The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-10-05
Col. Fenton and the Rebellion.

The following statement OF certain Off
GERS Of the Eighth Infantry in reference to
the conduct OF Col. Fenton when command
ing that regiment, tells its own story We
have not seen that the substantial truth OF
the statementhas been denied:
Feeling it TO be duty we owe 10 our
country, TO the loyal people Of Michigan,
and to individuals who are falsely accused
of living. Islander. etc, We, the former Off
GERS and members of the sth Regiment
Michigan Infantry Volunteers COL. FEN
TON commanding,) make the following
statement, 10 wit:
That while al Beaufort :. c., on the llth
of MAY. 1862, Gen. Hunter, then cOmman-
der of the department, issued an order, say
inc the States OF South Carolina, Georgia,
Florida and Alabama having declared them
selves out Of the Union, are placed under
martial law; and martial law and slavery
being incompatible in a free country, the
slaves Of said States are declared free for
ever"
That soon after receipt of said order, and
before President Lincoln revoked the same,
COL. FENTON called a meeting OF the Off
GERS OfLte regiment, and, az a paper pre-
MtnQ ike The t0ilOUng I'VE may not use
the exact words, not having a copy OF the
paper: To petition tie commanding Gen
eyai To send us out Of the Department, ana
IN case he refused. for rs 10 agree uhdnt-
mOuSiy TO reSfgH our commissions and 90
home. erea at tie RISK OF being dtShOROra-
big discharged, as HE ,rouid CONSIDER II an
honor 10 be court D1drtidied, discharged
ald sent home tor refusing to SerCe uafer
such an Oi'ie, as that issued by Gen. Hun
ter, above referred TO.
That upon discussion the officers thought
that in all candOr and fairness COLONEL
FENTON'S name should head the list; and
there was a committee chosen consisting Of
Mat Watson and one or two other officers,
to wait on COL. FENTON, who occupied
the adjoining room, and request him &c
place his name ut the head of the list.
That the committee returned and inform
ed the meeting that COL. FENTON refused
10 sign the paper, urging as a reason that
he would present it TO General Stevens Oh
behalf of the regiment and from not hay
ing his name on said paper, he cOuld ddcO-
| cute ITS claims more strongly.
That upon this statement being made by
the committee to the officers, the meeting
adjourned without, to our knowledge, {
single name being placed upon the paper
Efs- That in private conversation some
/ Of the officers hare hedrd COL. FENTON
say HE ,rOuld r0ther go Orer TO the enemy
ant surrender rs prisoner of trdr, (telihs
/ them he enlisted IL Fyht for the restoration
of the UniOn aad not FOR the dJOt.ttOA o
| SlaregW) thar Serre UHder sad order o
/ GEN. Hunter.
COL. RALPH ELY.
G.. Ii. TURNER, I'd Lieut.. Co. \,
G. T. NEWALL, Capt. Sth Reg.
J. c. WILSON, Surg. Sth Mich.
p. S.-FOr the benefit of those at Film
who are falsely accusing Mr.. Grape and hi
| friends there, Of prOmulgating the abOv,
record of COL. WILLIAM NJ. FENTON,
would say that | first suggested the prOprl
ETY. OF publishing this record, not from any
desire To iniure COL FENTON personally
| but from a conviction of duty owe 10 prin
ciple, to my country and the noble soldier
| of our army, who would to-day lose tive
hundred thousand cOlOred soldiers cOutC
| COL. WILLIAM NJ. FENTON, and men 0
/ his principles, be elected 10 office.
Col. RALPH Ely.
Detroit, Sept. 10Th, 1864"
Making every reasonable allowance 10
/ lIldL IdHllit~> ~ ANtuh5 anu SPIN -
which all excitable men are subject, ant
which leads them to say and do things tina
they afterwards regret, We submit that al
officer who would advise the breaking VI
Of the regiment he commanded after he ha'
been commissioned and sent out TO iigh
/ the rebels, and for no cause whatever eX
cept a military order which was none o
his business, and required no assent on hi
part, is not the man that We ought to cleo
as Commander-in-chiefo of the military force
OF this State The whole statement show
the bitterness and intensity of his pro-slav
cry feelings; he loves the cursed institution
which is the cause Of our national calami
ties; he would gladly see it restored
strengthened, and made perpetual; and n
friend of his country should vote for tn
man, and for the curse he would bring up
on US.
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