Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-09-05
DUNCAN's DEFENSE

IN, IS SocOnQ-cIASs m2Itel.
SURGEON DUNCAN'S DEFENSE
Surgeon Duncan, now in jail at Fair
fax, charg d with desecrating the
grave of dead Confederate soldier, has
written the following letter:
While in the hands of the military
authorities did not deem it proper or
military to make any state ment for the
press, but now that l have been deliv
cred 10 the civil authorities, feel free
to speak and deny the many false and
malicious statements made against my
uame and character.
As TO my connection with the dese-
GRAFTON OF the grave of the Confs derate
soldier Duke" q court-msrtial, COM
posed OF brigadier general four colo
nels, four majors, anu four other OH
GERS, hiss already adjudged. Two of
these officers are ex-Coniederate SOL
diers.
Over sixty witnesses testified, and
500 pages of evidence were recorded,
aud what was the decision? That | took
no part in these dissertations; that |
was guilty Of neglect of duty only be
cause | did lot arrest privates who
we're digging in the grave. My part in
De depiorable affair, as testified to in
ne c. urt-nartai by myself and borut
,ur by other evidence, was as followt:
o. the morning of August 65h, whil,
hr second Division was camped near
Bull Run, was out ske' ching, as is my
ustom when l have leisure. While
srollIug about the battle field l Gene
upon a body f meu digging il little
hola, about lUcnts deep aud ? fee
acfoss.
had already seen dozens Of men ali
yer the field searching for relics an
DOT a lew digging, so thought nothing
uf it. stayed some 10 minutes, watch
ing the digging and talking TO anoth' r
officer who was present. Then !earl-
that Il gravestoDe was thereabout',
aud found it lying oul some fifteen feel
rom where the men were dix gng.
| Learned what Was on it, but a. | bao
Deeu informed hat all the bodies OF lb'
g. ldIers theIeabou!s had been removet
a., Arlington and Manassas, did NO
think much OF the matter. However, /
saw hosl ital corps man there, and u
dered him back to camp (he was the
only man there over whom l supposed
[ had Authority The other nau there
was not under my commandment even
Of INV regiment. a. am surgeon, ]
nave no command.
| started TO 20 away, but stopped
to think the matter over, and then
.ame back and told the mea to quit
digging and go away. They did so,
catering in ever direction. The exca'
vs,ion at this time (about 9:20 a. M }
was about one and half feet deel
and two feet across, and n
thing whatever had been remov d
except dirt and small stones
Alter ordering the men away | lelt
The spot at once, and have never
seen it sine. That is the sum and sub
stance of my guilt. And there is Ut
Evidence TO prove that | was ther
neain.
N,w ss to the dissertations. 1t was
shown on trial that some parties began
digging again, but were immediate y
.topped by 8 captain of the Third New
York about 1890 a. N. At that tim'
me excavation had reached q depth OF
two feet, but nothing had heen tsk'
out except dirt. This captain stopped
n. seiny, had the hole refilled and
tne stone replaced.
The evidence further shows that | re-
turne d to camp before II q. M, and Wa
there the remainder of the day; that
some time in the afternoon, probably
between 2 and 3, other parties again
opened the grave. and this time took
out the skull and one or two bones, but
that nothing was taken away.
Another officer came up, replaced the
bones, retiled the grave, and placed
guard over it. This ended the deplor
! able affair.
have one thing more to say. 1t has
been charged that WAS the leader OF
this, and that I did it out of feeling
toward the Confederate dead. | want
to deny that accusation. | do not be-
lieve that it was made by ex Confed-
| rates, but by repor er5 who wish to
ingratiate themselves with the South
want to say that for the Confederate
soldiers, living or dead, have pro-
found respe ct. l, too, sm soldier,
and have read with admiration OF the
dasbing troopers of ]. E B. Stuart, the
foot cavalry of Stonewall Jackson, ana
the often hungry, ragged. dust-brown-
I'd men in gray that followed Robert
+ Lee to q hundred fields, and finally,
at Appomattox, gave up their flags,
lowered, but not dishonored. No man
living honors them more than l. The
memory of their heroism is q heritage
to all.
Neither do think that the men who
actually took part in the sad affair DID
il out of sectional feeling: L think
rather it was the outcome OF reckless
ness in young men, engendered oy
camp life in volunteer army, sdoeo
10 foolish desire for "relics."
I am far from home and among
strangers. For the sake of my family
to whom this is torture, l ask iair
treatment until it has been proved thaV
I have done wrong.
LOUIS c. DUNCAN,
CAPTAIN and Assistant Surgeon, Twen,
tv.second Kansas Infantry, Unlted