The evening times., 1898-09-17
Differs From Mr.. Coudcn.

To the Editor of The Times:
An article in your morning edition OF the 18th
instant, puTporting to be the result OF in
teryiew with Rev Henry y. Couden. chaplain
of the House of Representatives in which his
thusasn, like that OF too many Others of his
fellow-citizens who just now recklesSly crit
igising the conduct OF the war, evidently gets
the better OF his judgment, contains or two
Statements entirely at variance with the facts
that ask space in your columns to prove their
incOrreCtncSs Mr.. Couden says. among other
things, and | quote him. that during the civil
war the regiment in which served the Eighth
Ohio. had no such trouble. We marched more than
5000 miles in three years. and only lost fifteen
men during that entire period" Happening to
be pretty familiar with the history OF the Eighth
Ohio (IniIGtry), this In a surprising
statement, knowing as | do that many more than
that number fell in the heat OF conflict alone
10 say nothing OF those who subsequently died
of wounds received in the many actions in which
this regiment was engaged
Probably Rev Mr.. Coudnn Is wrongly quoted
and that what he really said intended u say
that only fifteen men were lost by disease
during the three years the regiment was in sefv-
ice But even thus qualified, the statement is
prepostcrous. Tie Eighth Ohio organized
in June, 1861, and, entering the field shortly
after. commenced active work in West Virginia
Ii WAS but short time, in spite OF frequent
changes OF camp. before disease commenced lts
deadly work in the ranks OF this regiment, as il
always has in the ranks of volunteer regi-
mcntS, not only in the present war, but in all
!
do for all time where large bodies of unframed
mon are suddenly aggregated in camps; and ii
Mr. Coudcn will but pause a moment for re
fiection he will doubtless call to mind the fact
that the very regiment to which he refers and
OF which he claims to have been a member, lost
twenty-five by disease during the months
of September and October. 1861, while lying in
camp in and around Grafton, Va. This i not all
| have before me while | write, and furnish
him. a list of the names of sixty-siX members
of his regiment who died from causes other than
wounds received in action during its term OF
service Further, during the first twelve months.
ifty-nine men discharged on surge ms ce-tI-
fcacs Of di ability, inClIding those s"ll, g1d
for wounds and in all the tnirty-siy months of
its service total of 22l discharged.
! II should he remembered, too, that in those days
| the personnel of a regiment was much smaller
! than is now the rule-snaller by at least p per
cent; that, taking all the facts into coailtlS-
| ton doubt whether the Rev ~. CJuGen 'or any
| other man. can point to single command organ
lied under the recent calls for volunteers wherein
disease has reaped richer harvest than it did
| in the ranks of the very regiment he ctes-one
of the best of the many that IN those days added
! glory to the name of Ohio.
| Mr. Coudcn also criticiSes tie chaplain of the
| District VOlunteers-Rev. Mr.. Dudley-in that he
assumed the duties of POSTMASTER OF the regi-
ment. have acquaintance with the chap
| lain, and am not writing in his defense; doubt
| less he is fully competent to care for himself;
| but as one having had some experience In army
| life during the between the States, can
say without fear of contradiction that 1t was
common occurrence for chaplalns to act as
| regimental postmasters. the prOpriety OF which.
! before this | have heard questioned. The
7, chaplain of the regiment with which | was con.
nccted-Rev. Alfred Wheeler, an NJ. d., as we'll
| as D. D.. learned man, afterward high IN the
councils of his church. and editor of the Christian
! Advocate of Pittsburg Pa-acted such, and
| l know personally Of many other chaplains who
| did the same. W. ;. NlChHAM.