Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-04-01
A REPLY TO CHARLES BlNNs.

To the Editor Of the Alexandria Gazette:
have read 10 the Fairfax Herald of
the 18Th instant Charles Binns' reply to
nv letter which had an extract from the
var records which proved that Binns
left Fairfax 10 July 1868, with party
to Join the Confederate army, and there
were also quotations from reports Of
Colonel Lowell 10 which he speaks Of
Bins as 8 deserter; of the valuable in-
formation that BinDs had brought him;
of the services Binns wss rendering
against bis former comrades, and OF the
pay be was giving Binrs for his tresch-
ery, Il seems that on February ~,
CIlonel MOsby addressed letter to the
Herald ia reference to the death OF one
Of bis best men and best friends. Joe
Richards, and incidentally spoke OF
Joe's prowess 10 so affair with the Osli-
fornia Cavalry Battalion near Danes
vile in which Joe showed great eager
ness to capture Binns, who had deser ed
Mosby's battalion and Was then tm-
ployed as guide by the enemy. DE
also stated that when the fight began
Binns took to bis heels and never stopped
running until he crossed the Pot
Binns contents himself with charging
me With misquotiI g the records. he
does not specify 10 what particular. His
word is not sufficient evidence OF the
fact. Why dldn't be correct the quo-
tstions aud show that the records bad
been garbled to bis pnjadicet Tntrs
are about 1870 VOLUMES of the war records.
| doubt il Binns ever saw them. An
index has every name In them. Blu
is mentioned four times, 10 July, No
vember and December 1863. Exuacts
we're made 10 show that Binns' denial OF
being q Confederate deserter is contra.
dicted by the records. Dates we're given
80 that it was easy to verify quotations.
II is true that only extracts from the 70.
ports were given but they we're perfectly
fair and there was no Misrepresentation.
The truth is there we're two references to
BinDs omitted for tho sake of brevity
which prove as much sgainst him as
those that were quoted.
Colonel LowelPs report Of November
Goth, 1868, twice speaks oil Binus as a
deserter. l quoted only one such
reference to Binns; | now give B uns
the benefit of both. Lowell says "He
Captain Romery) took as guides YAM
kee Davis and the deser!er Binns. Y.
Captain Romery managed bis part OF
the expedition with great judgment.
The deserter Binns proved Of great at
sistance." So much the worse fer
Binns.
only quoted one reference to Blnns
In LowelPs report of December 9th.
1868. Here are both: Lowell ssys--
"The party OF ten mounted and forty
dismounted men of the Thirteenth New
York Cavalry under NJ jIr Coles with
BIuns Is guide, sent out night bef.re
last, secuted the country as far as Lees
burg and carefully this side of Broad
Run. They searched houses and brought
In 8 prisoners, amongst whom we're
Pettingall "a notorious SCOUT, Joe White,
Bridges Zone OF Mosby's meD) aud
Beavers, with other suspicious citiz.ns
pointed out by Binns."
| referred TO q number of Fairfax
men who belonged to Mosby's Battalion
az witnesses to prove that Binns was one
of their command, dressed in Oonfed-
crate uniform, went with them on raids
and then deserted. George Tnberville,
of Fairfax, known as the ''lIttle rooster, !
was omitted. | have just received
letter from him. He says he was we'll
acquainted with Binns aud be endorses
all said about him. Binns speaks Of
being stabbed in the dark. Colonel
Mosby's letter Of February % charging
BinDs With deserlion had bis signature
In full. My letter simply PRODUCES
evidence from the records to support
Colonel Mosby's charge. Biuus can
ask the editor who sm.
CONFEDERATE.