The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-09-01

"Possums.''
| The following statement of Lieut.. Col. E.
G. White, gives pretty picture of one Of the
leading "possums' who is in the Copperbead
employ of slandering Governor Stone and at
tempting to defeat the regular nominees of
the Union party, that has stood by the Gov
ernment and the army, and fought the great
moral political battles at home.
| Col. White resides in Agency City in this
county, where he has been long and most
favorably known. He entered the service as
private, and by his military ability, daring
and integrity, gradually carved his way 10 the
position of Lieutenant Colonel of his regi
ment. 1t is conceded BY all that knew him.
| few equals The Colonel is not in favor of
affiliating with Copperheads to defeat the par
ty and the men who have stood by the sol
diers in the army and at home on all occa
/ sions.
AGENCY Cry, Aug. 26, 1885,
| Editor of Ohun,rd Courier:
| observe that at the late possum and snake
convention, one Capt .Ault, formerery of the
Tewenty- second Iowa regiment, took occa-
sion to vent himself in TRADE of abuse and
SANDER against Colonel (now Governorl
Stone and that this gallant ~ Captain is
continuing his vile and abusive course in pub
lie speeches, creating quite a sensation among
the Copperheads, who, taking their word for
it, seem to be the very dear and only friends
of the soldiers. therefore deem it due, not
only to myself but to the honor of my regi-
| ment, and every member of it, to give to the
public few facts concerning this cowardly
calumniator, who claims to have been sol
dier, and who is now engaged in ''possum
conventions. and promulgating vile personal
ISLANDERS of the man who organized, brought
into the field, and led against the enemy our
regiment, the I'D Iowa.
Relative to the charge of cowardice made
by this man Ault, would say that, from the
time the regiment entered the service until
Colonel Stone was wounded and afterwards
elected Governor. / had a good opportunity
of knowing Misconduct, and pronounce said
charge unqualiiiedly false and without sha-
dow of foundation.
During the campaign in the rear of Nicks-
burg Twas Inspector General on General Law
Ter staff, and knew Colonel Stones standing
with his regiment and brigade-that | was
with Colonel Stone all the time-present in
every battle in which the 22d was engaged,
and know all about the conduct of Colonel
Stone, and TO one who knows as we'll as do
of the bravery of that conduct, the charge of
eowardlce is base and comptemptible in the
extreme. This man Ault went in as Captain
of Co SC of the 22d. and before many
months had elapsed he showed himself to be
"a worthless, miserable coward, and became
universally regarded in the regiment as
| cowardly, unprincipled and worthless officer
and man. He was brought before court
martial upon charge preferred against him
by Lieutenant of his company for gross mis-
conduct, un5ecoming an o hcer and gentlem n
and had it not been for the interference OF
Colonel Stone, who induced the Lieutenant
to withdraw the charge, and procnred
| Through Gen. Carr the court appointed to
| try him to be discharged, he would have been
dismissed the service. That at the charge
of Nicksburg he pretended TO faint Tor at least
said he fainted-no one saw him while going
| up the hill, and fell down into secure place
from the enemy's bullets, leaving his com
pany to be led by sergeant Davis. for
i which be Ault would have been dismissed
| had Col. Stone so desired. While the das-
tardy craven was playing the coward. Col.
Stone whom he is now engaged in slandering
was leading his men IN the charge aghinst
the rebel works, that had been gained under
severe fire, Col Stone, standing upon this
| emlnence exposed to a severe storm of lead
| that was pouring upon US: and with his hat
| in his hand and arm raised, was waving and
| chearing his men onward and urging them
! not to give back an inch that they had gained
when he was wounded severely In the arm by
ball entering, severing the artery and pas
sing through. The position was very exposed
mep were falling about him, and the storm of
| bullets was terrible. | saw the Colonel when
he was struck. In regard to the silly charge
! that is made that Col. Stone, after he was
wounded had wounded Lieutenant taken
! off the stretcher and himself put on, / would
say that it is, like all the other charges, utter
ly false in every particular. When the Col.
was wounded and became greatly weakened
| from the profusion of blood flowing from the
cut artery, Capt. Morseman. of Co 81, and
myself went and got stretcher. and upon it
! bore the Colonel from the field, with the
assistance of sergeant John Finn, under a
terrible shower of bullets. For Witnesses to
/ the truth of these statements, | refer TO Capt
| Morseman and Sergeant Finn, of Monroe
county. Entering Col. Stones regiment as
private, and having seen him in the camp
and on the battle field, and amid the perls Of
the service, | have no hesitation in saying
that braver or truer officer has not entered
the service from our State.
! This man, Ault, who am informed, So in
tending to come here and vent himself in the
accommodation of his possum Copperhead
friends, is a fair specimen of the vituperative
cravens who are charging him [Col. Stone !
with cowardice much to the delight of the
| Copperheads, who are striving to boost them
selves into office upon the backs of soldiers
! by means of possum strategy, possum conven-
tions and possum tickets to try to possum the
! soldiers with. Those are able men who are
at the bottom ofit-the men who have fought
us in the rear while their brother rebels have
been fighting us in front. If the Government
| had failed to put down the rebellion and we
had been forced so return with arms retersed
and banners trailing, these Copperheads who
are now counting the favor of soldiers, would
have given us the cold shoulder and treated
us as unsuccessful marauders upon Southern
rights, murders and robbers. These are the
men who are now trying to use the sol
d!srs to defeat the party that has stood by
the country and the army during the mighty
struggle
f. NJ. WHITE,
| Late Lieut.. Col 22d Iowa.
/