The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-20

Two of those officers, Msjer Rawlins and Colonel
Mcpherson, rode with me after the change OF
direction Until nearly nightall, when they
/ pushed on TO repOrt the division at hand. Is he
not poor soldier who requires to be told that
when troops are being conducted or maneuVred
by a staff officer of the commanding general it
is the staff officer who is responslbleY But DO
not misunderstood this alusiOn. do not mean
to blame Rawins and Mcpherson; they were
simply executing the orders they had received,
precisely as l was executing their orders TO me,
and, hlgn-seated amongst the martial memories
OF the republic, they are out of reach OF detrae-
ton.
Now, comrades, there is a power in corrobora-
ton; yet, in making your decision whether
am amenable to the charges against me;
1 prefer that you rest Your judgment
on the statements OF General Knef-
Ter and Colonel Ross. Only let me direct
your attention to one particular before leaving
this branch of the subject. The aim OF the per-
seeutiOn 49, as said, to save certain other reputa-
tons at the expense of mine, by liking it as
historical fact that was responsible for the dis
asters OF the fatal first day at Pittsburg Landing;
Go, the first opportunity, to the best accepted
accounts of the battle-for that matter, take
those written by the men most notably beneficial
RES oil the calumnles TO winch am responding
study them, and you will probably he astonished
at one circumstance which will there abundantly
appear-Uhat every one OF those disasters oc-
Cured in the forenoon, before 1880 O'Clock.
That IS TO say, our army had actually been driven
from it's camps and was In retreat before the
order to march was placed in my hand. Had we
reached the ground at 2:30 in the afternoon we
might have saved the day by restoring the bat
tile; the responsibility for the bloody nischiefs
|
certainly fixed past change to my shoulders.
The conclusion needs no comment.
1t remains for me, good friends, TO satisfy you
as TO the indifference have heretofore SHOWN 10
| these charges SO hurttul, so openly waged, so
| inalteiously pursued. AS rule innocent men
| do not sleep well under accusation.
In the first place, it is unwrittan law OF our
country if one be DESTROYS of respect he shall not
give the public occasion to set him down "a man
with a grievance"
| In the next place, I have not been indifferent
When General Bddeau's Memoirs of General
Grant made its appearance after the war, con-
tanning the accusations against me in most vim
dicuve FORM wrote to some of the officers o.
! the division whom I thought best informed of
the facts, obtained their replies, and presented
them to General Grant in Washington, with re-
| quest that he read them, and. IL he could do so
consistently, give me an exoneration over his
| own hand. And he did so. The paper he gave
| me is in fact more than an exoneration. 1t re-
| heyes me of the charge of losing the road; then.
Affirming my habit OF obedience TO orders, 1t re-
fers to the battle OF MonOcacy, and credits me
| with saving Washington from capture. Pro-
baby should have given the exoreratlon more
publicity than it received; hut with it in hand
had no grievance" with which to torture the
public. Thinking to put the paper
accessible, incorporated it into a
report supplement al to my first report of the
battle and filed it in the bureau Of military re-
| ports in the war-office in Washington, where it
| may now be found The original, in General
Grants hand, every word and line, is at home,
! cared for as something more precious than title
| deeds or government bonds We're IL here TO be
/ copied you may be sure would not fail to make
| it capital part of my letter. Let me hope you
| satisfied on this point, well as that, being
| innocent of any military offense, 1 am fit to he
what most care to have you call me-yOur true
| and worthy cOnrade.
| From having been with You in reunion, know
| how jealous you are of Interruptions in the pro-
ceedngs of the day. Should one of you regard
| the reading of this letter unnecessary waste
| of time, beg his pardon and none the less wish
| him and all you the happiness and success IN
| life to which your valOr ami love OF country en-
| title you above ordinary men. Very truly your
cOmrade, LEW. WALLACE.
| D. G. Anderson. Huntington, Ind.