Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-08-31
s. coN0vER TO JOHN PATTEY.
EPnRArA MOUNTAIN Houss

| y. tONONEk III JOHN fAIIEN.
| "EPHRATA MOUNTAIN HOUSE,,
June 8, 1866.
MY DEAR PATrEY: Your favor o
the 9th was received this pm. You
assurance that Thomas made a fdur pa
does not surprise me in the least ant
you give him altogether too much credi
| when you say that he made damned
fool OF himself, for nature did that fol
him over thirty years ago But in al
this | do not see sufficient cause for des
pondency. Cheerful mil desperandum
Make Taber rehearse dozen times 9
day until he can play his part like kean
and with the two boys have here, who
are improving charmingly, we will more
than make up for the loss Of Campbell
and Snevel Still it is provoking TO re-
member what an ass Boutwell, made Of
himself. f
Had he suspended the examination Of
Campbell when he saw that he was dam
aging the case, or had Wilson been pos
sessed of wit enough to adjourn the SEES
sion, with directions to the witnesses to
appear again next day, which Campbell
would not have done, or had Holt, after
the committee did adjourn, displayed his
usual sharpness and 6rmness, and or
dered the damned traitor to be quietly
taken out of sight, all would have been
we'll In truth, all is we'll enough as it
stands
''If Campbell don't keep himself shady
Secretary Stanton will come down on
him for his bounty jumping, numerous
desertions, and other military offenses,
which will enable the Secretary to place
him where his tongue can do no harm,
and would soon cease to wag He has
been notified what to expect if he is not
quiet, and / am sure we shall hear no
more from him.
"McGill is coming down in the morn
ing and will bear my letter. He will be
able to give you the news more easily
than / can write it.
take the inclosed letter to Mr.. Ste
vens as soon as possible, it is important
that he should have it at once; think the
number is 279 South b street, but il not
You must go to him at the capitol.
II wrote to the Judge yesterday.
Should you be obliged to communicate
with him again before | come down, do
so by note, as there is no doubt but jeff s
friends have spies around the Judge s
Office, and they might mark you.
Keep up good courage and attend to
your pupil, and if we lose the game it
will be through the stupidity of our
friends, or irresolution of our patrons,
and not through any fault of our own. IL
we are driven to the last ditch and
publicly exposed, we may derive some
consolation from the fact that several
illustrious heads are as deep in the mud
as we are in the mire, and will be obliged
to share the obloquy with US.
You will see me within a week, and
need not write again unless something
transpires rendering it absolutely neces-
sary that l should hear from you.
Yours, truly, S. CoEovER.
II will be seen by the above letter that
the conspirators did not despair making
out strong case against Davis for a
considerable time after the open treach-
cry of Campbell, and had several sharp
witnesses in training to give overwhelm-
ing evidence against him; but as soon as
the conspiracy was exposed, and the un-
derhand proceedings Of the judiciary com
mittee, aud gave report Of Campbell s
deposition for the bureau Of military
Justice, and his contrary testimony be-
fore the committee, they abandoned their
devilish enterprise, and thought only of
saving themselves from exposure.