Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-20
THE NAHONE-sALUTE NATTER.
Generals Brnnder and Anderson and
Mai. simons sustain the Governor.

MI
Mai. simons Sustain the Governor.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
In reply to the criticisms which have
.been made Of Governor O'Ferfall as TO
h;s course In refusing 20 fire a State
saIu,e In honor OF the memory OF
General Malone. I desire TO State that
7 had an extended conversation with the
Governor on the night before the fune-
raj. and that he expressed desire to
do honor to General Malone as a brave
and gallant Confederate soldier. and
stated that he would cheerfully order
. state salute II or any one else
could show that It had been customary.
JTnon reflection. ] could not recall
sin9Ie instance where a State salute had
been fired for major-general, ana IN
orIreI of the Adjutant-General and or
Major Simmons, who were present,
whether such salu.es had been fired
They could not recall any instance.
The Governor then said that could nor
direct these honors TO be shown to Gene
raj Mahone's memory. whcn they had
not been paid to the memories OF Gene
raj pickett W. II. F. Lee, and others.
was fully satisfied then. and upon
mature rejection am more convinced now
that he was fully justified in not issuing
the order.
60 anxious was Governor O'Ferrall 10
nav due honor 70 General Malone IA
brave general officer OF the Confederacy
he directed Major Simons TO send gun
and gun detachment to Petersburg tn
FIRE minute guns at the grave or during
, the funeral the expen1es to be paid out
Of his contingent fund. The reason why
this was not done Is explained TO me by
Major Simons.
THOMAS 4. BRANDER.
Past Commander, Grand Camp or Wiz
ginia, COME ierate Veterans.
MAJOR sIMoNs's STATEMENT.
To the Editor of the Dispatch:
A certain newspaper in criticising Gov
ernor O'Ferralrs action In refusing to
order a State salute in honor Of General
Malone. has distorted the facts. ] have
read tho statement OF Governor O'Fer-
rail published in the Dispatch OF to-day.
ard endorse II as correct. Governor
O'Fcrrall suggested that | send a detach-
ment of the Howitzers with a gun to
Petersburg 10 fire minute guns at the
grave. the expenses TO be paid out OF
his contingent fund. The statement that
the Governor withdrew the order is I'M
true. / notified CAPTAIN Hutcheson that
he could order a section OF the Howit-
Zers TO Petersburg to fire a salute. Cap
tain Hutcheson afterwards Informed me
that the men did not volunteer TO go,
and no did not think II proper to order
them.
The statement that the Governor would
not allow the Howitsers TO fire volun-
tary salute In Richmond IL also untrue
! refused TO give tho order myself and
tho Governor. knew nothing whateye
about it.
On examination CT my records 1 have
been unable TO ind a single instance
where a state salute was fired In honor
OF any general except Beauregard. who
was q full general The State ealute
fred when Ex-Governor kenper d'ed
was in his honor as Ex-Governor. and
not as general When Generals Pickett.
Walker. ana Cooke died salutes were
fired at their graves by my order. and
not by order Of the Governor.
Governor O'Ferrall expressly stated 10
General Brander. General Anderson ana
myself. that II the state salutes had been
fred on tho occasion Of the deathe or
other rnaior-generals he would cheerfully
order n STATE salute In honor or General
Malone. but II other generals had not
been 60 honored he must decline IN the
case OF General Malone: that he was
not willing 10 honor one above the other.
W. f. SIMONS.
Major First Battalion Artillery.
THE STATEMENTS CORROBORATED.
To the Editor OF the Dispatch:
was present officially at the reception
by the Governor OF Virginia 10 the An
cient and Honorable Artillery on the eve
ming OF October Sth. at which time the
suggestion and request was made 70 him
to fire a State salute in honor OF General
Mahones memory.
The Governor consulted several Officers
present to find II State salutes had been
fred in cases Of the deaths OF major
generals. and the general opinion and adj
vice vas that it had not been usual.
lie was anxious to pay tribute To n
brave Confederate soldier and general
officer. but concluded that he could not
establish such n precedent. and thereby
discriminate In favor Of General Malone.
and against other deceased major-gene-
rails Of the Confederacy.
There was absolutely no discussion OF
the matter. except in a strictly military
sense by any one that I heard speak Of
the matter. and any statement TO tho
contrary is erroneous. and cannot be
eatablished by the testimony Of any per-
son who had anything TO say on the
subject. CHARLES J. ANDERSON.
Adiutant-GeneTal.