Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-04-06
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
WAsn1NeroN, April 8, lse4.


WASHINGTON, April 3, 1864.
GENERAL MEADE AND THE BATTLE OF GET
lf TYsBuRG.
General Meade, in a written statement
| furnished the War Committee, asserts that
he never Issued an order to retreat on the
ID of July from Gettysburg, as alleged by
General Butterfleld, andnever heard of such
being in existence until told of it by Gen.
Gibb0n, but that, on the contrary, when
General Sickles became engaged, the Fifth
corps was ordered up to his support, with
the view of holding the position to the last.
He also states that the only grounds Gen.
Bntterheld had for writing an order to re-,
treat were the directions issued TO him, as
| chief Of staff, to examine the country
through which the army had moved, with
the view of expeditiously moving back to
another strong position In case any unfore-
seen disaster should render such step nee
essary. Gen. Meade positively asserts tina
he meyer at any time entertained for a m0-
ment probability of retrograde move
meRt, or gave Gen. Butterfield any reason
for. writing the order he did. This testi-
mony Is corroborated In every respect by
Generals Hancock, Warren, Gibbon and
other commanders cognizant Of the facts.
THE WHISKY CHARGES AGAINST BLAIR.
FRANK BLAIR has been exonorated from
the charge of a brother Abolitionist of hav-
ing ordered $4,000 worth of hospital liquors
for his own use; it was only one Thousand
worthI Aspecial says: :. -, .,,.,
The special committee on the charges
against General Frank p. Blair have had
four of the staff officers who signed. the
celebrated liquor order before them, and
they testified that the word ''each" after the
n t-
der, as given, was for only one thousand
dollars worth of liquors. instead of nearly
nine thousand dollars which was purchased
under It.. Each staff officer testified that
the order was altered after it was placed in
the hands of Secretary Chase's revenue
agent. 549 ~ 'rsSf,8$E ,Esft@
MORE sTEALINGs DEMANDED.
Avery strong delegation of iron work
ers and engine builders In the employment
Of the Government are here to ask an in
crease of price upon their various contracts,
the fullllmentof which is rendered doubt
full on account Of the great and unexpected
advance in the cost Of labor and materials.
RESUMPTION OF EXCHANGES,
The Worlds special says there Is good
reason for asserting that Major Mulford
and Colonel Ould have come to a conclu-
sion on a cartel for future exchanges, on
the principle of man for man and rank for
rank, which will insure complete exchange
Of all our men except The colored prison
ers. T1r- rfcfuwgFlw TkGygSrTn
MILITARY NOMINATIONS sHELvED.
There were quite a number of Major and
Brigadier Generals hung up in the eXecu-
tive session of Friday last. Certain Sena-.
tors seem to know, judging from their Ian
guage, more about the qualifications of Off
GERS in the field than the commanding Cen
eral, for his recommendations are seldom
regarded. c..r.,7fr ~ l.t-tIaFnrrr Il
~ ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
1t has been discovered that Congress, in
passing the bill, short time since, transfer
ring the jail from the United States Mar
shal to the jailor, has unwittingly abolish
ed capital punishment in the District, The
unbecoming haste of few leading spirits
who rushed this bill through Congress for
the qualification of personal anim0sity to-
wards Marshal Lamon is now being appre-
ciated, for the Marshal refuses to hang two
condemned men, whose execution should
have taken place on Friday, on the ground
that he has no authority. @