The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-08-11
SANDY CONE TO JUDGMENT.
An Unpleasant Revelation" Concerning
General R. s. Foster, Of Indi-
annapolis.
An Old Letter Turns Up to Confront Him,
Demonstrating the Value OF a Good
Memory When Maa Shoots
OF His Mouth.

General Foster, OF Indianapolis, should
remember when he writes letters and what
he puts into them. Ink does not fade out
very readily, and old letters have an everlast-
ing way OF existing and turning up, too, At
all sorts of seasons. The Boston Post
has recently come into possession OF some Of
General Fosters correspondents. which
forces the CONCLUSION that his late talk about
General Hancock, and especially General
Plaisted now a candidate for Governor OF
Maine, was made simply for political effect.
He should cultivate bis memory, however,
so that what he says this year should not
seriously conflict with something that be
said a few years ago. The Boston Post says:
paragraph rejecting upon the honor and
bravery of General Harris M. Plaisted, now
candidate for Governor of Maine, is going the
rounds of the Republican papers. IL Is as fol-
lows:
general R. 8. Foster has made an unpleas-
ant revelation to a reporter of the Louisville
(ky.) Commercial concerning the FusionfStS'
candidate for Governor of Maine. 'Plaisted,'
he said, is the candidate of the Democrats and
GreenbackerS for Governor OF Maine, and
their party organs are putting him as that
gallant old soldier etc. He was commanding
q Maine regiment in my brigade, aud during
the fighting at Deep Run l saw the regiment
without is commander. He had gone TO the
rear, and did not show himself till the next
revolver on him and tell him If ne did not
advance at the head of his regiment he would
shoot him. He was about the worst coward 70
be an officer / ever saw"
This General Foster is the same individual
who makes the charge OF disloyalty against
General W. :. Hancock, a charge so ridiculous
that but one or two Republican papers have
paid any attention to it. AS to the charge
that General Terry threatened TO shoot Gen
eral Piaisted for cowardice at the battle of
Deep Run, the following letter, written by
General Terry some time after that battle,
ought TO be conclusive, General Terry is now
IN charge OF the Department OF Dakota, and
the following letter written by him is fur
nished Tor publication:
"Colonel Plaisted is brave, patriotic and
loyal man, and has faithfully served the coun-
try since early in the war. His regiment is
Corps, but one of the best have ever seen.
"He is more than ordinarily attentive and
jealous in the performance OF his duty, and
equally careful for the comfort ana welfare OF
his men. In the battle of the 7th inst, New
Market Road, he handled his brigade with
marked skill and ability, and IL was as much
that our flank was not turned and the battle
not lost. In consideration OF his valuable SER
vices desire to present his name to the favor
TO recommend that his services be recognized
and rewarded. am, very respectfully, your
obedient servant,
Major General Commanding Tenth Corps"
The above letter makes il clear that General
PlaISted was not the sort of a soldier that Gen.
ardice. But letter written Officially" to the
War Department by General Foster himself,
corrobo ates General Terry's letter and con-
Arms his estimate of General PIaisteds soldier
Iy qualities. General Foster wrote as follows:
1.-The discipline of his brigade (the third
of the First Division is Of the highest order,
and its fighting qualities unsurpassed by any
In the army. Colonel Plaisted having com
manded 1t since its organization at Hilton
Head, is, In my Judgment, entitled to the
greater share of the credit for the remarkable
efhciency to which 1t has attained. Colonel
PIaisted is an officer OF unbounded zeal and
energy, and his loyalty and patriotism know
no bounds. That his long and faithful services
are entitled to favorable consideration, in my
mind, there is no doubt, and trust they may
receive suitable recognition. l am, very re-
specially, your obedient servant,
ssR. :. FOSTER,
''Brig. Gen. Com'dg 2Sth Div. 10th COrps.T
Here is General Foster on record rs writing
20 the War Department that Colonel Plalsted
IS an officer OF unbounded zeal and energy,
and his loyalty and patriotism know no
bounds" And now he comes forward and
says: General Plaisted was about the worst
coward TO be officer ever saw" The pub
liz will calmly await the next unpleasant
revelation" by this slanderer OF Union soldiers.