ApJurAsr GENERALS 0rrIcE,
WAsHIN6roN, June 25, IS 4.
SIR: In reply to your letter OF the 10th
instant, inclosing slip from newspaper,
and asking if charges exist against you
in this Office, or whether the fear Of dis
missal was the cause Of your resignation
in 1856, have respectfully to inform you
that can find no record of any charges
against you, and am not aware that any
have ever been filed in this Office. There
is no evidence connected with the record
,f IN hnv hat una
rendered under any fear Or pressure what
ever The regulations of the Army re.
quire that when an officer resigns under
charges copy of the charges shall be filed
with his resignation. There is certainly
no such document with your resignation,
nor any evidence that such n one ever
existed.
In General Harney' report Of the battle
with the Indians near Ash Hollow, Sioux
country, in September, 1855, you are men
toned with your command in high terms
Of commendation among the company
commanders whose position, either in the
engagement or pursuit, brought them in
closest contact with the Indians
am, sir, very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
T. d. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant General.
Hon. j. B. S TODD, House Represe natives.
ask the Clerk to read SO much Of Gen.
Har"ey's report of the battle Of Ash Hol'
low as applies to the charge. The Clerk
read as follows:
Immediately after his Little Thun.
der's disappearance from my view | orr
dered the infantry to advance, the leading
company Captain Todd's as skirmshers,
supported by company II, Sixth Infantry,
under Lieutenant McCleary.) the remain
ing companies Of the Sixth being held 10
hand for ulterior movements. The skir-
mishers under Captain Todd opened their
fire, crowned the bluffs on the right bank
Of the stream (where the Indians had
taken up their last postion) in very
spirited and gallant manner, driving the
savages therefrom into the snare laid for
them by the cavalry"
The company commanders, whose 20.
sitioh either in the engagement or in the
pursuit brought them in closest contact
with the enemy, were Captain Todd. Of the
SIKH Infantry. Captains Steele and Rob.
ertson, Of the Second Dragoon's, and Cap
tain Heth, Tenth Infantry.
Sir, what can be more conclusive than
these letters refu,ing this charger And
surely the commentator Of 30 eminent
and long tried soldier rs General Har'
ney is worthy Of consideration, and should
have shielded mo from so cruel an accus.
sation. What shall be thought of the
man who knowing the truth dares choose
falsehood, and then shirks the responsi-
bility that attaches to all honorable man
when they assume charge, b. i true or
falsai It Is true ! received tho appoint.
nshs Of Brisadier General shortly after