The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-12-10

render verdict OF guilty upon a charge Of
treason"
We claim that our original article introdue-
ing TINS matter. has not been at all disturbed
oy the subsequent attempts Of writers TO fasten
upon Gen. Miles the odious name Of traitor"
In all the American courts. civil and mill
tary, the persons charged with crime are to be
considered innocent until proven to be guilty;
ana as we clearly showed in our first article that
ms entire conduct was consistent with pure 10y
atty, and, besides all this, clearly approved by
sound military discretion, it is not, therefore.
necessary to ask for much space TO present
further argument But please grant US space
10 invite tho readers attention to a few facts
bearing upon this issue which are not at all in
any dispute, TO wit: First. Gen. Jackson was a
hlgh-toned Christian gentleman, and no one
who so believes will for one moment allow
that he would stOop 10 buy his fellow-man to
commit perjury and treason. No, Gen. Jackson
was not man who would stoOp to so low q
practice.
Second. Why would he buy that which he
could get without purchase?
Third The official record shows that Gen.
jackson had 500 men killed and wounded in
the capture OF Harper's Ferry. Does any one
suppose that Jackson would have suffered his
men TO be killed and wounded if he knew that
Gen. Miles intended 10 capitulate2
FOURTH Does anyone suppose for n moment
that Gen. Jackson would have taken three
days time and the most delicate care in max
ing the investment a success if Miles had
treated with him for surrender?
ruth. Does anyone suppose that he would
have kept his whole division upon the ground
until after the surrender, when he knew that
Gen Lee was being beaten at South Mountain
and Antietam?
Sixth. Every military student knows that
Gen. Halleck was jealous dscipliuarian, and
can 1t be possible that he would refuse to es-
taolish Court OF Inquiry, TO sit in judgment
upon Gen. Milcs's conduct, had he seen any
evidence 10 support the treason theory +" +?
The whole cut truth is this. that this theory
never did have any fair evidence to support it
except tho windy vapOrings Of one John S.
Mltcher, who claimed at the time to be one of
Gen. Jackson's scouts, and that he treated, not
with Gen. Miles, but with Col. Ford. for the
surrender Of the forts on Maryland flights.
But who that knows this same Witcher cOuld
believe one word lie said2 No one has ever
thought Of throwing n dark cloud over Col.
lords character upon the strength Of Witch
ers drunken statements. Aud yet the writer
can produce most positive proof that Witcher
made this statement publicly on the day Of the
surrender. The records show that there were
more killed and wounded on the Confederate
side than upon the Federal side: Union losses
killed aud wounded 200; Confederate losses,
800 killed and wounded The entire history
contradicts the theory Of treason. And, besides
all this, Gen. Miles asked, as the records at
Washington prove. 10 remove the entire force
from the Virginia side over 10 Maryland
flights aud there make his stand. This was
peremptorily refused by the War Department
Still, had he done this the final result would
have been the same. for the place was doomed
from the very hour that Gen. Jackson made
the Investment sure on the south and west.
Let US all go slow " 10 this matter OF charging
a deceased cOmrade with such an awful crime
J. l.. WILLIAMS, Montezuma, Ind.