The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-08-29
NO.. IA,

dress you as the single individual com.
petent to confirm or refute it. / am
aware that l have no claim to special
consideration; should you, however,
deem it not improper to respond to my
inquiry, shall feel myself indebted to
your kindness. The statement I refer
to was from general officer of the army,
of the Tennessee and Was in the words
following:
1t was generally understood in our
army that General Johnston's courier,
conveying dispatches to you previous to
the battle of Bakers Greek or Champion
Hills, betrayed his dispatches to Cen
eral Grant, and also your answers to
General Johnston's orders. I do not
know positively from General Grant
these facts, but the matter was spoken
of by the officers of our army in such a
way as to leave no doubt in lymind. ;"
"Permit me to add that this informa-
ton has tended to confirm my own sus-
picion, excited at the time by the 10Th;
erwise) inexplicable delay in the receipt
of General Johnston's dispatch of the,
l4th of May, which, as you, sir, are
probably aware, was not handed to me
until after p. m. on the 18th, when
my army was in fall retreat. My IN
quiry is confined simply to two points:
first, the truth (or reverse) Of the facts
discussed by the officers of the Army of
the Tennessee; second, the correctness
(or the reYerse) OF my surmises as to the
dispatch of the 14th above referred to-
l am, sir, most respectfully your obedi-
ent servant. J. G. PEMBERToN. :
General Grants reply is as follows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON,
January 81, 187t.-General J. G. Penn
berton, Warrenton, Virginia General:
Your letter of yesterday was duly re-
ceived this morning, and the President
authorized me to say that the statement
of the officer to which you refer was
correct, and he thinks you are also cor
rect as to your surmises in regard to the
delay in receipt of your dispatch. He
says the dispatches were brought in our
lines and given to General Mcpherson
and by him Immediately brought to
headquarters. have the honor to re-
main, sir, your obedient servant,
LEVI P. LUCKY, Secretary
On the 10Th OF January, 1874, Gener-
al Pemberton addressed letter. sub
stantially to the same effect, to General
Frank P. Blair, whose reply corrobor-
stes General Grants statement.
We give General Blair's letter also:
''Sr. Louis, January d, lS74.-Gen-
eral j. G. Pemberton, Farquier county,
Va.-Dear General: / take pleasure, Ia
answer to your letter of the 18th OF
January, in saying that it was generally
understood in our army that General
Johnston's courier, carrying dispatches
to you previous to the battle Of Bakers
Creek or Champion Hills, betrayed his
dispatches to General Grant, and also
your answers to General Johnston's or
ders, so that, IN fact, General Grant had
tgs sFrost precise information as to your
movements and those of General john
ston. 1 do not know positively from
General Grant these facts, but the mat
ter was spoken of by the officers OF our
army in such way as to leave no doubt
in MY mind.
Very respectfully, your obedient ser
want, FRANK 2. BLAIR.
Thinking that the correspondence
here gwen might interest those who are
not yet tired OF war incidents, I send it
to you, to make any use OF you may
deem proper. JOSEPH 7. DERRY.