Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-10-25
Lynchburg, Va, Special to Baltimore Sun,
October 81.


Lynchburg, Va. Special to Baltimore Sun,
October 81.
The correspondence between Gen. Jubal
A. Early and VIM. Malone, which occurred
In 1871, the greater part Of which was sup
pressed at the time, but retained in the GUS
tody Of Gen. Early, and subject to use at
his discretion, will be published In pamphlet
form tomorrow. 1t makes twenty closely
printed pages. Gen. Early begins by refer
ring to missstements which have provoked
the publication, ,and to the false impressions
sought to be made by Malone papers aud
correspondents. The occasion of the let
ters between the two Generals was the pub
licstion in the New York Historical Magazine
of June, 1870, of military sketch Of Gen.
Malone written by Gen. ]. Watts De Pey-
ster, who stated in q note to the memoir
that 1t had been submitted to Gen. Malone
and approved by him as to matters which
he alone could decide. 1t was also cor
rected by Col. s. Basset French in Gen.
Mahone's behalf and presence. The
biography in question includes a
very laudatory running tribute to
the talenfs and prowess of Malone,
whom it compares with John Talbot, Earl
of Shrewsbury, alike In small size and in
great powers of grit and brain. 1t likeps
Malone also to Stouew&ll Jackson, and con-
tains Injurious reflections ON several Con-
federate officers, including General Lee.
OF the battle of Fredericksburg it states:
1--WE shall see that from this time forward
it was happy thing for the North that Ma
hone had to fight as hard If not harder
against the inertion and incompetency of
his superiors than he did against the North
or Union" His allusion to General Early
is as follows: "Mahone's judgment was
justified by the proverb in regard to Early
at West Point-that though his 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 whether or not to begin, whereas
the battle was to be lost or won the mean
while" The magazine containing this
language was not seen by General Early till
March OF the next yea-. He then ad-
dressed a note to Malone, calling
his attention to the paragraphs of an often
sive character, and courteously desired to
know whether he (Mshone) was responsible
for them. To this Malone returned brief
note, stating that he had never seen the
magazine and requesting the loan of it,
which was granted on the 25th Of Nav, two
months after Gen. Early's letter, which
had been delivered to Malone by Col. Wal
ter H. Taylor. Gen. Early was handed
8
boy. Both parties were then In Lynehburg
Gen. Malone says, ia his answer, that he
recognizes the article as substantially the
same as one previously published in the
New York Mail and the Chimney Corner.
He acknowledges to having had one inter-
view with De Peyster, and insists
that he cannot see where any inferences
may be taken, however justly or imagi-
nary, to the prejudice of other
n al T.
says: "That did say to she author of the
sketch aid not like to fight under Early is
true, for such was the feeling entertained
by myself, but not for the reason which YOU
would seem to infer, from no want OF conf
dence in your personal courage. The reasons
In part. II given at the time do not appear
wherefor 1t was that you were Objectionable
to me as commander. In my opinion of
you as an officer, stated perhaps at this
time, and 10 this conjunction, 1 remember to
have said in substance, Early is brave
enough and untiring as an officer, bat he
has disputatioua order of mind, which
leads to the entertainment OF two Opinions.
and that this In General was faulty. since
DELAY was the consequence at times when
the battle might be fought and won.'
Gen. EarlY's answer to this was dated
Lynchburg, May 80, 1871. It was delivered
to Malone by Major John W, Daniel. After
referring TO the delay, Gen. Early holdgs
Malone up to plain and direct answer tr
the specific question whether hs iMahope1
was responsible for the language and state
ments attributed to him in De Peyster's ar
tlcle. Gen. Early says this was ga verv
plain and Ineligible inquiry, and II the
memoir had not been submitted to and an
proved by you, De Peyster had not told the
truth, and II he had put language into your
mouth which you had not uttered, he was
Qn1lfU oil Tn
the matter there was but one of two courses
for candid man to paTsue--either to svow
or disavow the pretensions of De Peyster:
TO frankly acknowledge that his statements
were true would make you responsible for
the language attributed to you, and
to deny them would bring you in
direct conflict with him. To escape
from this dilemma you have resorted to
the expedient Of all men who embark in a
career of deception. You have undertaken
to equivocate and prevaricate, and like all
such men you have signallY failed in your
purpose. Your whole answer is disingenu-
GUS aud evasiVe, but sufficient appears to
fully convict you Of completely In the
procurement and publication of the memoir
in question" Pressing the matter further
General Early says: "If you did not use
the language attributed to you, why
this beating about the bush? II
you did use it, then why not say so and de-
clare that 1t was not used In the sense which
1t might seem to imply. This shutting
is utterly unworthy of a man who has made
the maDly Talbot and Stonewall jackson his
models" Referring to Gen. Mahone's opin-
ion Of himself as a commander, Gen. Early
says; "Now, sir, to deal plainly with this
special pleading Of yours, l will say that If
you mean to state that while uadeF my com
mand, or at any other time, you ever saw
me delay or hesitate to fight when occasion
offered, you assert downright falsehood,
as you also did IL you stated that / would
ride up and down my linee frem fifteen to
twenty minutes debating whether to begin.
II you mean that you ever received such In
formation from any respectable officer or
soldier, believe you are guilty Of false
hood in that, for the statement was untrue |
at all times and under all circumstances. |
II you merely mean to assert an opinion de- !
duced from the fact that had a disputa-
tious order Of mind, then you were guilty
of the disreputable effort to iniure nv repu- |
tation as an officer on ridiculous pretenses
and without facts to sustain you. u
General Early proceeds to discuss in de-
tail the operations referred to In the me-
moir, and reminds Malone that their ac-
quaintance began on the 8th and ended on |