Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1865-10-03
COMMUNICATED.
For the Spectator.

:
myself over the signature of "a CitiZen,' and Major
j McCue his SIGNATURE; and, although
commenced about purely political sue, have been
mad by Maj. M. medium for personal inslnuations
| and abuse
In order that innocent person may eUe be suspected
Of being Citizen and that may also vindlcate my
own character from the foul aspersions Maj McCne
has sought cast upon it, have determined to publish
| Card my real signature.
| Maj McCue finding had completely demolished
him in the matter really at ISSUE and stung and CALLED
by the awkward position he occupied before the world
has, in spirit of vindictvenes and magnity, Jumbo
coming gent lem an of his age and position made a
personal assault upon me, in the name OF madam
NOR, and do bess for the purpose, possible, OF lnu
hing my priv ate character
la Wind catlon OF my reputation, and in order that
| may silence at the set of malicious sanderers,
VIII ose trumpiter Maj NJ bias become, deem it my
duty, however relu Giant it may be to trouble the
public with private matters to give them brief
history If my military career.
Maj McCue, in his last card, tells the public that
"Ctzen says he served in the army for two years,
and adds 'swe would like to the morning roll " He
is quite welcome to the morning rep which he
lgnorantly and absurdly calls the smorning roll He
viii find nothing to my etrment there He further
says che does inform the public why and how he
got out of the first company he in For informa
ton at subj would refer him and the public
to coi BENTON Harper, commanding the regiment to
which this company belonged, and 10 Capt J as Bum
gardner Adutant of said regiment and am certain he
will derive comfort from the information they will
give him The course pursued was advised to by
|
Impeached, aud whose of honor is quite pune
tlious as that of Major McCue any body else, and
nothing be tortured Cut of my conduct In reg to
this matter which not accordance with the riot
est propriey and nobody but Major McCue's party Of
sanderers would even have ntmated any thing to my
detrment
Mai. McCue further adds, sand rumor sa VS. he was
afterw dropped from the roll of artillery compa-
nv of which he officer for Incompetence after
which he makes the assertion that for long time
sa loaer about town Now it is perfectly evident to
| e Sc ILL., Al bod hoor
dropped from the rolls of the army for in competency
could not have escaped CONSUMPTION, but would have
been obliged to rejon the army as private soldier.
| l. however, will give the public statement of the
facts Of the case and allow them to draw such deduc
TONS as they may deem fair and just w ilhout my
wish or cons ent it represented to Geni Lee
that ill health untitled me for the duties OF soldier IN
the field Upon this representation he issued order
that should appear before Board OF Office $, 10 be
convened under act Congress of Oct 18TH 1862 III
order that might be retired from the field if the al
| legation of ILL health sustained But, before. ap
p airing before this Board Congress passed another
allowing such cases be sent befo Medical Board
of Examiners Col Cater, the President of the Board
of Officers advised go before Medical Board-to
Board OF Officers had carefully investigated my whole
career sod7r and given their opinion regard tc
it for was satisfied if did not pursue this course
that malicious uld reflect upon my character
and that was determined to be fortified against all
such assaults
Col perceiving the reaso nableness Of the view
|
such examination, and the examin alton accordingly
commenced.
The fact was abundanty establish by a large mum
Der of witnesses that had been faithful and attentive
in the discharge of the duties of my office, and thai
nothing could be said to my discredit that my hea th
had been very bad during nearly the whole time OF my
connection with the pany and they thought had
done great injustice myself by renal lining in the
field Some of the witnesses went so far as to say had
discharged ms duties better than any officer in the
pany
told the Board fthey desired it, that it in ac
cordance with my wis hes that every off GER and
| in the pany should be introduced They stated
that they satisfied, and that they thought it
| necessary to time by the cumuation of evi
1 dence
| In order that the public may know fully what gross
| injustice Major McCue's card has done me will give
hat in detail the testimony of two Surgeons who
were introduced witnesses
DIR How ard testified the effect that he had been
for eight nths, Surgeon of 1t. Cochr ans Battalion
and during the whole of this time, he ad regarded
him unfit for field duty by of disease tn at
he had ad vsed him quit the field but he b ad moi
taken his adviceon the contrary, he had persisted in
doing duty against his wshes-that while in line o.
battle at Hagerstown, when engagement hmm l.
nent the enemy menacing the whole line with nfantIy
and art iery that Ii. ut Cochran unwell III al
he perempt rly ordered m to the rear, which order
he did not obey but remained with h is company unit
GenI Lee had wthd rawn hi army across he Potomac
DIR Capers testified to the effect that he had been
Surgeon of the Battalion for twelve fourteen months
duri the whole of which tim e he had been clearly
of the opinion that Lieut. Cochran unfit for field
duty, and had frequently told him that he had per-
sisted in doing duty, and often when he wanted him te
90 on the sick list that he bel evod that Lieut. Coch
rams cas- of remarkable perseverance aud de-
tie minaton to do duty il the field und the most try
/ ing and di couragng circumstances
If Major M or any body else doubts what have SAID
in regard the testimony OF these surgeons, will
him them their address and they be written te
| on the subject.
The Board, in view of the evidence adduced,
nended that shou be honoraby reliev-d, and in
rpo rated into their report clause eXonorating me
lily f ON any blame whatever
! do Intend that THIS m ter shall rest entire
pon my statement, and in order tn al the public may be
fully satisfied, will state that addressed cite tt
Col eco ii Smith, of the CID Va. Inf antry. and Capt
Powell Harris en-, of the 18th Va Cavalry, which reads
| as follows:
| STANTON. VA Sept Goth, 1865
GENTLEMEN In the spectator of to- day issue
my conduct officer and soldier dus ing the late
has been called in question and it has been harget
that my hoped from the 70 Is of the com
pany of Artillery, of which was officer, for incom
petenc AS am unwilling to pas by in Hence,
barge, however groundless, upon point vital tt
my honor and reputation, and, it impracticabe
lay befo he public the oic al papers which entire
vindcate me- have thought best to refer the matter
to officers of tn late Confederate rmy whose char
ter and experience in mill afa render them bes
fitted to Judge of the L. Their eiore, nave to re
quest hat you will examine the enclos ed papers and
give such certificate statement of their effect and ten
| Or as m ay seem to you just.
/, Respectfully,
A. B. COCHRAN
Col. GEO. HI. SMITH,
CAPT. Powell HARRlsoN.
STAUNToN, Sept. Goth, 1865
A. COCHRAN, Esq,
Dear Sir LII accordance with the request con-
tanned in your note to of todays date, we have
| ahmed, with care, the papers YOU enclosed These
papers of an ofciaeharacter, and not only most
fully exoaerae you from any such charges as refe red
to- but most fully estabIi n your er as faithful
and efficient officer. Without entering at all into the
contr versy between yourself and Maj McCue, it gives
us pleasure to make the following certificate The de-
cs of the Board OF Officers, convened by special
ders, before which you orde ed to appear,
count of alleged health and consequent disa
by to the effect that s'lst Lieut. A B. Cochran,
the Charlottesv lie Artillery has not been careless
dI,tie