The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1882-01-07
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The National Tribune
WASHINGTON, Dc
THE WAR NOT OVER.

THE WAR NOT OVER.
The allusion made by several Washington cor
! respondents to recent difficulty between Genera
S. G. Burbridge and Hon. j. c. 8. BLACKBURN has
only small medicum of truth. The facts are as
follows: Dr. ". T. Ousey, assistant surgeon of the
| Fifth Kentucky cavalry during the war q modest
| quiet man, called upon General Burbridge about
| the Goth of the month 20 solicit his influence in
obtaining clerkship in one of the Departments
1 General Burbridge had kaown him during the war
and took quite interest in assisting him. He also
referred him to the Representative of his Ousley's
district with advice to call on him and ask for his
| influence. The following letter from Ousley ex-
plains the interview that took place at the Capitol
On reception of Ousley letter, General Burbridge
by advice of his friends Blackburn the letter
printed below, which he delivered in person 10 a
! doOrkeeper at the House, by whom it was st once
| handed to Blackburn:
oUsLEY TO BtRBRIDGE.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. -, 1881.
General S. G. BURBRIDGE
DEAR SIR: Having sought your influence 70
secure position in the Government service be-
cause you know my record as Il Union man and q
soldier, you suggested | had better first the
Representative from my district in Congress Hon.
J. {. 5. Blackburn. [ went to him and stated my
wishes, when he told me he would not befriend
or any one on your recommendation or friendship.
and that his district dotted over with graves Of
men you had murdered during the late war, ard
the fact that you had recommended me would
make him further than ever from aiding me; that
such had been your course in Kentucky YOU were
afraid to go live there. This conversation &C
Cured to-day, about 1850 M, in the hall of the
House of Representatives | was much surprised,
as you had spoken respectfully of him. showing not
the slightest personal or political ill-wil I make
this communication to you purely because, after
calm reflection, l think it my duty to 90
Yours, respectfully, ". T. OUsLEY.
BURBRIDGE To BLACKBURN
WASHINGTON, Dec. 21, 1881.
Hon. J. G. S. BLACKBURN, N. G.. Seventh District
Kentucky.
SIR: The enclosed copy of a communication from
Dr. W. I. Ousley, late assistant surgeon Fifth Ken
lucky cavalry, was handed me yesterday, and, hav
ing given the subject calm consideration am still
unable to understand why you should be willing TO
reopen the wounds occasoned by bloody civil strife
in which we both bore part. hold myself respon-
Sible now did at the time to which You graph
ically alude, to the United States Government
whose servant | was for every act Of my admins
tratien of the high office to which / was assigned
by President Lincoln. The graves to which you
refer are hardly sufficiently numerous to dot the
district over, but each is filed not by peaceabie
citizen Of Kentucky by confederate soldier,
but by nondescript, whose trade was rapine and
murder. SO Odl0us were they to confederate officers
that General Lyon in letter addressed TO me over
his OWL 81 gnature, which | now have proposed ~
me, while was in command in Kentucky. TO fur
niSh troops to cooperate with an equal number of
my own men TO eXtermlnate the guerrilla bands
that infested the State. General Sherman in let
ter written to June "a, 1864, STYLES guerrillas
"murderers and horse thieves" and in 1867, when
incIosing to copy Of his letter of 1864 wrote as
follows
WASHINGTON Dec. 10, 1867.
General 5. e. BURBRIDGE of Kentucky.
DEAR GENERAL: l now have the pleasure to in
close you a copy Of letter | addressed you the
21st Of June, 1864, when you were commanding in
Kentucky subject to my orders. The instructions
contained were commands to you, binding on you
under the Articles of War; for which you are more
responsible than for the execution of any other. /
alone responsible, and have fear but my Or
ders right and appropriate. | hear the people
of Kentucky blame you for your acts, under these
orders If SO, they very foolish, for of
them should be thankful that you were too lenient
recall with pleasure your early effort in the cause
of your country in 1861, you being of the first
Kentuckians to take up arms in defense Of our COM
mon nationality. ! remember you also when com
manding a brigade during ali the operations at
Ficksburg and also when commanding in Ken
lucky when was engaged down in Georgia. For
these services you are entitled to the thanks and
gratitude of every well WiSher of his country and
doubt not you will receive them.
Respectfully, your friend.
W. 7. SHERMAN,
Lieutenant General
Ny conduct in Kentucky was also fully Endorsed
by President Lincoln, Secretary Stanton, Salmon F.
Chase, DR.. Robert J. Breckenridge and ali true
Union men. On the 4th OF January, 1863 the
Union State Convention, in session at Frankfort
magEamlmously adopted the following resolution:
''Resolred, That this convention recommend to the
,. ].
Burbridge, as reward for his gallant services in
the field and for able administration of the affairs
of this military district, be appointed brgadier-
general in the Regular army of the United States,
have been thus explicit in order that you may
understand that, instead OF murder being committed
by me, was, in the legitimate performance of my
ofhclal duty endeayOring, at time when the civil
law was poWerleSS, to maintain peace in the State
Not man was put to death by my order without
first having been tried and condemned by regularly
organized ourt-martial. These courts were com
posed OF officers in high standing in the army and
who are to-day among the hOnored citizens of the
State. have the honor to request, therefore that
III future your comments upon my official acts in
Kentucky will be of such character as will not
class me with the criminals whom it was my object
to exterminate. / am, very respectfully your ODE
dlent servant 5. e.. BURBRIDGE.
General Burbridge, who is an inspector in the |
Post-O Office, has declined to be interviewed regard
ing the published accounts of quarrel between |
HIM and Congressman Black burn, saying the mat |
ter would all be brought out later on. !
Nashville has eleven cigar factories employing |
sixty persons and turns out II, 900 600 cigars an.
nually.
Hon. Edward ,Joy Morris ay- { on gresham and .