The new North-west., 1888-10-12
THE PATRICK FORD MATTER.
His Character as a Soldier Completely Vii
dicated. -- - -r:v

pendent, to the effect that the Irish Worlt
was 81 prominent deserter from the Federa
army in the civil war" The only inference
was that he referred to Patrick Ford, 1T
editor, who was member Of the 9th. lMassa
chusetts Volunteers, regiment that ws
eminent in the Army of the Potomac for 1T
magnificent service.
Mr.. Ford in the Irish World of October
I'd, ia most dignified manner, refers to thi.
charge, which originally appeared in tn.
New York Eue,aing Post in 1884, i Mug
wump paper published in New York. Mr.
Ford made no reply to it during the cam
pafgn. He rested under the cloud without .
murmur, although Major Mahan, of his reg
iment, published card in other papers pro,
Iouncing it malevolent lie. When the
campaign ended Ford had the libeller ar.
rested, tried, convicted and sent to the peni-
tentiary, producing his honorable discharge
from the army in open court. Now, in 1885
the charge is repeated in the Post to break
the effect Of Ford's uranswerable arguments
/ for protection to American industries. Mr.,
Ford says he had intended to pursue the
same course In this campaign, and reserve
the question for determination in the courts,
but he has been driven by virulent onslaughts
to publish the following, which Is complete
vindication and high tribute to his chatac-
ter as . soldier. It should forever silence
and humiliate those who have wilfully OF
carelessly uttered or repeated these asper-
sions, and his manly course will place Pat.
rick Ford higher than ever in public esteem;
BosToN, October g. 1s88.-Mr John Ryan,
Jr, Waddington, N. Y.-Dear Friend and
Comrade: In reply to your inquiry respect-
ing the false and malicious charges made
against the army record of Mr. Patrick Ford,
have to say that / was his captain, Com
pany A, Ninth Regiment Massach usetts
Vo!1nteers) during the war Of the rebellion,
and think ought to be fairly competent
witness OF what he truly was, as we'll as
judge Of what his INSCRIPTIONS enemies
fasley say he was in that matter.
I have to say that Mr.. Patrick Ford was
good soldier in the war, and of his fidelity
to his country and his loyalty to its. flag the 1
certificate of his honorable discharge and |
the ready and cheerful testimony Of his sur /
vlvlng comrades, officers and men; best |
ample evidence.
The meanest kind of lie is a lie that
steals and puts on the semblance of truth,
Patrick Ford, in January 1863 with some
Others of my company, fell a prisoner Of war
at the war department at Washington. He |
was reported among the missing, and an er-
ror on the muster roll did him an Injustice, |
which error, as soon as it was discovered;
is the rotten basis on which it is attempted
to rest the injurious charge against Mr.. Ford |
his calumniators ignoring the correctioh) /
put IN circulation as campaign lie, know I
ing it to be lie. >.
Enclosed is a copy Of card which ans.
that you want to know about Mr.. Ford's |
military record, and an answer to all that his |
defamers say OF him as we'll. Very truly
yours, JAMES r. MCGUNIGLE,
Late Captain Co. A., 9th Mass. Vols.
BosroN, September 25, 1888-Respectingta
malicious report, evidently put in circulation
to throw discredit on the military record Of
Mr.. Patrick Ford, we, the surviving officers
OF the ninth regiment, Massachusetts volun-
teers, wish to say that Mr.. Ford was mem.
per OF that honored military organization IN
The war for the Union, and served as a true
and faithful soldier. We are impelled to
bear this testimony, not merely in Justice to |
= brave and worthy comrade, but also to ex.
press our contempt for the base methods Of
ne Etso.i dastard1y r 4 maligners Of MI Ford; for
among ourselves on political questions) en-
certain the warmest regards as true-hearted
md honorable man; and we cordially wish
him all the success and all the honors that
lis virtues, his abilities, his devotion to prin-
'lple, as exemplified in his splendid services
% the land Of his birth, as well as his fidelity
o the land of his adoption, SO Justly have
Ton for him.
PATRICK T. HANLEY, s:
Colonel 9th Mass. Vols.
DANIEL G. MACNAMARA, Major
CHRIS. PLUNKETr, Captain. -as /,
JAS r McGuNrc1r Gant Go