The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-10-05

THE CASE OF GENERAL CoLLIs. Mr.. Dunkel,
one OF the editors Of the Sunday Republic, Is
the author of the defense of General Charles
Ii. 4. Coils which we awe below. He served
with great credit under the latter during the
war, and speaks as an eyewitness, fully in
formed of the truth of what he says:-
The best evidence OF the overwhelming sue.
cess of the demonstration Of the Boys In blue
advertising columns have rcsorted to the mean
was the prime mover ia the affair. We "a pro
prietor Of this journaD had the proud satisfac-
lion of serving under tte Immediate command OF
General Charles H. T. Coils from April 1861,
until April, 1865 (excepting small portion o.
the time which we spent In Libby Prison, cad
In hospitals from wounds received In bs.ste)
and we do not hesitate TO say that the lepute'
ton he General Collis( bore among his com
ability was second to no man cf his years In
the army. For his gallantry on Banks retreat
he was made colonel For his gallantry
recommended for promotion For his distin:
manding officers Of the six Pennsylvania regi-
ments in the brigade urged his permanent as
signment to their command; and the enlisted
men OF his regiment (who are the very nrst to
discover the value OF An intrepid commander).
presented MIN with sword inscribed for his
distinguished gallantry in the battle OF Cham
cellorsville." For his gallantry at Auburn,
where he was attacked by and repulsed Stuarrs
copy:-
,Headqnarters BirneJs Division, 81 Cnrps Octo-
General commanding the division thanks he onic4rs
RsPecis cHsG. due d%5ss @
Colonel Coils, for Its gslIantry In yepusing the
and - Colonel Coils for his skill and ia
making The dlsI ostions ordered.
IF. BIRNEY, MsjOr and A. A. G."
For his gallantry at Petersburg where he
headed storming column which reoaptured
the line of works lost by q portion of another
corps. he was breveted by General Grant.
We know these facts We were there 10 see
1t is true that General Coils had personal
difficulty with the late General Birney, growing
out of an injudicious letter he wrote 10 that
and General Coils was tried by court martial,
upon his own personal and urgent request In
The result OF the court-martial was the most
honorable exoneration OF General Coils, except.
ing upon the charge OF writing q disrespectful
letter to his superior officer.
We were an eyewitness to the scenes of
charlottesville until severely wounded and
taken from the field. We saw General ColIis
alone reform his regiment, and our comrades
saw this same act epeated by him in another
portion of the fight.
These anonymous attacks upon q gentleman
WHO has rendered our citizens NJ least some
service In the field are unjust, untrue, and
should be denounced. We nave, in com mon
surprised that they bavo remained unans wered
by the gentleman himself, and we are unwill-
Ing longer TO permit the public TO be led astray
upon q subject touching the honor of every
man who left Philadelphia in the ranks of the
Hath Pennsylvania Volunteers.
The zeal and great executive qualities Gene.
raj COILS has displayed in organizing the "Boys
in Blue'' of this Commonwealth have won for
him many warm plaudits, and as public jour.
nalists, with perfect and most vivid personal
knowledge of all the facts of his military his
tory, we say shame upon those who are attempt
Ing TO tsrnish his lair name, because his views
upon the Issues of the day do not coincide with