The Van Buren press., 1878-06-18
"WOODRUFF'S BATTERY"

Mr.. DuNHAM: Some one has said, and
very truthfully, " A mans worst foes
are they of his own household" and it
is desire, on my part, to give praeti.
cal illustration of the truth of this ad-
age, that has caused mo to ask little
space in your paper.
Just after the commencement OF the
war | joined Woodrutf's Battery. At
that time, if my memory serves me
right, my friend Smithce was corporal,
and | was placed in his detachment. He
was then great pet of Maj. Woodruff
and was soon after promoted to SER
geant. Soon after that the Major pro-
NOTED him to orderly sergeant. Now,
these advaneemcnts were made in tho
case Of Smithec not because he was
any moro deserving than other men in
the company, but because he was, as the
battery boys termed him, " Woodruff $
pct.a When Lieut.. Blocher was given
a battery, he took with him Zimmerman
and Cook, and left vacancies, one of
which was filed, through the influence
Of Woodruff, with Smithoe, and he be-
came Lieut.. Smithce. When Capt. Wood
ruff was promoted to Major, and given
command of battalion Of artillery, 1t.
Smithee was taken from the battery and
made adjutant of the battalion by Mai.
Woodruff. Now, the question want to
ask my old Corporal, Sergeant, Lieu
tenant and Adiutant friend Smithec, who
was, in the latter office, one of the Ma
jor's military household, if, in the bitter
ness of his opposition to his old officer,
and military father, he cannot see the
application to himself Of the adagc that
we quoted at the start?
Again. After Maj Woodruff had OBJ
tanned control Of the Gazette, he made
Smithce his foreman soon after that, he
promoted him to the local editor, and
then gave him the supreme editorial con-
troll OF that paper. Through the politi-
cal prestige which such preterment con-
tcrrcd he was brought to the front, was
the occupant, for two terms of the Office
of Land Commissioner. Now, another
question l would like to ask my old lieu
tenant, is, could you have obtained the
position, either politically or officially, if
your old military father had not retain
ed you in his business household, and
pampercd, petted and promoted you, as
he did, in his military family2 Would
you, my good old comrade, unaided and
unassisted, by. your own efforts, have
risen to the prominent place you occupy
in politics 7 Go down into your own
good soul, and ask yourself the question
and see if you are not compelled to say
no. Yet you have turned against your
best friend, and are doing all you can to
defeat a man for office who is really in
need of the place, and who has been the
direct means Of your political exalta-
ton. Again, | think, here is practical
illustration of the truth of the adage
" A mans worst foes are they of his own
household"
With a heart Overlooking with regard
for my old Lieutenant, | cannot help re-
GREETING that he should have seen fit to
take the course which must so far sepe-
rate him from thc ora members OF his
''mess' and company. | wish that all
the members of Woodrutf's Battery,
officers and privates, could march for
ward, with not living member absent,
and cast their votes for their old, wor-
thy, and deserving commander. Soldiers
Of Woodruff's Battery, call upon you
to espouse the cause OF your old officer,
In the heat of battle you have obeycd his
commands, and followed him amid the
shot and shell ; now when the breath OF
peace streams over the land, will you
refuse to heed the appeal which he now
makes to you? Now, in adversity's hour,
when he needs your assistance, will you
refuse il +? No will answer for you.
You will stand by him in the future, as
in the past, and will pioneer him to tri-
umph. Hurrah for Maj. Woodruff, says
q member of