The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-02-15
GEN. HAzEN,s wORK.
hood ana Brutal treatment.


WASHINGTON Feb 14.-Mr. Theodore V.
Van Heusen. Jr formerly of the Signal Ser
vice Bureau, whom Gen. Hazen Cal s de-
graded eml loye, has written for publication a
long letter In reply to that officers statements.
He said that he was led to attempt to expose
the abuses of the signal service by his desire to
do his duty, by his promise to his oppressed
comrades, and by desire to vindicate his own
course in refusing to aid in carrying out the
scheme to force the majors and captains bill'
through Congress. He expected abuses, and
he has not been disappointed. He accuses Gen.
Hazen of falsehood in saying that he was the
author of the published articles critcising the
bureau, and challenges him to produce his
proofs. He says that the letters publ shed by
Mr.. Beltzhoover we're the common property of
several ressons, and that their contents were
known to half dozen men, who had to act
upon the requirements and suggestions con-
tanned in them. He refused to take part in the
work, although he was offered the position of
second lieutenant. He continues:-"It was
then determined to get me away from WASH
ington. By the grossest falsehood, verbal and
written, Secretary Lincoln was induced TO ap-
prove my transfer to New Orleans and refuse
me the discharge l earnestly pleaded for. l
was dragged from sick bed and hurried away
to New Orleans, where l was taken with a
fever, from the effects of which l am now, as
believe. going to my grave" He declares that
for years he occupied positions in the service
of much responsibility at Indianapolis, Vicks-
burg, Efl0 DETROIT and New Orleans, and won
the praise of those above him. He was called
to this city to fill the position which was then
the most responsible one in the service open to
an enlisted man. He was we'll treated until
he refused to take part in the schemes above
mentioned, and then he was bounded and per-
secuted. He declares that the schemes were
not sooner exposed because retiring employees
dreaded the assaults which would be made up
on them. Gen. Hazen has, he says, failed to
show wherein in any act his conduct has been
other than that of an honorable and consclen-
tious man. The state of his health has pre-
vented him from courting quarrel with the
General, but he must defend himself against
the assaults upon his character. He demands
that Gen. HaZen shall show wherein he has
made any false statement, and asserts that the
Generals abuse of humble clerk indicates
that he has no real defence. He now leaves
Gen. Hazen to his thoughts, recalling to him
"that morning in March, 1881, when pleaded
with him in tones that would have touched
statue, for my aged fathers sake, for the sake
of suffering, invalid wife, for the sake of all
that an honorable man holds dear in life, not
to degrade me by an unjust arrest and incar-
ceration. Never can | forget how brutally and
basely, on the merest suspicion, he tore me
from my home and family and hurried me like
felon to the guard-house, only to abjec.ly
apologize for the inexcusable outrage some
eleven months later
Gen. Hazen has ritten letter to Secretary
Lincoln requesting an investigation of his ad-
ministration of the signal Office be made by
committee of the Senate. This request has
been made because of the charges of Congress.
man Beltzhoover.