The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1865-06-23

Letter from Him to a Citizen of
st. Paul,
HIS REASONS FOR DESERVING
THE OLD FLAG

THE OLD FLAG.
A gentleman of st. Paul, who was for
merly a non-commissioned officer in Gen.
eral (then Oaptain) EwBLL's company 0f
the regular army, wrote a friendly letter
to his old commander, few weeks ago,
and has received the following reply,
which he has permitted US to publish, on
account of the explanation it affords of
the motives and inducements which led
Gen. EwEIL to embrace the secession
cause. The letter is as follows:
FORT WARREN, B. H.,l
June 13, 1866.
DEAR SIR: Twas highly gratified at the re-
ceipt of yours of the 3Oth ult. Long expert
ence has given me very different views in re.
gard to the responsibilities of an officer, from
those with which left West Point where
few mathematical formulas, never used after
wards, and abstruse branches of science, were
dwelt upon, to the utter exclusion of the du-
ties and responsibilities that were to occupy
our lives. 1t is therefore highly gratifying that
have the testimony of one companion in
arms, that made some friends among the SOL
diers-a portion of humanity where the treat
ment of the best is measured often by what
the worst deserve, and whom it is easier to
govern by the harshest rules than to take the
trouble to discriminate between good and bad,
and to make the profession easier when pos
sible.
After the time of which you write, my health
suffered terribly for years, not much to the
improvement of my temper, and remember
with regret much ha rsh language and conduct
towards men who showed themselves better
able to control themselves than could control
myself However, always tried to be just in
the long run, and while the discipline and good
behavior of my company was notorious, hope
may say no man was made worse by service
with me, and many of the boys discharged
from my company, became valuable and indus
trious citizens. / never heard of one turning
out badly during many years in New Mexico.
and learned that kindness gives q far more
perfect control over the human, as well as
brute, races, than harshness and cruelty.
That you may have as little as possible to be
ashamed of serving with me, I will give you
q short account of how came into the South.
ern cause:
came from Arizona, sick, in spring of
1861. Staid in the country, in Virginia. my
State, trying to get well, and found the war,
to my bitter regret was being started. All the
highest United States army officers were re-
signing, except Gen. Scott, and he published a
letter that the United States would divide into
four parts, thus showing that he thought alt
was over. A United States Senator said he
would march Northern regiment to help the
South, for every one Sent against her. Nothing
was done with either of these men or with
others, whose deeds were REASONABLE. A
member OF Congress, from California, made a
public speech, calling upon the South to resist
the election of Mr.. Lincoln.
Now found myself forced to fight against
my brothers and all my nearest and deareet rel
atives,-against my own State, when many
abler men than myself contended she was right.
By taking up the side of the South, I forfeited
handsome position, fine pay, and the earn
ings of twenty years. hard service. All the
pay drew In four years in the South, was not
as much as one years pay in the old army.
The greatest political favoritism against me I
ever had was FROM Mr. Davis after the Mexican
war.
1t is hard TO account for my course, except
from painful sense of duty,-I say painful,
because I believe few were more devoted to the
old country than myself, and the greatest OBJ
lection bad to it was because of my prediles
ton for . strong one. Now see persons who
did what they could to bring about the war, in
high favor in the North, holding high office.
It was like death to me.
En- route here from New Mexico, in 1861.
volunteered my services to fight the Texans,
threatening United States post and was
careful to do nothing against the United States
before resigning.
have asked to be allowed to take the oath
of allegiance and return to my duties as citi.
zen. see, though, that many persons, active.
in the first steps in bringing this war about.
are at liberty, while am here with no yervi
good prospect of getting out, while my wife is
under arrest in St. Louis. and has been since
April. but up to this time has utterly failed
even to find out why she is arrested. Neither
she or myself have the slightest idea of the
cause OF her arrest.
have given you long letter about mvself.
because OF the friendly tone of your letter and
because feel naturally drawn toward those
with whom have served.
R. ). EwELL.
The Congregational Council.
The Conversational rorr.,I :.