The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-10-05

/ /.
rHURsDA ]. \ NJ @ ORN ING.
4 tom church, in a desperate charge, and
4 was ir,cessaptIy under fire from the 18th to
\ the 28tli Of the month on the Hewlett line,
where General Grant says General Butler
was bottled up like q fly. Il was then Put i1l
command OF o dangerous portion OF trenches
around Petersburg-from the Crater to
l,Revo's House; was continually under fire,
. until March, 1855, was entrusted with the
iextreme right OF General Lee on Hatchers
run. On the 10Th Of March, 1885, my brigade
3alone YVES pitched into the forces under
4 General Meade-25, 900 strong-on the Mill
tary road, and fought to check them In their
jadyance TO turn our right; and again, the
i 31st of March, on the White Oak road, with
McGowau's brigade alone, attacked the same
unequal force and staggered them with
effect; and then followed tie retreat
OF General Lee for ten days and nights
from Hatcher's run TO Appomattox, in
which was z.gzagging at donble-quick
from right to left and back again, con-
lttnuousIy under fire, either leading the
irontSr bringing up the rear. I had seven,
pitched battles, I may say, in the ten days
1 and nights. and at Sailors Greek, In the re-
/ treat, saved two brigades and took them
through safe, the only Confederate forces
which kent their organization that day in
that fight. For this, when came up with
General Lee, at or near Farmville, / was
complimented and promoted by him against
nv protestations. Twas with him ut the
surrender OF AppomattoX, and my brigade
). fred the last infantry guns that day Tor the
Confederate canse.t
i So now, sir, you. see how uni ust IL Wouio
be to the United States or to me to say
N General wise afterward" (meaning after
Roanoke Island) &c took no actiUe part In the
EWar.n II It was treason, it would be un-
lust to the United States to say so in case Oh
q prosecution for active hostilitles; II IT
was brave, patriotic, "actiYe" in me 10 90
what did, why undoubtedly l was ten
fold more active in the last than Iwas IN the
first year Of the war.
/ In conclusion, it is but just, or due 10 say
that since the war I have tried to keep tne
peace aud obey the laws, and in good 1alth
and honor to observe the terms OF my capltu-
|lation on the 9th day Of April, a. u. 1850.
T surrendered my arms on condition 10 De
allowed nv horses and arms, and on the pa
role of a soldiers honor {" to 60 to my nome,
and to remain ,lnnlolested in all respects rs
Hong as I obeyed the laws" l was not
allowed to 90 to my home, but by written
order was prevented from going tnerc, lesl
| r might offend or oust the proteges OF the
Freedman's Bureau. They were for years
since the war in full possession OF my home'
and almost destroyed it. was then pro.
hibited from practicing my profession o,
the law until 1866, when for the hrst tlme
was allowed again to work for my living az
cording to Gods command, not Ms
cnrse.ean then went humbly back to
the calling in which alone was trained
tn eorr g daily breadv for very dependent
family, stripped of everything but honor,
and with no other liberty lett but to ilve
and work. II I have been "occasionaiiy
heard from'' it was not intentional on my
mart. An old man, wrecked in every nope
save that of heaven, not without hope IN
God. but without hope in the world, may,
IT trust. be allowed, to quietly suDslde In
l!neace. That VIII be best for the remnant OF
nv days, and, Z pray, may be an everlasting
/ rest and ioy for me in heaven. You nave
been charitable in saying +" Henry A: wise
is entitled to the tribute Of honest and earn
4 est nlrpose in a slost Cause ." That is true
before God My, purpose was TO neVel
secede from the Union, and 10 ngnt al
oppressors under the egis OF Its Con
sfitution: not for the inglorious PrlYi
lege of being master or slave. lWoulu t9 mo-
have given drop Of the blood OF my nttie
finger for that curse; but Tor tne lnaneha
Bile right of domestic, State, CIVIL seu-sov
ernment, and for my own liberty, SuarueI
by the Constitution and laws! for these
For theSf
I was WhoneSt and earnest" ana Wnen
forsake these may "my right hand forge
its cunning.",: I am no penitent; Efou
now what / only thought at the beginning.
that 7 aoas riigtt, /" sink or swim, live or DIE
snryiyeeor perish" to fight for these.
am no penitent. I rather rejoice that tnt
war occurred. It lost me every earthl!
comfort, but largely compensated by apoi
ishing the cause of slavery, even thousi
.; coacita ate be1li, and by relieving my heirs
. forever from its responsibility and sin, rant
esnecialIy from its weakness for war, itself
wfckedness which turned upenthe masters
: I make no recantation, utter no pallnoaes
| and mourn only for irreparable and ines
J timabIe losses. The United States have no
enough money to bribe me, nor lore
enough to drive me, to take, toucn, OF taso
test oath--that most odious lnstru unent I'm ut
tyranny. ssBefore would permit my lore
finger and thumb to touch the pen to ,slgl
! if. nv right hand should be cution at IN.
wrist and be nailed to guide-post to pom
the way to ;gibbet." So PettgreW: san
/ concerning the test.oaths OF nulllilcatlon Il
South Carolina, and SO / say as to me test
: oaths prescribed by Congress. sald an
: meant. meant all I said, and tried my pes
} to do all I said and meant for the toS
!, comse - What Is I" the lest cause /"
: Ali would only that the host OF voter
, in the United States would "do truth an
l come to the light" and that the cor
!, federacy is not the only cause lost
The Constitution Is lost; the Union, de
fined .by it. is lost; the liberty OF States an
: their people, which they both at first an
I for half century guarded, are lost. l ar
! anxioI1s an only that the truth shall be told an
I felt. IIwish to live only little Whle 10 Sc
! the true spirit of, constitutional liberty an
l. laws under o free republic OF states an
: their people revived, and / pray to be reaa
3 to go then when my only Master IN III
9 universe calls. ] am willing, 1reey VIII
: inc. and more than anxious, that all men G Q
every race shall be as free as wish or clal, ,,
: to he: but whilst slaves are beng mao
Y free Ilprotest against freemen being mao
!, slaves Respectfully yours, -
i A washington dispatch to the New for
g Herald states that the. Secretary OF IN
2, Treasury has appointed MIR. A. B. Mulletl
= i fex-superyising architect OF the treasury, g
o snnerintendent Of the custom-house =
: Cincinnati. Chicago, and st. Louis, and