The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-26
THOMAS AND CAMERON.
Doubt Thrown Upon the Late Statement OF
the Pennsylvania Senator.

Doubt Thrown Upon the Late Statement OF
the Pennsylvania Senator.
Major Charles W. Corrigan in Philadelphia ledger.
am constrained to doubt the accuracy OF
the statement made by Senator Cameron in
his spirited vindication of that gallant Cen
eral (Fitz John Porter), 1 refer particularly
to the attitude of General (then Major Geo.
H. Thomas to the cause of the Union In the
early stages of the contest l was on q visit
to the town of Carlisle when Major Thomas
and his company of cavalry. under orders
arrived at the place from the frontier, Ia
view of the emergency which subsequently
occurred he was ordered with bis command
to report at that station to- l think, Colonel
Kenner Garrard, of - cavalry, command
ing the post. The partial concentration Of
troops at that point necessitated the pidketing
out of Major Thomas's command as tltcapa-
cious stables were completely filed. Ny ac-
quaintance with General Thomas began
when, think, he was a lieutenant, assigned
TO duty at that garrison under Cdonei
Charles May. That pleasure was relewed
when he reported there from the fratier,
and in view of his subsequent brilliant
record | cannot but regard that acqIaint-
anceship as q high honor.
Thus am enabled to speak knowingly of
what l now state. From the time ,baior
Thomas was ordered from the frontierto re-
port at Carlisle, up to the day when l waved
him goodbye at the head of his comhand,
followed by our city troops, on his way to
join General Robert Patterson. he had lever
once faltered in the line of his duty, in that
critical period of our history. l cn say
without fear of contradiction, which an be
attested by some of the citizens Of Calisle
now living who knew him we'll, and we're
with him often just previous to his de-
parture to join General Patterson.
that his whole soul (Virgiuian born as le
was) with all his energies and military ex
perience, was enlisted wholly on the she of
the government whose sworn officer he was,
lie was ever true among the faithless, In
that exciting period there were peoyse in
Carlisle who diswusted him because--sl Z his
place of birth, and even went so far as 10 say
that he ought not to be trusted with a COM
mand; that he would prove traitor. etc.
But these doubts all vanished into thin air"
when at the head of his command, he de-
parted from Carlisle, looking the very in
carnation of devotion to the cause of which
he became so brilliant defender.
l may now give an incident, never before
published, which can be verified by citizen
now living in Carlisle. The rumors affecting
the loyalty of Major Thomas had became
known to him. On the day before, or on the
day he left to join General Patterson, he gave
to Mr.. A. L. Sponsler, justice of the peace
(now dead) a voluntary oath of renewed al
legance to the government of the United
States, saying Lock this up in your Ere
proof and if | am killed in any of the COM
ing conflicts make it public SO that my ira
ducers may know | was true to the flag"
These facts are as l remember them, and they
would not be intruded on public attention
did not the speech of Senator Cameron init
mate, if not charge, that General Thomas at
one time wavered in his allegiance to the
government of the United States