Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-05-30
CORRESPONDENCE.
An Afrront to An Old Soldier.

An Affront to An Old Soldier.
TO the MINING JOURNAL.
There is nothing that true soldier,
who has served his country from prln-
ciples of patriotism, guards with such
jealous care as the honorable record
he has made upon the field of battle.
1t is something that he himself not
only prizes beyond words but expects
to bequeath to his children as a herit-
age of value higher than anything
he could bestow save name unsnllied
by any base deed. 1t is hard for a
civilian to realize with what passionate
indignation such man will resent
any detraction from a record that he
knows cannot be truthfully assailed by
his bitterest enemy.
A gross insult of this kind was some
time since offered to Capt. William E.
Griffith by an anonymous scribbler In
the Frostburg JOURNAL. The publ
cation was seen but recently by myself,
and as one fully acquainted with Capt.
Griffith's army life | cannot resist the
impulse to reply, and so ask this pub
LEGATION in your columns.
The article in question does not adj
nit of answer seriatim, for it consists
of no detailed accusations, the writer,
with wholesome regard for the
maxim that "a prudent man seeth evil
afar off and avoideth it," masking his
malicious attack behind a screen of
sneers and insinuations. He does not
stand before his readers-he does not
even SIT, but he crouches like the genuine
bushwhacker he must be, and fires his
shots at one of the men who placed
their lives at their country's service
that they, if need be, should die that
the Nation might live.
shall not answer this individual in
kind, but | propose to cover few of
the salient points in Capt Griffith
career as II wearer of the blue.
When only a boy, not twenty years
old, he broke off his studies and enlist
ed as private in an Independent COM
pany, Washington cavalry, afterwards
Company B, ODD Pennsylvania cavalry,
and served three years and half in
the field, passing rapidly through the
various grades of promotion until he
received his captaincy. He particl-
pated in many important battles and
was three times wounded. Among
the numerous engagements in which
he took part were those at Strasburg.
Winchester, Opequon, Fishers Hill,
Cedar Creek, Kern stown, etc, serving
under such hot fighters as Sheridan,
Shields, Carroll, Custer, Averill and
Crook He was on General Shields
on-commissioned staff at Winchester,
March 3d. 1862. and afterwards re-
ceived special letter from that gen
eral complimenting him for his bravery
and fidelity to duty during that en-
gagement and others which followed.
His immediate ccmrades-in-arms and
those in position to knon whereof
they speak all testify in terms of high
est praise of his gallantry on the field
of battle. a. j. Greenfield, late Brevet
Col. 22d Penn. cavalry, says: "Cap-
tain Griffith was always at the front in
time of battle" Jacob Higgins, late
Colonel ODD Penn. cavalry, writes these
words: Capt. Griffith was one of the
6r0oest young officers | ever knew"
Testimony of this kind could be extend
ed to an unlimited extent did space
permit. 1t is not necessary, however.
and knowing that not one act can be
produced rejecting upon his soldierly
renown. Capt. Griffith may we'll believe
that l have, perhaps, given already
more attention to the bushwhacker
of the JOURNAL than he deserves.
FAIR PLAY.