The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1864-11-01
ted friend to the Union and its support
,ers, and 4 sworn enemy to its opposers,
whether North or South, at home or
abroad. d n Respectfully,
UT j. III, STARK.
Ord. Sergt. Co. +. lst Mich, V. V. Init.
.e,, Il CAMP OF lst MICHIGAN I
PErFRsBuRa VA. Oct. %, 1864. 4


; EpIroR STANDARD Quite discus
sion having arisen in regard to a letter
written by Sergt. Wells Of our Compa-
ny about Mr.. w. II. Sherman, and false
statements having been published in the
Democrat, deem it duty in behalf of
a brave soldier, to reply to some Of the
letters published under the signatures
of Capt. ID. ID. Marshall and others. If
Wells were here to reply for himself, !
should wish to be excused from enter
ing into the discussion. But he is now
away at the hospital suffering from the
second wound received during the cam
paign. have been with the company
since its first organization and know
that no braver soldier lives than Sergt.
Wells, and believe that he is perfect
ly truthful. toat PIP Re- gni9 L
1 will give you few facts to show
that these letters are either forgeries or
misrepresentations. Mr.. Luce says, 81
saw Lieut. Sherman approaching with
his sword drawn" &c. This is all rhe-
torical flourish. 1t can be proved that
Lieut.. Sherman did not have his sword
at the time, having left in his haste to
run when our brigade was forced to
fall back. After the battle was over
and we had returned to our former pos
ition, Lieut.. Sherman picked up sword
belonging to Capt. Francis Eddy of the
10th Mich. Inft., probably mistaking it
for his own. Capt. Eddy who was
meanwhile eating his supper, missing
his sword soon after and noticing that
Sherman was near, followed him. / was
by when the officer asked Sherman if
he did not have his sword. Sherman
ssthought,' he had his "own sword" "
Capt. Eddy insisted on seeing it, and
recognized it Immediately. After the
greater share of the men had been raj
lied and marched into the woods by
ORDERLY Stark, Sherman did rally and
went part way to the front, but was
with him and do not think we were in
anv danger after our first flight.
All have to say of the letter OF
Maltz is, that he was not with Lieut..
Sherman after the first flight and could
not possibly know whether Lnce's
statements were true or false.
The circumstances under which
Wells was at the hospital and on detail
for driving cattle are not mentioned by
the brave e? Cap. who berates him foi
paying off. Being at the rear at the
time, he is not supposed to know that
it was on account of wound received
at the battle of North Anna. And sc
far from the story being true in regard
to his request that Wells should be re-
lieved from detail, the facts are thai
Wells was offered the command of q dc
tail to drive cattle, and refused, wishing
to Join his regiment, and did so before
his wound was sufficiently healed to
permit him to carry cartridge box
1t is the height of meanness to withhold
the fact of the wound as the reason fol
his being at the hospital, and make i
appear as though he were playing off.
Lieut. Goodrich speaks of "the bat
ties of Spottsylvania, North Anna, anc
Others" where ''our comrades fell be
side us" The battle of North Ann;
was the only enc in which we were en-
gagged while Sherman was with us. y
all the men we have lost, the brave, la
mented Teachout was the only one wh'
fell while Sherman was with the Com
pany, and the cnly man wounded wa
this same "boy Wells"
am influenced by no other motive
than the wish that Wells may be vindi
: Gated. / always liked and respected
Mr.. Sherman. / have 10 "figure" a
all, and would be sorry to write what
have written did not justice demands ii
/ will add that we are in pleasan
camp, in the woods, recruiting and for
tifying. The Company gains slowly i
members, and the army appears IN tn
best of spirits. m j. b. JONES.