The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1892-08-03
HEADQUARTERS FIRST CORPS,
ARMY OF VIRGINIA.


ARMY OF VIRGINIA.
NEAR FORT DE KALB, Va, Sept. II, 1852.
DEAR SIR:-ThOmas o. HaEter has requested
me TO address you note and mention therein
the value Of the services rendered our army BY
the information furnished by him. have al
ready given him certificate to that enect, and
have only to add that but for the oppOrtune ar
rival Of Harter at our headquarter on the Rapi-
dan river, on the 18th Of August, with q full &C
count Of the plans and designS Of the enemy,
which were stated to Gen. Pope, enabling him
to take such measures as the exigencieS OF the
case demanded for the protection Of his army,
We should have labOred under much dlS8dVant-
age. had sent Harter out on the 2lst OF July
for the purpose Of gathering such information as
would be useful to us In the conduct Of the cam
paign, and he acquitted himself in manner TO
Justify the confidence repOsed In him. Very
respectfully, f. SIGEL,
Major General
Hon. JOHN P. USHER, WashlntOn, D. @.
True copy. JOHN Ports,
Chief Clerk Wax Department.
December IL, 1853.
Gen. Mcdowell furnishes the following testi-
mOny:
Copy of Letter from Gen. McDOSOeu to Sec
retGTy Stanton:
WASHINGTON, D. c., october %, 1852.
Hon, e. M. Stanton, Secretary of War:
On the 18th Of last August, being In company
with Maj. Gen. Pope at the headquarters OF MAJ.
Gen. Reno, not far from the R8pldan, at RaccOOn
Ford, person representing as SPY sent out BY
Mai. Gen. SIgel came to Gen. Pope and repre-.
NVuyakkN
enemies lines; that he had been through their
army, the larger part Of which was but short
distance from the river In our front, behind
mountain ridge running parallel with the river;
that their army was on the point Of marching;
had their teams all ready to hitch up, and were
evidently to move at an early moment to turn
our left.
The information as to the position, condition,
and force Of the enemy induced Maj. Gen. Pope
to order his army to retreat Immediately behind
the R@ppahannOck.
The information given at the time above stated
proved 10 be correct, and was OF the highest TN
Dorsanos, a. It enabled us to defeat the plans Of
the enemy to get between US and the forces COM
Ing to join us by way Of Fredericksburg and
Manassas.
lido not recOllect the name Of the man who
gave US the information, nor do think should
now recognize him, IRWIN MCDOWELL,
Major General.
True CODY. JOHN PORTS,
Chief Clerk War Department.
December 16, 1858.
Last, but not least, is the following from Maj.
Gen. Pope:
COpy of Letter from Gen. Pope to Mr.. HGrtcr:
HEADQUARTERS
DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI, J
FORT LRAvENWoRTH, Kan, Jan, q, 1876.
DEAR SIR:-I am just in receipt Of your letter
OF the 25th instant with lnclOSed paper. re-
member very wen the facts set forth in the letter
OF Gen. Mcdowell, and that you were the first
person who gave US the information referred to,
information cOrrObOrated In every respect BY
other reports made the same day.
lam glad to have the opportunity thus to ac-
knowledge services Of the highest UGllH, and to
say that shall take pleasure always in serving
you In any manner in my power. Respectfully
yours, JOHN POPE
/ Major General.
THos, O, HARTRR, ESQ.,, LOgansport, Ind.
Concerning the gold coin that was taken from
Mr.. Harter, two Of his comrades, Elijah Bentley,
Of MaryviIle, Kan, late sheriff Of Marshall
county, Kan, and Harmon L. Miller, Of the PEN
sion department, Washington. d. O., were cog
nizant Of the fact that he had quite an amount OF
} gold.
With the foregoing recital Of facts, it Is deemed
unnecessary to make any argument; hence the
recommendation is made that the bill be passed
with the following amendment:
In line strike out secretary Of war;" and In
SeFt in lieu thereof secretary Of the treasury"
Mr.. J.H. Slime, army historian at
Washington, aware Of the valuable
services Of Mr.. Harter, voluntarily