Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-10-28
THE EARLY AND MALONE CORREs-
PONDENCE.

fONOGNOGs
We have received a copy of the CORES
pondence between Generals Early and
Malone, which is published in pamphlet
form with an accompanying statement
from General Early and covers 10 pages.
The correspondence is published by Gener-
al Early in vindication Of the attitude he
has recently assumed towards Malone and
in order as he says to prevent further mis-
demonstrations. He alludes to the card of
General Malone which we published last
week. The pamphlet has attracted much
attention and is eagerly sought after but
it is too long for our columns and we only
give a statement of the occasion of the
correspondence with the main points
brought out in the publication referred to-
General Early says IN the outset of his
publications:
The circumstances under which l made
some denunciatory remarks in regard to
General William Malone at a late public
meeting in Richmond, are generally I'M
derstood by he intelligent portion Of the
people of Virginia, and especially of the
CITY or EGlCQmOuu.
His organ, the Richmond ewing" Down.
ed by him, it is understood. and edited by
birelings of his, has been in the habit for
some years of publishing offensive articles
in regard to myself, which have no doubt
| been prompted by its owner and master;
| and since the commencement OF the pres
ept canvass several such articles have APP
| peared in that paper. 1t was IN response
| to such an article that made the remarks
! referred to in regard to General Malone,
| as did not think proper to notice his I'M
| deriing.
In a card recently published by him,
which is notable only for its absurdity, he
has made the following reference to my
self: "After years of unprovoked malice
and indirection he presents the issue
squarely and grossly"
The National Republican," paper
with which he is said to have very inti-
mate relations. has also published an artl-
Gle in which there is the following state
ment. which no doubt was inspired by
| Malone himself
General Early had a chance to meet
Senator Malone some years ago if we re-
| member Alright, when both were on equal
footing. The correspondence can yet be
! produced to show that General Early was
| offered all that he desired at the hands of
! Senator Malone. Why did he not take it
then ?"
There have, moreover, been number Of
communications from Washington pub
lished in Northern papers. giving very in
accurate statements about the personal re-
lations between Malone and myself, and
very erroneous versions of the cOrrespon-
dence referi ed to in the above paragraph,
as well as the most exaggerated statements
in regard to my age and physical infirmi-
ties, to which it is alleged l am indebGed
for Malone IS forbearance hitherto.
The occasion Of the letters between the
two generals was the publication in the
New York Historical Magazine of June.
1870, of military sketch of General Ma
hone writtan by Gen. ]. Watts DePeyster
who stated IN note to the memoir that ii
had been submitted to Gen. Malone and
approved by him as to matters which be
alone could decide. 1t was also corrected
by Col. S. BasSet French in Gen. Malone 4
behalf and presence. The biography il
question includes very laudatory running
tribute to the talents and proves OF Ma
hone, whom it compares with John Tai
bot, Earl of Shrewsbury, alike in small
size and in great powers and brain. Ii
Iikens Malone also to StOnewall Jackson
His allusiOn to Gen. Early is as follows
''Mahone's judgment was justified by the
proverb in regard to Early at West Point
that though bis name was Early he was
always late Malone said he did not like
to fight under him; that Jubal Early was
always hesitating whether to fight or not
He would ride up and down his lines from
fifteen to twenty minutes, debating wheth
er or not to begin, whereas the battle was
to be lost or won MEANWHILE The &c ag
azine containing this language was not
see by Gen Early till March of the mex
year. He then addressed note to Ma
hone, calling his attention to the para
graphs of an offensive character, and de
sired to know whether he (Mahone) was
responsible for them. To this Malone re-
turned brief note, stating that he had
never seen the magazine and requesting
the loan of 1T, which was granted on the
25th of May, two months after Gen. Ear
ly's letter. which had been delivered to
Malone by Col. Walter II. Taylor. Gen
Early was handed Mahone's reply by the
hands of a colored boy. Both parties were
then in Lynchburg. Gen. Malone says
in his answer. that he recognizes the arti.
Gle as substantially the same as one pre-.
viously published in the New York Mail
| and The ssChimney Corner" He aeknowl.
edges to having had one interview with
DePeyster and insists that he cannot see
where any differences may be taken, how.
ever justly or imaginary, TO the prejudice
of other Offices. AS to Gen. Early himself
he says: "That did say to the author OF
the sketch did not like to fight under
Early is true, for such was the feeling en-
tertaned by myself, but not for the reason
which you would seem to infer, from nc
want of confidence in your personal cour-
age. The reasons IN part, it given at the
time. do not appear wherefor it was that
you were Objectionable to me as CON-
mander. In my opinion of you as an Off
Ger, stated perhaps at this time, and in
this conjunction. remember to have said