The National tribune., 1891-09-24
WAS MILES A TRAITOR?
COmrade Williams Gives tho Reasons Why III
Thinks lie Was.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: As Comrade
J. L. W., Of Montezuma, Ind, i'm your issue o.
Aug. %, tried 10 dissect my article Of July 30,
and made such an unreasonable mess Of IL, /
desire 90 say TO the cOmrade / was not a pris-
oncr, nor anyone else, at that time on Maryland
llishts, as Comradc j. l.. w. tried TO make II
appear.
was under the impression that anybody
who had any knowledge of the shameful sur
render Of llarpcr's Ferry was familiar with the
fact that Miles ordered Col. I. j. Ford 20 cut
down those guns and ovacnate Mary and
lights, taxing all troops from Maryland
flights over on the Virginia side, which was
done the day before the surrender myself with
ali the rCstl, who were not killed iu the short
Int fierce fight We had had that day on top
Maryland flights.
Now, Comrado J. +. W.. read that article Of
July 80. put a little reasoning 90 D., aud ask q
question or two Of someone who was at liar-
pcrs Ferry, aud il will all look very plain 20
you. Now, as / was nos a prisoner how VIII
you reason that did not stand by and sec the
shot fired that killed Miles? ] Cndcavor 10
make this So plain That il viii need no dis
seciinE. Ny language is simple, easy 10 un-
derstand, and l write from what ] saw and
know 10 be the truth. ] DO not write from
others say So or even the records OF his
tory or the imaginations Of my own mind. j,
perhaps like yourself, desire that the real truth
shall be given the people in all cases.
Now we cannot suppose that Comraac J. =.
W. was ever at Harpcg's Ferry. Every COM
rade who was ever there, whether during that
shameful surrender or after years, knows that
ID was troachgry in Miles. IL was not for lack
Of CCnera.ship nor cowagdico. Miles was not
coward, IN my opinion Eencralshia was not
required. Amy Corporal in the 32l Ohio could
have held the flights with the force under
Miles agains, an the rebels in Maryland.
- . Haa H.a.N
from Washington. That 40 the most was HO'h-
ing at aii. JIG had no orders 10 surrender, we
know. lie was at liberty 10 do the best hc
could, and because he did not 10 that he proved
himself traitor, as in the following. The
c0mradC says nero words do not prove SO
grave a charge
Then, commde, ! viii give Won n few facts
10 di.scct. You will admit that Miles did
order those guns cut down. and ordered the
troops from Maryland flights across on the
Virginia side, and gave those Nights that God
made dcieuse) 10 the rebels almost over our
heads, whore they could almost stone us.
Aow, when You admit that Miles did this By
order You must admit that ho was q traitor,
or imagine he had crazy spell.
Then we had heard heavy firing in tho d.
recti0n Of S0nth Mountain. and we an knew
aud Miles knew, that the rebels were retrcatiug
from South Mountain and holly pushed; and
We know If Miles had taken mp our poutoou
bridge and left them without crossing
grca, portion Of their army, their trains and
artillery would have been captured
COmraae J. j. w. says give rs a racket"
such as old soldiers can tumble t0;' so ] will
give several reasons not mere words 20
prove Miles traitor enough to keep J. L. W.
disscctiug al Winter.
First. Miles ordered Col Ford 10 cut down
those large guns and evacuale Maryland
Nights
Second. oar p0ntooa bridge was left Tor the
rebels To cross on.
Third. Why did he not mass his troops and
show eight 40 some point ia way 10 get his
troops out and save their cIpturCt
I0griH. When he SAW OF seemed 10 see VIC
could do nothing hut surrender as DE did the
evening before, why did hc ol igct 10 the cav
airy making It's escape as il did, contrary 10 his
Ordcrs2
Fifth Why did not the rebels throw moro
she'll instead Ok solid shot aud pieces Of rail-
road iron, with no aim a. anything, apparently,
only 30 keep up prctcnse Of fight until an
appointed time Tor the white flag to ayprITy
Sixth. Why did Miics take his position on
the ridge iu tbc most conspicuous place, aud
there walk a beat back aud forth, like % camp
guard, or rather like a e;lrss old turkey
Seventh. The fact that, 10 the best of my
knowledge, there was not o rebel shot fell
nearer 10 him than thousand yards.
LiHHtn' Ana greatest OF all. when Miles
knew we bad 10 surrender, why did De not de-
stroy al! the military stores aud lhen surrender
only after making an effort % get awayl
As tony standing boy the gun and ing tho
shot FREQ that killed Miles j repeat dii sec
the shot fred that killed him. and / eau say
farther that the camlaig viii have q little
more 10 aissCct. it vas tie third or fourth shot
;hat killed him, and fOr proof ] call up Com
ra5e NJ. ". White Co. y. G9.A Ohio. Atlantic.
Iowa. Comw3e White was p iookog-on as well
rs myself, aud WILL IL alive, yet witness NY
staten Ht.
have letter before no that says tao gun
neT that fred tie shot Is an old friend OF Com
radc White. ] had some conversation with tho
gunner 40 the time tie shots were fred. /
asked him what battery 90 was, and for fear OF
trouble Ogcr that, told me ihe ilh Ind, which
doubted By tho way De spoke. Eut 20 wa5 nu
Indiana battery says my letter. aud gircs tho
number ol the battery, but as that Is lcar-av
] will not give tho number % it.-JOHS L.
WILLIAMS, 60. ID, 32l Ohio, Burlington, Gala.