Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-06-23
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA,
GOVERNORS OFFICE,

GOVERNORS OFFICE,
RICHMOND, VA, June 10, $50. }
N. @. ". Clarke, Secretary " Fam-
beau Crb," Topeka, Kan:
Dear Sir,--I have duly received your
letter and the copies Of the two pa
pers--namely, the daily Common
eeaith and the Kansas Democrat.
The following are the facts in the
case---to wit +: Previous to and inclusive
Of the Attn Of March. 1885 the date OF
President Cleveland's inauguration,
WAS a commissioned officer in the State
service, commanding Virginia volun-
seers. The State troops having decided
TO take part in those ceremonies, ae-
companied them. Upon my arrival in
Washington Q number Of volunteer
companies from other States were as
signed to my command, the whole
forming the Third division-the two
first being commanded respectively
BY General Ayers, an officer of the
United States army, and General Har-
trsnft in command Of the Pennsylvania
division, with General Slocum, Of New
York, as chief marshal commanding
the whole, which also included the
Fourth division, composed Of civic So
cieties.
OF course / was obliged to wear the
uniform Of Virginia State troops; the
colors Of that uniform are fixed by the
Governor and COMMANDMENTS Chief
the coats being gray and the pantaloons
blue. In accordance with law, there
fore, on that day the coat wore was
gray, with the Virginia buttons on it,
and the pantaloons blue.
OF course the statements Of DR.. Nc
Chesney are false-viz., that an ex'
Confederate general led the military in
the procession in Confederate uniform
As well rs his statement that Lieutenant
General Sheridan, in blue, was placed
in an inferior position, and that the
military was martialled las he is pleased
to express it, "bya man in the color Of
ashes" Life, however, is too short to
waste time on man who, twenty-one
wears after the war is over, could make
the speech reported in the Common
gedlh.
Just after reading his absurd sem
fences comparing the color gray to
1" ashes" etc, read in another paper
of the action Of some Federal soldiers
in WATERFOWL, N. Y, who had received
pensions under the laws of the United
States, but who, not requiring them, had
sent them to some Confederate soldiers
residing in this State because they
thought their necessities greater. Which
is doing most for the promotion of re-
stored union Of coequal States? The
narrow-minded, blood-thirsty preacher,
who probably never smelled gunpow-
der, or the ex-Union soldiers who
stopped fighting when the war was
over?
/ could safely leave the answer to
that question to tie very audience
which assembled in Topeka on May
3lst to hear the Rev. Mr.. McChesney's
address. / can only pity q man who
remains belligerent so long, and express
the hope that after death his flashes "
may be at peace.
Very respectfully yours,
FITZHUGH LEE.
p. S.--The enclosed letter from Gen.
eral Albert Ordway, who as aide to the
chief marshal, General Slocum, had
charge of the formation of the process
sion at the inaugural Of President
Cleveland, explains itself, and is most
satisfactory answer to any cavil in re-
gard to Lieutenant-G General Sheridan's
participation in the inaugural cere-
monies. +. l..
WASHINGTON, ID. c., June 9, 1886.
Colonel Cameo McLead:
Dear Sir,-I have the h~.sor 10 q.
: o. receipt Of your letter OF 9Th
instant.
In reply to your letter would say
that Lieutenant General Sheridan was
not in the line of the procession at the
Inauguration of President Cleveland,
and was neither invited nor expected to
be there, as there was no place assigned
in the procession to him, or any other
distinguished people.
l may properly add that General
Sheridan participated in the Inaugural
ton of President Cleveland a. the place
assigned to him and which he was in
vited to occupy-namely, a seat on thu
grand stand on the eastern portlco o
the Capitol when the oath was admin
istered to the President and the inaugu
raj address delivered.
Respectfully yours,
AruEpr DRnNl Az