Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-04-11
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Confidential }
MADISON GENERAL HosPIrAL,l

(C0npdenttdt
MADISON GENERAL HosPIrALl
MADISON, IND March l6, 1864
Gen. Merrill BartOtc, Quarte7naster General Of
Ohio:
DER SIR-In the strictea and most sacred
confidence Of a gentleman, write as follows:
Your report of this hospital, published in the
Cincinnati Gazette of yesterday. severely crit
cising Surgeon General Grant. surgeon in charge
is creating quit a stir and buzz, and beg of
you, on the honor of gentleman, to keep every
thing may have said TO you. as you promised,
strictly in confidence; as you remember you
promised me- nothing should eUer be said as
coming from me-" as you refer to the assistant
surgeons and chaplains as the source of your in
formation. are called upon to sign paper ex-
onerating DR.. Grant from the al egations brought
in your report. Now you will please remember
that my position is peculiarly delicate.
The surgeon in charge is ready to suspect me
as having something to do with everything said
against him. and hence my great caution in
talking to you. Relying on you as gentle
man Of honor, and even after imposing a pledge
of confidence. / then only gave some limitations
about furIOughs-about their delays, &c.
charged DR. Grant with nothing. but said they
(the furlOughs) "stalled" somewhere. And you
remarked yourself that you were satisfied Of
where the "stall" was, or words TO that effect
The inference, as to phere, was your own, as
charged nothing DE-. Grant. And now Gen
erai, make a point of honor Of IT, and feel salts
fed you will not make me suffer for few init
nations given you in confidence and so ex-
pressed at the time. Now | appeal to you. most
earnestly, not to mention my name nor refer to
me as having given you any information directly
or Indirectly, on matters pertaining to the admin
istraton OF our surgeon IN charge. He is my su-
perior officer. and it would be cruel to place me
in jeopardy for some confidential intiH0fions in
which there was nothing direct, and what little
was minated. was with the most distinct under
standing that nothing tras TO be said COM
ing from me- And now, gentleman of honor,
know you will not make me sufferer, by any
thing said BY YOU publicly privately
III know my heart, have DO other wish only
TO benefit our soldiers. AS their chaplain to look
to everything that concerns their happiness and
welfare. In my present capacity nv whole time
and attention are given to the sick and wounded
soldiers of this hospital, as they all will testify
But enough oil this.
Even this letter must be strictly confidential,
even to the fact of its being written. Read il
and then burn it, lest it fall into improper hands
Let me hear from you if you have time tor a
line.
Most respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
[Signedl VIM VI DAILY,
Chaplain, U. s. A.
The two other persons who sign the paper have
not been so kind to furnish me with written
evidence that they made the alleged communca
tons to me. l therefore leave them 70 the quiet
luxury of their private reflections. trusting that
under the ministratons Of 'godly teachers" they
may soon arrive at such degree of perfection.
as will enable them TO tell the truth-or telling
lie. adopt the worlds motto. stick to it,"
Congratulating you upon the apparent falsity
of the information communicated to me by these
trusty men,
am yours very respectfully,
MERRILL BARLOW.
Quartermaster General Ohio