The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-08-18

resign at once and look after the vir-
Einia ordnance. which was as yet I'M
organized. Gilman straightway wrote
TO Thomas. and hcre is what Major j.
.c. White terms his stern reply:
Now York Hotel. 18TH. March. 1861.
''fiis Excellence. Governor John Letch-
or. Richmond. Va
"Doar srr.-r received yesterday "a
letter from Major Gillian. OF the Viz
slnia Military Ins .itute. da5Led tho 9Th
Instant. in reference 10 tho position Of
chief of ordnance OF the state. iu
which ne Informs me that you had
requested him 10 ask me n 1 would
resign from the service, and. IL So
whether that post would be- acceptable
TO me
"As he requested me to mako my
TO state. after expressing my most
sincere thanks FOR YOUR vory kind Of
iei very stern thatD. THAT II Is
not my wish TO leave the sarVice OF tho
United stat1s as long az ii is honor
ahle for me TO remain In ~. and.
therefore, As long as my native State.
virginia. remains in the Union. it Is
my purpose to remaln in tho army,
unless requested TO perform duties
alike repulsive to honor and humanity.
Il am sir very. respectfully.
Your obedient servant.
GEORGE II. THOMAS.
Major IL >. Army
VOLTA qui tranche In question' as
the French say.
Thomas Evident
II Major Thomas did not mean TO
signify 20 Governor Letcher (by words
italici1cdj that IL Was his desire to
remain In the army at that tine Cmore
tnan month before Virginia secaded1
but his purpose to- remain in IL only
50 long mis- native State virginia,
remained In the UnlonI' then IL is ciear
thht human Language is worthless to
express human purpdse. and. In any
event, II Is i5ie TO claim tor him that
honorable directness and solGierly
frankness which his admirers count mis-
chief characteristics No sophistry can
as this and Piatts attempted eNpia-
nation is 80 badly absurd and futile
that even mis- subaerg1ent disciple can
not sy allow it, and go adopts the
Napoleonic plan of not reproducing
limo OF II. and coIg-ents himself with
characterizinS 1t as stern
For more than thirty years Eng-
land has been my second home and
1t is my good fortune to know Eng
ish Officers by tho score. from field
niaTshals TO captains IN marching regi-
ments. and l put the question TO these
old friends as to what would be
thought or any of1csc who thus prac-
ucally suppresses In a discussion
letter which Is the very core OF tine
mat ter. and contents himself with
Gazing II stern when there Is not
ia sc<ntilla OF steruness in il?
When ! was In the Army OF North
'ern virginia II would have becn ad-
Judged dn tho Language of the Army
heeulations'D certainly in the moss
~ not by court-inartlal. CONDUCT un-
becoming an officer and gentleman 20
Inomas was renred in the strict
states rights school," favored slave
Try Cwl ich Lee did noD. and even his
biosrapher, Van, Horne allows that
ne was more decidedly Southern in
MS sentiments thau Lee" @. BID Both
his brothers SERVED In the Confederate
army. and so did all his near ISinsrneu.
both on his faith er's and mothers sid.
Neither or his sisters. who were great
~ devoted TO him. ever sroko TO him
again after he turned his back on his
state, and only one OF his brothers
FitzhuRh Lees Testimony
As for General Titzhugh Las 1ctter
speak by the card" when say
tnat ne published Il reluctantly. l
Nnew MIN Intimately for many years
ana more high minded. sweet tern
pered. truthfn and valiant gentlemon
never hreathcd AS n -6nshing Young
ster (second lieutenant in Second cav
alry) he had greatly distinguishod
himself In tho camnaigns OF 1S5o and
1850 against the Indians, and his troon
rent the very heavens with their villa
cheers when he slew in single combat
the big chief" of tho fierce Commence
IN tho sharp rnelec near Camp Colorndo
Texas. in 1860 In the Confederate
Army he was tho ideal beau ga breiir
Stuarts right bower" as he ,ised "a
caii MIN, anc rose to be major general
oetore he was twenty cirht nor he