Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-08-20

ono, 10 Hedd- Hhdf Sort Of Han u
Takes to Edit eoPperhead Newspaper.
CAMP 18th RECT OHIO VET Vol. IHF,
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S. c.,
August 8, 1864.
Editors Lntszligencer:
I enslose you the salutatory of Jere Will
liams, on his assuming the editorial func-
tious of the Spirit of Democracy the Cop
perhead organ of Monroe county, Ohio,
and sincerely hope you will give it place
in your columns, so that no disgrace may
! be cast upon the regiment when it is said
| that Jere Williams was formerly its Lieut..
Colonel.
I will not attempt, Mr. Editor, to answer
the traitorous and cowardly article, but
merely give an outline of Jere Williams
conduct while with the regiment, to show
how much he is entitled to write the first
| paragraph in his "salutatory," and how
well his pusillauimous career in the army
is transferred TO the editorial chair.
He entered the service with this regi-
ment, as Captain of Co. G, from Monroe
county. Before the regiment left Camp
Chase, he was reprimanded in the pre-
sence of several officers, by Col. Jones, for
using seditious language, and threatened
with summary and disgraceful dismissal
| from the service, on repetition of the Of
fence.
Although his sentiments were we'll
known, his friends hoped that by good
conduct in the field he might yet retrieve
his lost character; and it was not until his
absence from several engagements had
been noticed, his beastly intoxication at
Bull Pasture Mountain" which complete
! ly untitled him from taking part in that
! battle, and his barefaced coWardice in the
presence of officers aud enlisted men at
| Cross Keys, that this last hope was given
up.
How in the name of Heaven he was so
soon afterwards promoted to Major, none
| of the present officers of the regiment can
explain.
His whole after career was but a repeti-
ton of his contemplate cowsrdice and
reasonable preachings. At the battle of
| Charlottesville, our gallant Colonel,
Richardson, received a severe wound, leaV-
ing Major Williams in command of the
regiment, when he, Williams, disgracefully
tore off his shoulder straps, and ran drdy
from the regiment, leaving it under the
command of Captain for over twenty
four hours. When he returned TO the reg
imeut he was minus shoulder straps, StCord
and belt. But, strange to say, he soon sf-
| forwards sported Lieut.. ColOneP5 straps,
to the manifest surprise of most of the Of
fcers in the brigade. As he was in COM
mand of the regiment, he probably for
Warded his own Recommendation.
Owing to the rapid changes in Brigade
and Division commanders, Lieut.. Colonel
Williams, remained in command of the
regiment, although several officers resigned
on that account, and petition, signed uy
nearly all the remaining officers, was for
warded to the Governor for Captain to be
promoted over him. Williams command
ed the regiment until the first DAYS battle of
Gettysburg, when, thank Godl he was ia
ken prisoner by his friends, to the undoubt-
ed benefit of the regiment and the service.
\ His stay at Libby was heightened into
months, and he did not return to the regi-
ment until last June. Notwithstanding
the eufferiDgs he said our Union prisoners
were enduring at Richmond, he was more
venemous and trait orous (if possible) in
bis sentiments than ever; and Immediately
commenced his old system of spouting vile
copperheadism and swilling whisky. But
patience had long ceased to be virtue;
and during one of his denunciations of the
war, in which he said that he woHld con
slider it an honor to Be dISgrGeefully dismissed
the service, notes were taken of his language
and witnesses called; but fortunately for
him, he had rendered his designations; and
you can Judge how honorable he went out
OF service when say tnat MS reslgnduOu
passed through brigade and division head
quarters, with the endorsement that at
agouLd be benefit to the serVicE If thus officer
resignation trere accepted"
such, Mr.. Editor, is the thing that now
circulates his "sslutatory" to the copper
heads of his section of the country, "after
three years service in the army" and
presume be is but fair type of Ohio cop
perheads generally, and especially of that
class who leave the army to do the dirty
work of their leaders. But perhaps Will
liams is Influenced somewhat by gratitudei
as from remarks he made here it would
seem that he is considerably indebted to one
or more gentlemen from Ohio" for the liberty
from rebel PRISONS Vhieh he How enjoys.
/ tDo not think, sir, that his example has
had bad influence over the regiment; had
he been anything but the pusillanimous
coward he is, his preachings might have
had some effect; but as it is, his memory
is an execratiou, and it makes but little
difference to the regiment whether they
fight copperhesds or rebels.
Yours truly, AN OFFICER.
We, the undersigned, commissioned off
> cers of the 25th Regiment, o. V. V. L, fully