The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-07
Barringer's Reply TO Early.
From the Charlotte, IN. o. Observer
CHARLOTTE, N. O., |
December 81, 1872. {

Ill TtDlY 10 ~ lCISCi vi
the oath instant, would answer, as to the
military points: That understand him to
concede every error indicated by me except
one. He still insists that only" five COM
panies of the First North Carolina Cal
vary were at the battles around Richmond.
10 sustain himself he quotes from the re-
port of Lieutenant-C Colonel now GeneraD
Baker, of the action at Willis Church,
June Both. / concede all that Colonel
Baker says, and yet maintain that the
other five companies reached there before
the 30th. l think, too, that Colonel Bakers
own language in another paragraph, implies
the presence of the whole regiment. 1t is
this: 81 accordingly proceeded with five
companies Of my regiment, &c''-not The foe
companies" as he would have said, had
they been the only ones at hand. No doubt
part of each command was on picket or
other duty.
wish l could here stop. But General
Early has gone out of his way las usuaD
to indulge his political spleen. From his
two and half column letter, I make this
choice extract:
50 Unfortunately there were too many skulk-
ers and deserters from both states, as well as
from all other states. never had any liberation
for skulker deserter at any time, let him
come from where he might; and, now, cannot
endure one who has gone over to the enemy
since the war. Though he be q Virginian, re-
gard his crime objectionable, and worse
than il he had deserted during the war. do
not admit that any state did more than its share
of duty during the war. If all had done their
whole duty, fearlessly and faithfully, verify
believe that we would have won our indepen-
dence, or continued fighting to this day.
/ myself had not said one word of per-
sonal or political bearing, and every fair
mind must be struck at the arrogance and
coarseness of this paragraph. Is it possi-
bic that Confederate officers cannot discuss
even military questions without tlinglng
into each others faces, the dirt of party?
knew that General Early was eccentric,
and | had heard that he had had personal
difficulty with Virginia Confederate, who
chose to vote the Republican ticket. But
| could hardly expect an "explosion"
in this correspondence. | am a Re-
publican-a Radical if you will-but
took my position on the suffrage question
in 1866, and, as see things, both parties
have practically come to me, not gone to
the Radicals. Nor did ever support the
scoundrels, who foated into office under
reconstruction. That was due, as think,
to the STAY -at-home-ass dignity
Democrats. | did my utmost to get our
people, irrespective of party, to accept i'm
partial suffrage, as Southern measure,
and thus forestall the plunderers. When
| found myself prescribed for this, and
the Republicans in 1865, came squarely up
to this vital question, had no alternative
but to vote with them. But [ have never
hesitated to denounce and vote against the
incompetent OF corrupt Of that party. |
have sought no office, and have even made
myself odious to certain class of Radi-
calls, because of my unwavering support of
only good men and safe measures. l there
fore thoughts if there was aman in the whole
South, who, solely for the sake of the coun-
try, moved ahead of and above all mere
party, it YVES my humble self. General
Early must then see, that if he intends
this extract for me, he does me at least
partial wrong. IF he meant it las seems
probable) for his Virginia comrades, Gene
raj Wickham, Colonel Mosby, and others,
who voted for Grant, then he was wholly
unjustifiable in Juggling it into this cores
pondence. If it is mere s'sound and fury
-signifying nothing "-then it is time
General Early was taught some first lessons
in propriety, and | am reluctantly COM
PEELED to undertake the task.
NOW WIN Is a. w lot itbo
he achieved, either in peace or in war, that
he should assume to charge the whole
Southern people with dereliction of duty in
their late mighty struggle? What Utctories
did lie soi,a, that he should now essay to
tell the suffering millions of this stricken
Southern land, that they had ended the
bloody strife, all to soon; and that they
ought to have continued fighting to this
day 2" Who, of all Confederate generals,
did most to cause desertion ? And who
was the first to flee the country. when the
Confederacy failed?
take single year-a mere episode-in
the varied life of this second Bruce-this
heaving patriot, this cxuberant statesman
In 1864, Lieutenant-G General Early had
command of the army in the Valley, one
of the bravest and best appointed armies il
the field. He operated in region suited
to his supposed genius--a region made
forever famous by the countless victories
of Ashby, jackson, Jones, Ewell and 9th
ers. | enter into no details of the cause
known to all soldiers then in Virginia, blu
simply recall the fact that soon all wa
changed, and the glofies of jackson wer'
well nigh eclipsed by the failures, the re
treats, the defeats and the dastardly rout
of EARLY. A few short months were lon
enough to enable this officer so thorough,
to demoralize his splendid army
that the whole country was file
with his "skulkers and deserters." A
Waynesborough, the scene of his last disas
ter. his entire force laid down their arms
and Lieutenant General EARLY was LEI
without soldier to command. l do no
charge the truth of the popular impression
at Waynesbourgh, that Early deserted HI
oscn men. But do not say, that he ex
posed a whole army to capture and
Slaughter, and that he managed to tax
such judcious care of his own person ths
he alone escaped to tell the tale. Tn
ended the military career Of 81. A. EARLY.
The public camor by this time was S
fierce and strong. that he was forced
retire.
General Lee tried to soften the blow by
letter of personal sympathy. But all
no purpose. General Early was done 70
At last the surrender came. On the fir
flash of the news, this would-be hero, wi
now talks of a continued war" +
independence, fled the country, leaving b
unhappy comrades and countrymen
meet as best they could the untried al
untold horrors Of subjugation. But ]
sooner does he see that his fears of losil
his neck were all imaginary-the creatur
of the vain conceit of his own importan