Year: 1863

last or General Brown-Addi-


ttonai Evidence OF the Radical Com


spiracy.


The reply of Brevet Brigadier General Brown
to the official reports of Generals Wool and
Sandford relative to the late riot in this city,
has made its appearance and was published in
yesterdays HERALD. We will give him the
credit Of some ingenuity in getting up his de-
fence; but he neither denies nor refutes the
charges made by his superior officers. On the
other hand, his manifest assumption Of power.
marked prevarications and the part that he
admits he played during the disturbances fur
nish additional proof that the fanatical radi-
calls determined to bring about revolution in
our city, conflict between the State and ma.
tional authorities, with martial law and q mill
tary governor; and that General Brown was
their tool in this work no other conclusion can
be derived from the Generals singular defence.
His statement, even without the official reports
of Generals Wool and Sandford, conclusively
settles the point that q radical conspiracy
existed in this city, from which we have been
rescued as II by miracle.


In the first place, General Brown asserts that
he reported to General Wool in the capacity
of military commander of the city Of New
York." position that he claimed he held un-
der the orders of the Secretary Of War. Now,
General Brown, as it is well known,
was sent here as the commander Of
certain Notifications in our harbor, and
his official authority was limited to those for
- w. IL
might just as we'll assume that he was COM
mander Of the city of Brooklyn as General
Brown that he was commander of this city.
Had he been stationed in the harbor of one Of
the seeded States his case might have been
different. The city Of New York being tho
roughly loyal, no such assumption Of power can
be justified. Even if any such idea could be
construed, General Wool was in command Of
the Department of the East, of which the city
Of New York forms portion. General Brown
was, therefore, subject to General Wool's
orders, and only liable to such duty in this city
as that General ordered him to perform. When
all the mystery connected with this affair is
cleared up it may perhaps be shown that the
little Satanic Committee telegraphed to Wash
ington and obtained q special order from Sec
retary Stanton for General Brown to act in
that capacity for the very purpose Of aiding
them in carrying out their atrocious schemes.
Otherwise General Brown clearly assumed
power that did not belong to him. The riot
was purely . local affair, and the duty and
power Of putting it down rested exclusively in
the hands of the local and State authorities.
Mayor Opdyke was so "paralyzed by fear"
that Governor Seymour had to take it in hand.
He then was the person chief in command.
This fact General Wool, who had first
come to the assistance Of the Mayor,
fully recognized, and therefore in all his action
consulted with the Governor and General Sand
ford, who was in command of the militia Of this
division, and rendered them all the assistance
in his power. The correctness of Wool's action
is fully shown by the course taken by Generals
Dix and Candy on their arrival here to SUPER
sede Wool and Brown. 1t is therefore to be
inferred that such is the view taken OF the mat
ter by the administration at Washington. Gene
raj Brown, however, as shown by Generals
Wool's and Sandford' reports, not only refused
to cooperate with them, but we have additional
proof that he insulted those whom Governor
Seymour sent to advise with him, and declared
that he would receive no orders from the Gov.
ernor. The authorities at Washington showed
their appreciation Of his services by suppressed
ing him at the earliest possible moment.


1t was reported during the riots that General
Brown was in very excited condition.
His defence very clearly proves that he has
not recovered from it yet In one place he
states that ''the only order he received from
General Wool was to send q force to relieve
Colonel Wynkoop," and that che had no recol-
lection Of any other order during the four DAYS
of the riot" A little further along however,
he states that he received an order from
General Wool placing gll t1e troops under the
command Of General SandlOrd. Then il was
that General Brown asked to be relieved, but
afterwards on the advice Of Blunt and
Opdyke, requested to be reinstated This ad-
mission is already inconsistent with the as
sumption that he was commander of this city.
If he was chief in command why did he ask
General Wool to relieve him. Why did he ask
TO be reinstated by one who, according TO his
statement was his inferior officer Browns
prevarications are certainly suspicious, to
say the least. We have no doubt, If he
will take something to quiet his nerves,
he will be able to recall to mind the other
orders issued by General Wool. He also tells
us that he had no communication with the
radical editors during the riots; but a little
further along he states that he acted under
Mayor Opdykes and Mr.. Blunt's advice.
This is the very course we surmised from
the beginning that he took and connected him
self with the Satanic radical committee. We
have heretofore shown in these columns that
Opdyke was so frightened that he knew but
httle about the disturbances in the city.
Mr.. Blunt Is q very good man, is the
author Of our pilot laws, and has rendered
valuable service In this way to the COM
merce OF the city; but ever since this