Year: 1863




the 35th regiment Accordingly after my re-
turn 10 Indiana, on a short leave Of absence
granted for the benefit Of my health | received
an order from the War Department announcing
the fact. without explanation or comment, that
was discharged from the service of the United
States. Previous to this, had not received the
slightest intma,on. ror had Gen Buell., nor any
of my intermediate commanding officers, that
charges were anywhere lodged against me. or
that NV discharge from the service was in con
temptation Why was il doneg was informed
by the chief on the staff OF Gen Halleck, who
consulted the records for the reason. that il tcas
done al The reques ofthe Governor Of Indiana,
because. as alleged, would not receive the Off
GERS he sent me. Gov Morton knew, when he
sent me three officers, for whom there were no
vacant places in the 35th regiment that | could
not receive them He also knew. some time be-
fore my discharge was effected, that all the off
GERS he sent me. for whom there were vacant
places in my regiment, we're received
and assigned TO duty as rapidly as con-
sideration of discipline would permit These
bclsiE Ahc ldCl- Ills GACtlttncN DTOCuFeu nv re-
moyal upon false charge lodged by himself
He may deny this If so. the records in General
Haleck's office at Washington will brand him as
a common liar He may attempt to justify the
arbitrary act the ground that he has evidence
of my insubordination. IL may be that he pos
sesses garbled extracts from nv correspondence
with Lieutenant Colonel Mullen, or statements
from wandering vagabond seeking an Office he
unfit to hold. from nenials willing to pur-
chase position at the price OF perjury; but he can
not prove, to the satisfaction of court OF Justice
or court martial, that the charge made by him
against me at Washington is not as false rs his
own heart is black-as vilIainous as his nature is
cowardly and infamous. If this is not So and
Governor Morton simply desired that Justice be
done, why did he not cause charges 20 be lodged
with General Buell. with some other General
in the field. and have me discharged the service
on the verdict of court martial? Why did he
go secretly to General Halleck, while was vet
ill of fever. and without the Knowledge of my
self or friends. demand, in the name of the Gov
ernor of Indiana that | be discharged without a
trial or hearing? These questions are easily
answered. He knew that if any opportunity was
given me to defend myself, even at Washington
City. the seat of usurpation and tyranny, he
would fail in his cowardly designs He desired
me out of the service. because he was unable to
purchase my friendship or poison my political
principles. Having performed my duties well,
and to the satisfaction of nv commanders in the
field, he could effect his object in one way only,
and that way. though secret and villainous, AS
the reader has seen was adopted Let him enjoy
his triumph as he may, but, while gloating over
il, remember that


'Time at Last all things even,-


And II we do but watch the hour,


There never Yet was human power


That could evade if unforgiven


The patient search aud vigil long


Of him who treasures up "a wr0ng''


With money wrung from the hard earnings of
the people, his Ezcellency, by seeming charities,
may seek to win the hearts of those whose friends
he has driven by thousands to useless slaughter:
by the division of the spols of office with the
cormorant recipients Of his unmeasured patron
age, he may hedge himself round with wealth





citadel he may build, will shield him from the
inevitable grasp of the heavy hand of retributive
justice


few words viii now explain the true cause of
the discharge of Capt. John G. Hughes. In pur-
suance of the orders of Gov Morton nv success
sor declined TO recognize Capt Hughes as an off,
Ger of the 35th regiment, and placed another off
Ger in command OF Capt H : company In con.
sequence of this the rolls sent TO the War Office
must have shown that two Captains claimed paw
for service in the same company at the same
time. 1t is fair to assume that the State Execu-
tive who had power to secure the discharge of the
Colonel of regiment, a false charge, could
also procure the discharge of a Captain on
grounds equally fallacous. When it is remem-
bered that the discharge of Capt Hughes took eff
feet from the date of his muster which, leaving
the record Of his successor clear relieved the Gov
of an official ex yosure of the consequences
of his ignorant interference, the assumption that
he procured this discharge is both natural and
probable. Be this as it NAV. it is certain that
the reason assigned for the discharge of Captain
Hughes-to wit: that his muster into the service
was false muster. is as untrue as it is disgrace
full to the source from which it enanates. On
the contrary, ! sincerely believe that it can be
established TO the satisfaction of any fair military
commission that Col Mullen and some of his off
GERS drew pay, not only for several weeks in
which they were not duty, in the United
States service. but that they are now on duty and
do draw pay under a muster which is essentially
false and illegal. This Ia Of course, matter of
no consequence TO me, as was prevented, by my
removal, from having these officers re mustered
and the dates of their legitimate muster properly
adjusted on the rolls of the regiment | there.
fore leave this subject to the consideration of
those whom it may concern.


And now. in closing this first and last defense
ofmy conduct ss an officer of the army. have a
few words TO say to the editor of the Journal. to
whose malicious assaults the reader is indebted
for this letter. Conceived" as he was, "in sin
and brought forth in iniquity." it is but natural
that the emanatons Of his brain should be as I'LL.
getmate the offspring of his body. He is a fit
person to edit the organ Of the hybrid party his
paper represents party which has no parallel
in history for the wickedness of It's designs or the
terrible consequences of its acts. Incu5ated by
the pestence Of Abolition fanaticism, and