Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-02-05
Erroneous Statement Corrected.

Having published few weeks since
The sketch Of Col. VIM H. Terrill, writ
ten by Capt Geo. H. Moffstt and pub
lished in the Wheeling Register, in
which the remarkable statement was
made that Col. Terrill was the author of
the State papers of Gov. Letcher's Adj
we publish below the cor
sent to US by Ex-Governor
Letcher in refutation of that statement
LEXINGTON, VA, Jan. Goth, 1878.
Editor. Of the Spectator Il find in
your paper of the 22nd instant, an ar
ticle copied from the Wheeling Daily
Register, under date December 9th,
1877, which had been kindly sent to me
by my friend J. H. Pendleton. Esq, of
that city. The paper was received the
morning of the 3lst ult., and on that
day, addressed to Mr.. MQffett, the let
ter, IA copy of which will be found here
with,) and enclosed it to the Editor of
the "Register," with request to send
it to his correspondent. He subsequent
ly informed me, that he had sent it to
Moffett Immediately but to this hour,
I have received no reply.
Since the article appeared in the
Spectator" have written to Colonel
Munford, Secretary of the. Common
wealth, and Col. S. Bassett French,
whose replies will be found below they
copied my official papers, for the con
vention and the Legislature.
When Col. Terrill stayed at the Ex-
ecutive mansion, he occupied room,
with Colonel Rob't Johnston, (now OF
Harrisonburg, Va.,) and during the
same time, Col. French, and the late
DR.. John Mayo, occupied rooms all the
time in the house, and for much of the
time, General F. Ell. Smith, and Col.
R. H. Catlett occupied rooms there
also. They had full opportunities of
knowing all that was going on. The
originals of my messages, and official
papers are, understand, now at Wash
ington, having been removed to that
city, after the capture of Richmond, and
can be referred to, | suppose.
",Spectat0r," Gen. F. H. Smith, having
seen it, has voluntarily furnished me
the letter which will be found below
now take leave of this matter. only re-
GREETING that I have consumed so much
of your space in replying to charge,
that has not the slightest foundation in
truth. Respectfully,
! JOHN LETCHER.
Such papers as have published Mr..
Motfett's article, will oblige me by in
sorting nay reply, j.. l..
LEXINGTON, VA, Dec. 5ist, 1877.
Capt. G. II. Mofett, Wheeling, West
sir.win the Wheeling Daily Register
of Dec. 9th, (for which am indebted
to friend) find an article signed g.
II. NJ. purporting to be a sketch of the
Life of7the' late Col. William H. Terrill,
of Bath county, Va, prepared 10y yolr:
self las the Editor says.). It's statement,
so far as they refer to me, are entirely I'M
founded in truth and write, therefore,
to ASCERTAIN the name ofyour informant.
wrote, any one Of nay state papers as
Governor of Virginia, nor was be evs1
consulted in regard to them. He had no
; knowledge OF their contents, or characte.
of any one OF thea, until be read them
in print They were prepared by my
self, copied from my own manuscript in
my own haad- writing, either by the
fSeeretary of the Common wealth, when
! had 40 private Secretary,) or by Col
S. Bassett FRENCH, Who was my private
Secretary, after the war eo,amenced. IL
Col Terrill were now alive, he would
repudiate with scOrD, such pretens1On
as you have asserted for him. His re-
putatiop for intellect was universally
recognized, and pseaea 20 false preten-
sion to sustain it. Col. Terriii was 20:
: man to claim credit for acts to which
, he was not party, and about which he
was not even CONSULTED.
An early answer IL desired.
Truly, your ob't sery't,
= JOHN LETCHER.
, Extract from as artials signed G. H. NJ from
the Wheeling Daily Register, Vhsarsday morn
ing, Dec 9th, 1877 referred to in lettea t4 Mof
r fett
"During the war, Col. Terrill was the
power behind the throne in Virginia.
He was the warm personal friend O.
Gov. Letcher, and spent good portiOr
of his time at the Executive Hsnsion
when Letcber was SO honorably filling
the position of War Governor.
| Same of the most flushed State papers
of American history were those emanat
ing from the ESecutive office while
Gov. Letcher controlled the destinies Of
the Old Commonwealth. Col. Terril
, was their author, as be prepared all tht
important State papers of that admins
+, tration. But so unambitiops was he
that it was matter of no consequence
; to him whether he got credit for it o.
not. If he could serve friend, or coult
have an hours social enjoyment with 8
jolly crowd, he was happy"
: OFFICE LETcHER & LETCHER,
Counseilers & Att'ys at Law.
Lexington, Va, Jan. $50, 1873 J
"A Mn Dear Sir II inclose GU AZ ex
tract, from Moffett's letter to the Wheel
ing Register. and also copy of my let
? ter addressed TO Moffett, to which 1 hav'
received no reply. desire you ant
French to state what you know on thu
subject, as soon as possible, and sept
your replies to me, at this place.
Z The article appeared yesterday (copiet
, from the Register in the Spectator, ant
wish to reply through the last namet
paper. See French on the subject.
Your friend,
4 JOHN LETCHER.
II Col. G. w. M1nfort.,
Richmond, Va.
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, !
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