The Aberdeen examiner. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1866-current, 1879-07-10
A Islander Iser,lted.
New ORLEANS, June IS. 1877!


G. Bardeld, Esq, Assistant Editor
Louisville Democrat, Louisville,
Ky:
Ny Deor Sri thank You for
calling my attention to the following
extracts from 1.-THE Childrens Centen
NAL History" parts 27 and % page
334, published by Hess & McDavit,
1888 Second avenue, New York, re-
ferring to Col. James Cameron's
death at Bull Run, July 81, 1861, to
wit:
"a soldier secured from his lifeless
body the miniatures of the colonel
and his wife but though an earnest
appeal was made to Gen. Beauregard
to give up his remains to be buried
by his family, that officer, with the
aoa'@ Of humanity and honor which
has characterized him since he linked
his fortunes with the unholy cause
lie advocates, refused to give up Ell
thor the body or the miniatures.
Other efforts were made, but they
were equally fruitless," etc.
You do me but justice in disbeliev
ing this SANDER, which, if sample of
the gest of the book, should exclude
the latter from the hands of the
children, not only of the South, but
of the North, for their young minds
should not be contaminated by SLAM
ders and false statements intended
only to Inspire hatred toward those
who sacrificed their all in defense of
of what they considered their con
stitutional rights.
There is not q word of truth in the
story about the miniatures ofCameron
and his wife. [ never saw them OF
heard of them until now. Shortly after
the battle of Manassas an application
was made by, l believe the Hon. ST.
mon Cameron. then Secretary OF
War, for the delivery of his brothers
body, but it was addressed: "To
whomsoever it may concern" and
Gen. j. e. 3. Stuart, who commanded
the cavalry out posts, returned it
with the endorsement, that "There
was no one of that name in command
Subsequently two parties, Messrs.
Templeton and Harris, crossed our
lines for the purpose, they said of
recovering the body of the Colonel,
but not being supplied with proper
passes they were arrested as spies
and were sent to Richmond, Va, by
order of Gen. Joseph Z. Johnston,
commander-in >chief, where they were
kept as prisoners during several
months. That is all can remember
of that small incident of the war. If
properly couched application had
been made by duly authorized par,
ties, l have no doubt that it would
haye been granted. But I was not
at that time in commander the united
forces at Manassas, and / do not un>
derstand why l should have been sin
gled out by the disreputable authors
of that book for the calumnies referr-
cd to.
Shortly after the battle of Balls
Bluff, near Leesburg, Va, October
%, 1861, the Federal authorities,
wishing to sacrifice Gen. Stone on the
"altar of defeat" had him arrested
and tried, one of the gravest charges
against him being that he had not
taken the necessary precautions and
given the requisite orders of Col
Baker to insure success. This latter
officer commanded the troops which
crossed the river and was killed durt
during the battle. Shortly after the
conflict his body was returned to his
friends who had made proper appli-
cation for it, but the papers found
on him were sent to headquarters by
Gen. Evans, of my army corps, who
commanded at Leesburg. Among
those papers were the orders of Gen.
Stone to Col. Baker, given immedite
ly before and during the battle, As
the former was meritolious officer,
who had always treated his ADVERSE
ries with due courtesy, l kept certi-
fed copies of these orders and sent
him the originals, under flag of truce,
which furnished him the means OF
saving his commission. What was
done on that occasion for the body Of
Col. Baker would have been done
likewise for that of Col Cameron
after the battle of Manassas, il his
own friends had not thrown impedi-
ments in the way of any exchange Of
courtesies between the commanding
officers of the two contending armies
In concluslusion, will remark
that had the graveIof Col. Cameron
near the stone building at the inter
section of the Sudley road and War
renton turnpike, marked, that bis
body might be delivered to his
friends whenever properly applied
for
remain, Sir, yours most truly,
nv RrNrpEn,