The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-10-05
RICHMOND. VA, MHURsDA u O1sN IN .. 4
HENRY WISE. I, !.


....-....-
| HENRY A. AA..s W SsE.s Us vs.. .'5,'5. 81
Observation-Disclosures 81 III
i<UNRUnLIsHEDst II, - "a
| .:asl n .3s59fkH,fsG ;4o.f Il
THE HISTORY DEeTHE GENERA sAs
| TOLD BY HIMsELF-EARLY POLITICAL
6 cAMriArGNs2MiiR. DooUGIAss REsPoSsf-
y BILITY FOR THE WAR-9THE " fsITIRs
I NEVER IN FAVOR OF FsEGEssI0N-.THELEs-
SON OF JOHN BROWN,sRAID--AsUcC
ACCOUNT or ms MILITARY SERVICES
\ THE RESULTS oE THE ,wAR DISC cUssED.
ITO the Editor Of the New York Evening .Expfess.l
/ Aiew years ago small volume contain
ling biographical sketches OF prominent
Americans in public life was published in
this city. Governor Wise, OF Virginia, was
included in the: category. The editor, in
order to insure its correctness, transmitted
4 to him prooi-slips in advance of publica-
ton, and the response was the following
lletter, which ID so characteristic of the man
that we are sure its publication will be read
with interest, now that his restless and sex-
cited life has been brought to close: g
Richmond. Va., November 13, 1s70.-
Gentlemen: In reply to yours OF the 10th
instant, enclosing me: proof-sheet5 OF my
biography which you are about to puBiish,
permit me to say that a much larger COM
pass than one page could not well have con-
/ tanned more errors either as to, number or
grade. - az, e..
First. was not sent to college "by the
kindness of relatiYes,' II by that Is meant
that they elected for me or furnished me !ne
means OF. going to college. elected lor
myself, and had q patrimony fully sumcient
to pay the expenses OF my education and TO
start me respectfully in the world. = - =
Second. During the political excitement
Of 1928, IFopposed nullifcatlon, adVo-
Gated the Union, but adhered to the doc
trines Of State-rights as expounded Dy 1Mr.
Madison: as q Democrat supported the
/ election and administration Of General
Jackson, but opposed his. proclamation OF
force. and the force bill enacted by Con-
gress against the State Of South Carolina,
Third. I served in the House OF Repre-
sentatives OF Congress until FEBRUARY, 1874.
Then resigned my seat IN Congress 1or
the mission to Brazil.
Fourth. T never wrote one word IN my
life in favor OF Stephen A. Douglass noml.
nation: TO no nomination of any man was
ever more opposed. The treatise on terri.
torial government and on the admission OF
new States into the Union, on the contrary,
was prepared to demolish his extremeiy er-
roneous doctrine Of non-inferVention. ny
Congress in territorial troubles affecting Tue
equality and rights Of States to settle In Ier'
ritories. Mr.. Douglass doctrines and de'
bates in Congress did more to BRING on the
civil war which followed than any other one
immediate cause.
Fifth. T was q member Of the Secession
Convention OF Virginia in 1S60-'61, but
neper did advise s.immcdiate secession, =
On the contrary, Isadvocated warmly ad-
herence to the Union, and by debate and O
minority report labored to prevail on .tne
Convention to resolve to remain and "Ugh'
in the Uaion.'' There can be no doubt OF
dispute about that fact here. -.
Sixth. ] have no recollection OF advising
the southern people to "take lesson IRON
:Iohn Rrown.': though he taught them
| lesson which they could not but heed; but
! I did advise the people OF the North to take
Lesson from him; ssto risk the dangers
themselves Of war, and not to send honest pu
deluded brave fanatics like John brown 81 !. te
break the national peace, and to endure tne
pains and penalties of their own felony ano
treason"
| Seventh. I was never driUera from the Val
lley OF the Kanawha by General J.D. COX
losing the Gauley bridge and large guam
I tity OF arms and stores. General cox
forces never met my forces In the hana"h'
Valley but once, and that was ut Scan
Crael: when 350 mon under Colonel Pattor
rennIsed I $50 men of Cox's command ant
drove them from the field, capturing wood
ruff. Neff, Norton, and De Villies, the nell
officers OF the enemy. was ordered d.
!, General Cooper, of the Confederate Wa
4 Department, twice, and by General Lee
third time, to retire from the Kanawha val
lev before I did retire, and I retired burn
ing Gauley bridge Of my own VIII WI,
nerfectly unmolested, to White SUI
phur Springs. There I was Joined witt
i 900 men by General j. B. Floyd, VINO wa
nv senior. He went to CarnifaX, above I'm
bridge on the Gauley, and left me on tn
, T,ewisburg turnpike to Gauley bridge U
| confront Cox. With but 900 men !! me
COWS forces at the Hawks Nest, and drove
| him thirteen miles back to Bee creek, Whel
was met by all his forces, 2,6oo men, o.
Gauley bridge, and retired with lmpunlt.
again. General Floyd was driven Iron
CarnifaN by Rosecranz, whist was pro
! teCtlnS MS rear ass,dinsI w. AAo -.
ders Which refused to obey, reported I'M
TO the War Department, and retreated Z
Meadow. Bluff, twenty-five miles distant
leaving me on the east peak -ot the bl
Sewal mountain, with only 1850 men
! onnosed to Rosecranz and Cox VII
600 men, I had fought them alon
for three days until General Lee OF
dered FLOYD back to me; and there, un
der fire, T was ordered to report TO the wa
, Department at Richmond, at the instance
Floyd, for disobedience. General Lee an
= the President decided ] was right. ana M,
> command-no longer 3 legion, sbut r
bripade-was restored to me as soon as
i rose from two-months' illness, in the WIN
r ter of 1Sel'62, and: I was ordered TO tn
t slaughter-peni of Roanoke Island, Wher
e with four hundred and ten effective. IN
. fantry. after a days bombardment by thirty
. seven iron-clads, an infantry force OF 10
. 600 to $4,000 men were, on. the second ga
. Eof the fight, kept at bay, under close lire
: : for five hours before there was any SUI
! render. Twas at Nag's Head, PROSTATE wit
: Epleurc- rc-pneumonia, ,and was mol even pursue ae,
: Fon the beach IN very SLOW retfeat 70 III
> Cnrrituck peninsula. did not escape lroi
Z the island, and nothing could 90 me more II
I l,iustiee or the truth more violence IMAM
itsay !. g General Wise after LOOK no ae
I tive r,s part i'm the war; My brigade was II
!; Organized in the spring OF 1882, and y, wa
q nut in command soi Chafin's BluH,.9ust De
+ low Drewry's. ON the James, and con
: III, rs1 f.sy1 IA hnf