Washington telegraph., 1864-06-29
WASHINGTON. ARK, June Goth, 1864.


I have greater aversion than writing for a
public Journal an article concerning myself vet
the circumstances which compel me to overcome
that aversion will trust. be sufficient excuse for
my doing so. l have been assailed in the most
vital point Of any gentleman's character-rny
honor that which is dearor far than life itself
And now there Is 10 recourse left me except the
one adopt, viz: Produce the evidence Of eve
witnesses to my conduct. and leave the people
20 draw their own conclusions and decide as q
jury. upon my case. As you know. Mr. Editor.
am young man. just entering upon the thresh-
mold OF life. and, consequently, unwilling that
stain should rest upon my character as a gentle
man and soldier. ask nothing but simple JUS
ticea true exposition Of the truth and facts aud
then an done.
Having been disabled at the battle Of Marks
Mill on the 25ih of April last, and lett behind
in consequence thereof. did no. return 10 my
regiment uutl the 18th Of May. On my ,ura
ascertained that the brigade (Dockery'sl to
which belonged. had been reorgnnized and nv
self together with other officers OF the same
! rank. bad been thrown ont and left without q
command. was then told that the whole conn-
try was rife with reports OF my conduct AZ Marks
Mill. imputing TO me conardicc, and God knows
how many other things OF equal di grace. | was
told that no one could be found who would claim
authorship OF tue reports, yet they had sIrrad
ike wild-iire all over the country. Now. Mr..
Editor. although could not imagine what On
earth could have given rise TO such reports,
kaor'ng my conduct To have been uneIceptiona
| bic yet, must say, that the bare idea of hav-
| ing my name thus banded abont--myself, family
| aud friends outraged so cruelty and heartlessiy-
stung me to the deepest depths Of my heart.
Immediately addressed a communication TO
1t. Col. Bolton, Asst. Aljt. Gen. District Of
| Arkansas. stating my grievances. and requesting
| ''Court Of Inquiry TO investigate my cor
| duct at the battle OF Marks Mil. The request
| was granted n ID the cour: ordered By command
| of Maj. Gen Price, full and ample time given
| for all personst TO appear against me. and thr
! recorder instructed to summon all parties who
professed any knowledge derogatory 10 M COZ
duct After the adjournment of the court the
| proceedings having been forwarded TO D:=tric.
| Headquarters, ] made application for literal
| copy OF them, which was granted. 1 now sub
NIT that copy for the Information Of the public
and for my own defence. only asking thcrn to
read il. and decide whether have been truihfully
| reported. Upon the proceedings Of the court
shall make such comments as / deem necessary
| could have gotten ten witnesses 10 where |
have one but did rot 10 50 for fear OF making the
! proceedings too volum;nons Tor publication. and
besides. deem tile number summoned sufficient
| they ai lie ng gentlemen OF high social and
moral worth Only two witnesses appeared
against me. viz: Brig. Gen. II. u. Dockery. anl
Sergeant John Blsvins. l submit the proceed
ings:
ISee another column.l
! ! have now submitted the entire proceedings
Of the court of inquiry. which. every reader
can perceive. emboaY q full detail Of every
| movement OF my conduct from the time TINT r
entered thn hattie until left at The Hospital
and ihe evidence Of tie surgeon who examined
,ne there. n. W wisb to call attention 10 crr-
'aiT points in the testimony.
Bv reference to Tho testimony OF Brig Cen
Dockery. tue first witness vou viii perceive :hat
D. saws lafier one of his staff cfiror- fel nf,-n
| ID him that the LET wing Of the brigade had
fallen baclt.l Il Immediately roda tn the IL. of
my brigade wh're ] met Col. Jones' regiment.
1t seemed TO he in some CT infusion. and lad fallen
back from their first position. ! demanded Of
the officers and men who gathered around 10
know the causc Of the confusion. They stated that
| they had been ordered To fnil hack iy Col Jones
| then asked whore Col Jones. The reply
from several VOICES was that he could no: be
| found, or was absent. or something To riat rf
feet" Upon being further a-kes: General
| who was in command nf that portion Of Colon II
Jones regiment when vou saw n? he answered.
Capt. Banks. Capt. Stuart. and Tinut Turren
the were commanding their respective crnra-
| MES. with such other portions Of the regimen,
that mixed with the same &c. Now. rleaSn r.
'ne;nh"r iha' h. mil Capt Banks Vas With II
and each one of til" officc-s was co;nm'rlirg y
company that l. t.rrc ,Fsraniez tC which the
General testiges. NOV ~ ne Ill. kinln,s. 70
refer to tho testimony of Capt. Banks himself
who certainly Ought t1 know al his own where
abouts at that tine. He tn~iifes: IA Ill, first
charge Ne made. We moved forward until wr
came under cross lire, some NJ The mal com
menced fling back, The Colonel seeing them
aSkei .-r''y hey were falling hack?" lha men
replying that they were under a crozs-frc which
caused tbN regiment TO divide q part of them
tnrairs to h right. Thnsa TIN; turned 10 The
right wa: with Capt. Start, | suppose a''ont
fifteen IN naHber, aftrr rhici time sam nothing
more of CGPt. Stnart until ue returned 10 tho
hoses. .he rem aindsr going forrrdrd NJ a lcF
obl'que with Col Jones in their rear &C.. &c.
Now. the regiment taat Gen. Dockery met. when
d ssected, proves to b, fifteen men and Captain
baahs swcars be was net with il. would
merely ask. am TO be censnrci. cursed dam d
and disgrsced throughout; the length and breadth
Of the whole land. because / did not leave nv
regiment and 20 oil with squad nf fifteen men
Gen Dockery says, this regimsmt &c Col. Jnne'
which he met. seemed to be in some confusion
and he rallied !; hy the .-nSsistancc Of the off
GERS Now, Col Crockett and Capt. Bank.
both testify that Traliied my regiment -cxcep
the. fifteen saen-when they afterwards fell bach
aud again carried them into tie fight
Gen. Dockery states further that he did moi
remember seeing me- after he met ana rallied uy
regiment. fifteen men. He may not re1ne mber il
but Col. Crockett aud Capt. Banks both testify
that rallied and conducted my regiment to him
and the latter says went about two hundred
yards in the last charge under him, when bc
came disabled.
|. Now, oblige me BY overlooking the whole
testimony, which certainly speaks Of sreTy mo
msnt OF my conduct during the fight and aftel
was disabled, and let me ask you when | ran
or otherwise acted disgraccfully7
As TO the other witness against me, Sergean
John Blevins, have merely to call attention L
his evidence He proved to be one OF the bes
witnesses in my behalf,
/ have only to refer 10 the testimony of jaime.
NJ. flanagan aud Thomas l.. Jones and asc
surgeon j. NJ. Holcomb, to show my condition
|. when taken off the field. l did not know tn,
man who carried me off, else | should have has
them summoned. As to my liability 10 become
exhausted and paralyzed from fatigue, / vii
cheerfuily submit 10 an examination by any
board OF surgeons. Having been wounded il
the last charge made upon ths cnemys .nriiica.
tons at Corinth, Miss, the 4th of October
1862, the Minnie ball passing entirely through
my body and glancing my spine, although
nave been offered exemption from servic,
'ver since, and could at any time have obtainet
an easy position with my rank and pay con
,inued, have at al times refused ans hing o.
tie kind, returned TO the army On the ith o
March. 1868 as soon as | was ablc to walk with
out stick. and have been in tin the fighting
dspartment--ever since. Some of the rCeon.