The National tribune., 1892-09-15

| absence from his command and repaired to
Washington where he again appeared before
| the Committee He was not furnished with
| the names of witnesses nor allowed to examine
their testimony, but was informed by the
Chairman, Senator Wade, of Ohio that
HIS LOYALTY HAD BEEN QUESTIONED
by some minor witnesses. In reply Gen. Stone
stated he was willing to admit of poor capacity
| aud want of information, but to the charge OF
disloyalty was humiliation he had hoped he
| never would be subjected.
Gen. Stone was a graduate of West Point.
| appointed from Massachusetts, He belonged
to that Puritanical family which possessed
| staying qualities TO an immense degree. lie
| served with distinction in the Mexican war.
| Being in Washington at the breaking out of
| the war he was appointed Colonel OF the I4th
Regulars and placed in charge of the defenses
of Washington, where he superintendent the
erection OF forts and manned them III a way
that demonstrated his ability and patriotism
to the Union cause.
Gen. Stone was arrested by order of Gen.
Mcclellan, Feb 9, 1862, and was hurried off to
Fort Lafayette, where be was closely confined,
and not allowed communication with anyone.
He was kept there for over ten months In
the meantime he asked for specifications OF
charges against him. but received no reply.
He again asked for suspension OF arrest and
to be allowed to join the army on the Penln-
sula This request also failed. In July he
telegraphed to the President, stating lie was
utterly ignorant of any charges against him,
and requesting early trial. Still 10 reply. In
March the entire California delegation Joined
in memorial to Secretary Stanton stating
the long arrest and confinement Of Gen. Stone
without trial was general complaint in both
civil and military quarters. Still this docu-
ment failed TO even get response
After waiting about one month, a searching
resolution was introduced in the Senate, call
ing the Secretary of War asking on what
authority Gen. Stone was arrested and confined
without trial, and why he had been denied his
rights as an American citizen.
During the debate or this resolution it was
shown that Gen. Stone called on the Secretary
of War with this statement:
Mr.. Secretary, | understand complaints of
my conduct at the battle of Balls Bluff are
made, and / ask you TO inquire into these
rumors."
The Secretary replied that there were no
charges against Gen. Stone whatever. go
back to your command"
Subsequent developments showed that while
Gen. Stone was attending reception by special
invitation at the residence of Gen. Mcclellan,
the latter had issued an order three days
previous for his arrest.
ONE OF THE NEW YORK DAILIEs
stated that Senator Sumner had caused the
arrest in revenge fer a caustic letter Gen.
Stone had written the Senator. At the first
opportunity that Senator arose in his seat and
declared that he was stranger TO the entire
affair; that the arrest was made without his
knowledge or consent, and that Gen. Stone
should Immediately be allowed to face his
accusers.
The President at last broke the silence by
sending to the Senate a message saying Gen.
Stone was arrested by my general " authority,
and he deemed it iEcom patible with public in
a,ai han IN "a
make a more particular statement of the
charges, and he had not been tried because the
officers to conduct the court martial could not
be spared from the front, and that the War
Department would furnish ample facilities for
Gen. Stones defense. 1t was afterwards
found that this message was prepared i'll Secre-
tary Stantons office.
FINALLY, RELEASE CAME
at last by act of Congress coercing the Execu-
tive Department to the trial or release of Gen.
Stone and on the 18th of August. 1862. after
six months Imprisonment, he was released on
the following order:
:" The necessities of the service prohibiting
trial, Brig. Gen. Charles P Stone is realcased
by order of the Secretary of War;"
He was not ordered to report to anybody or
anywhere, so he teegraphed to the War De-
partment, reporting for duty at New York.
No orders came. He went to Washington and
reported to the Adjutant- Generals Office,
where he was informed there were no orders
for him, and that they knew nothing about
his being under arrest.
While Gen. Stcne had been in prison he was
unable to get the ear of anyone in authority.
Now that he was fcotloose he proposed to in
vcstigate the case himself.
The latter part of September, 1862, he called
on Commander-in-C Chief Gen. Halleck for a
copy Of the charges against him, with the
privilege of promptly meeting them. Gen. Hal
leck replied that he had no official knowledge
of the ease, and there were no charges on file
against him. III
This somewhat baffied Gen. Stone, but he
did not propose to give up the case. He called
on Gen. Mcclellan and called his attention to
the law enacted July II. which specifically
stated that an officer under arrest must be
given copy Of the charges within eight days
from date of arrest; and as Gen. Mcclellan
had ordered his arrest lie therefore requested a
copy of the charges To this Gen. Mcclellan
replied that the order for his arrest had been
given him by Secretary Stanton, who informed
him ii was on the solicitation Of
THE COMMITTEE ON THE CONDUCT OF THE
WAR,
and by them obtained from a refugee from
Leesburg. copy Of this alleged Leesburg
refugees story was handed to Secretary Stanton
by Gen. Mcclellan, when Secretary Stanton
ordered the arrest to be made. 1t is now re-
vealed that Gen. Mcclellan was familiar with
the full history of the case, but purposely
withheld from Gen. Stone, who was now more
than ever determined TO sift il to the bottom
Gen. Stone called at the office of Gen Nc
Cellan and requested the name of the alleged
Leesburg refugee. One of McClellan's staff
officers answered the inquiry, by stating the
General does not reeoilect the name but the
last time he saw the evidence it was at Secre.
tary Stanton's Office. Gen. Stone was again
baii1ed, but not disheartened. He now went
to the White House and asked the President if
he could inform him why he had been arrested
and confined in prison, and finally liberated
without any apparent charges against him.
The President replied: Stone. il / should tell
you all l know about the case, / should not tell
| you much"
However, he informed him that Secretary
Stanton had stated that the arrest had been
| made on the recommendation OF Gen. Me-
Clcilan, who was now trying to push the whole
matter on bis Secretary Stanton's) shoulders.
Gen. Stone finally appeared before the Com
mittee on the Conduct of the War, in February,
| 1863, when he was allowed to see the testi-
| mony against him, which heretofore had been
withheld He successfully refuted every charge
that had been brought against him. to the en-
tire satisfaction of the Committee.
THE COMMITTEE SUGGESTED TO GKS. STONE
| that he ought to have asked court of inquiry
| Immediately after the battle, when his actions
were brought into question. Gen. Stone re-
| piled that when Gen. Mcclellan visited Pooles-
ff1 II s7p 81.