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 THE DISMISSAL 
 
 OF 
 
 MAJOR GRANVILLE 0. HALLER, 
 
 OF THE 
 
 REGULAR ARMY, 
 
 OF 
 
 THIS ITIsriTIEID STATIES, 
 
 \\ 
 
 BY OEDEE OF THE 
 
 SECRETARY OF WAR, 
 
 IN 
 
 SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 331, OF JULY 25th, 1863. 
 
 ALSO, 
 
 A Brief Memoir of his Military Services, 
 
 AND 
 
 A FEW OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 "They that have done the deed, are honorable : 
 " What private griefs they have, alas, I know not, 
 "That made them do 't ; they are wise and honorable, 
 " And will, no doubt, with reason answer yon." 
 
 Mark 'Antony's "Oration pver Caesar. 
 
 PRINTED AT THE DAILY GUARDIAN OFFICE, 
 
 BROADWAY, CORNER OF MAIN STREET. 
 1863. 
 
 B^ds- 
 
THItl DISMISSAL 
 
 OF 
 
 MAJOR GRANVILLE 0. RALLER, 
 
 or THE 
 
 REGULAR ARMY, 
 
 OF 
 
 TIBIIE UNITED STATES 
 
 BY OKDEK OF THE 
 
 SECRETARY OF WAR, 
 
 IN 
 
 SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 331, OF JULY 25th, 1863. 
 
 ALSO, 
 
 A Brief Memoir of his Military Services, 
 
 AND 
 
 A FEW. OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 " They that havo done the deed, are honorable : 
 " What private griefs they have, alas, I kri6w h ojf— 
 " That mado them do 't ; they are >ppis«/and h#fj,prable* 
 " And will, no doubt, with reason answer you. "J I 
 
 Mark Aniom's Oration over (jAiis&n. 
 
 3?aterson, N. J. 
 PRINTED AT THE DAILY GUARDIAN OFFICE, 
 
 BROADWAY, CORNER OF MAIN STREET, 
 
 1863, 
 

CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONS. 
 
 On page 16th, line 26th, read : [Yet he picked up and brought 
 away some Southern man's slave, and had his services when this let- 
 ter was written. It was the interference of Northern men with the 
 slaves of Southern men and not slavery itself that has proved "A 
 CURSE " "A year ago," he says, "I was a pro-slavery man, hut 
 I saw enough" — During this year he was on shipboard, and the 
 Planters were at war with the North, then, what could he have seen 
 "down south to change my views entirely ?"~] 
 
 Same page, line 39th, omit comma to read : "service charge." 
 On page 18th, line 23rd, insert 7 and 8, to read : "copied on pages 
 7 and 8." 
 
 Same page, line 27th, add to the words "and was strongly advised 
 against it." This was in May last, two months after the charges 
 had been sent to the War Department, and as the Secretary of War 
 had not entertained them, it was considered a sufficient refutation, 
 and on this ground the subject was dropped. 
 
 Same page, line 35th, for "application" read "explanation." 
 Next to last line, page 21st, read "this averment." 
 
 On page 28th, the following paragraph was omitted — to come in 
 before that "In 1844"—: 
 
 In 1843, I was appointed Adjutant of the 4th Infantry, which 
 office I held during the life time of Col. J. H. Vose, from whom I 
 received the appointment. 
 
 Same page, line 22nd, read "Nachitoches." 
 
 Page 39th the Translator followed the French orthography of 
 Father Pandosy, in Indian names. Owvrai is better known as Ow- 
 hi, the brother-in-law of Kamiarken ; and Sklon as Skilu-om, a 
 brother of this great chief. 
 
 Page 66th, line 16th, read "Gettysburg Pa., June 25th 1863." 
 Page 69th, line 24th, read : "to ascertain, if possible, the number 
 approaching." 
 
 Pages 74 and 75, read : "defense of Wrightsville" and "defenses." 
 
THE DISMISSAL 
 
 Major Granville 0- Haller, 
 
 REGULAR ARMY, 
 
 THE TTIKriTEID STATES 
 
 — fr o 
 
 War Department, 
 Adjutant General's Office, 
 Washington, D. C, July 25th, 1863. ) 
 
 Special Orders, ) 
 
 No. 331. f [extract. ] 
 
 By direction of the President, the following named officers 
 are hereby dismissed the service of the United States : 
 
 Major Granville 0. Haller, 7th U. S. Infantry, for disloyal 
 conduct and the utterance of disloyal sentiments. 
 
 * * * -X- -X- * -X- * # 
 
 By orc^er of the Secretary of War, 
 
 (Signed) E. D. T0W T NSEND, 
 
 Asst, Adj. General. 
 Official : 
 
 (Signed) Robt. Williams, A, A, Q, 
 
DISCOVERY OP THE DISMISSAL, AND WHAT WAS DONE TO REPAIR THE 
 
 DAMAGES. 
 
 By the merest accident I heard of my dismissal, while on 
 duty, making out certain reports in York, Pa., and hastened to 
 Washington to learn the cause of it. On the 29th of July I 
 called at the War Department, and on inquiry I was informed 
 that one Clark H. Wells, a Lieut. Commander of the U. S. 
 Navy, had been recently there in person, calling the Secretary 
 of War's attention to a letter he had written some four months 
 before, and of which he (Wells) had furnished me a copy : that 
 this Naval Officer was thereupon sent before Colonel Joseph 
 Holt, the Judge Advocate General, U. S. Army, who examined 
 him and administered to him an oath, and then submitted a re- 
 port with comments upon the statements. 
 
 The whole proceedings were done privately, Avithout giving 
 me the slightest notice of any accusations being entertained 
 against me by the War Department, and, of course, I was de- 
 barred the privilege of meeting my accuser face to face and 
 of cross-examining him ; also, of proving by the direct testi- 
 mony of an officer who was present, that the statements con- 
 tained in said Wells' letter to the Secretary of War were false. 
 
 I hastened'back to York and there prepared a letter, some- 
 what in the form of a defence to serve me, in a measure, in place 
 of that regular defence which I had no opportunity before to 
 make. It was dated on the 8th of August, 1863, and will be 
 found in the concluding pages of this statement, in which I re- 
 quested " the privilege of proving before a Court of Inquiry, or 
 properly authorized Court, that the report was made upon the 
 false testimony of an incompetent and irresponsible witness." 
 
 Learning that the Honorable Jeremiah S. Black, Ex- Attorney 
 General of the United States, under President Buchanan, in- 
 tended shortly after to repair to Washington, and having found 
 him on all occasions a warm and consistent friend of mine, and 
 knowing moreover that Mr. Stanton was indebted to Judge 
 Black for the California cases which gave him prominence as 
 a Lawyer, and for suggesting him (Mr. Stanton) for Attorney- 
 
General, while lie (Judge Black) took charge of the Port-folio 
 of the Secretary of State, — I requested Judge Black to do me 
 the kindness to present my defence to the Secretary of War. 
 This he has done, and was promised an answer, after careful 
 perusal, yet the Secretary has not had the courtesy to reply as 
 he promised. In the middle of September I again repaired to 
 Washington, and there submitted the following applications, to 
 
 wit : 
 
 Ebbitt House, J 
 Washington, D. C, September 15th, 1863. j 
 
 Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War : 
 
 Sib : I respectfully request that I may be furnished with a copy of the pro- 
 ceedings of Col. Holt, Judge Advocate General, U. S. A., upon whose report I 
 have been dismissed the service of the United States. 
 I am, Sir, very respectfully, 
 
 Your Obedient Servant, 
 
 GKANVLLLE O. HALLEE, 
 
 (late a Major 7th U. S. Infantry. ) 
 
 This letter was returned to me with the following endorse- 
 ment on the back, viz. : 
 
 " Eespectfully returned to Major G. O. Halleb. The Secretary of War de- 
 ' ' clines to accede to his request " 
 
 ' ' By order of the Secretary of War. 
 
 (Signed) JAS. A. HARDIE, 
 War Department, September 19th, 'G3. A. A. G. 
 
 To G. O. Halleb, Esq., York, Pa." 
 
 (Received, York, September 23d, in the evening. ) ' 
 
 The other application was as follows : 
 
 Ebbitt House, Washington, D. C. ( 
 September 16th, '63. j 
 
 Hon. Edw. M. Stanton, Secretary of War : 
 
 Sib : I respectfully call your attention to my letter, dated at York, Penna., 
 August 8th, 1863, and which was presented by the Hon. Jebemiah S. Black, Ex- 
 Attomey General of the U. S., in which I asked for a Court of Inquiry or prop- 
 erly authorized Court, but have received no reply. 
 
 I beg leave to renew the subject, and respectfully request that I may be 
 ordered or allowed to appear before the Commission now in session, in this city, 
 which investigates cases where Officees of the Army have been dismissed the 
 service of the United States, without previously having had an opportunity of de- 
 fending themselves from the charges alleged against them. 
 
 The special orders, No. 331. current series, announces that I have been dis- 
 missed for "■disloyal conduct and the utterance of disloyal sentiments," and Lieut. 
 
Commander C. H. Wells, U. S. Navy, has alleged against me as follows : "Here's 
 to a Northern Confederation and a Southern one while Lincoln is President' This 
 was given in the shape of a toast to Major Whiting, and which called forth a se- 
 vere rebuke from me, and which was the cause of my leaving him." 
 
 I wish to prove by the direct testimony of Major Chaeles J. Whiting, 2d U. 
 S. Cavalry, that I never gave him such a toast, and that he did not leave me for 
 this reason. And, by a cross-examination of the said Lieut. Commander Wells, 
 I wish to prove the real cause of his leaving me, and expose his unworthy con- 
 duct and character. I will prove that this same Lieut. Commander Wells, after 
 having taken the new oath of allegi ance, spoke of it to a visitor as having "just 
 performecTthe most painful act of his life, that he had been compelled to take the oath 
 of allegiance or be dismissed from the service, and that his necessities had made him 
 do this violence to his views regarding the war then commencing," or words of similar 
 import. Also other items which will show how to estimate his statement. 
 
 I wish also to prove by the testimony of Brigadier General Haupt, and Ma- 
 jor General Burnside that in December last, the time of his visit, my conduct 
 was marked for its loyalty ; and by Major General Couch, that at the time he 
 (Wells) was in Washington personally endeavoring to create a doubt as to my 
 loyalty, my conduct was truly loyal. I believe that I can prove by evidence that 
 my conduct uniformly has been truly loyal. I have now in my possession the 
 written testimony of Major Generals Burnside and Couch as to my loyalty. I 
 trust that my actions will be better proof of my sentiments than mere words. 
 
 In my communication I have not asked to be reinstated. I have merely 
 asked what I have been taught to regard in this country as a well established 
 right — the right to face my accuser, to cross-examine him, and produce evidence 
 which may rebut his accusations. I deem it a duty to my family, to my friends, 
 and to my country, as well as to myself, to seek an investigation and prove that 
 I have been misrepresented. 
 
 I beg leave to add that my circumstances require me soon to repair to Wash- 
 ington Territory, and I understand that Lieut Commander Wells, U. S. Navy, 
 will be sent to sea in a few weeks. I therefore respectfully request a speedy de- 
 cision on my application. 
 
 I am, sir, very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 • GRANVILLE O. HALLER, 
 
 (Late Major 7th U. S. Infantry. 
 
 Not hearing from the War Department up to the morning of 
 the 23d of September, I wrote the following letter : 
 
 York, Penna, September 23d, 1863. 
 My Dear Colonel : 
 
 On handing you my two applications (one for a copy of Judge Holt's pro- 
 ceedings in my case, and the other asking to be ordered before the Commission 
 sitting in Washington to have my case investigated) you were kind enough to 
 say that you would attend to them and give me an answer. 
 
Allow me to ask : If you have forwarded any answer to those applications ? 
 If not, is there any reason why I should wait longer for an answer? 
 
 Had I been tried by a Court Martial you are aware that I would have been 
 entitled to a copy of the proceedings in ray case from the War Department. As 
 the proceedings of Col. Holt caused my dismissal it seems equally clear that I 
 should be allowed a copy of the facts and of his comments. 
 
 I learned in Washington incidentally that the Commission (of which General 
 Ricketts is President, now setting in your city, ) has investigated cases where 
 officers had been dismissed for perhaps six months, and by this means established 
 their innocence, and of cases where officers have been charged with forgery and 
 other criminal acts. I am therefore aware of no serious objection to my case 
 being referred to it. 
 
 If I can get no answer, or a refusal, the conclusion is forced upon me that 
 the War Department would prefer that the public should believe that I have been 
 guilty of ' ' disloyal conduct, " and have uttered ' ' disloyal sentiments, " and 
 leaves me no other means of defence than to publish, as General Franklin has 
 done, a pamphlet in vindication of my loyalty, and let the public judge between 
 us. 
 
 I will esteem it a favor to receive from you a prompt reply, either officially 
 or privately, to determine my future action. 
 
 I am, Dear Colonel, Truly Yours, 
 
 GRANVILLE 0. HALLER. 
 Lieut. Col. Jas. A. Haedie, Asst. Sec'y of War, 
 
 Washington, D. C. 
 
 This letter was delivered in the post office, and the same 
 evening the endorsement on letter of September 15th came to 
 hand. To this time, no other communication has been re- 
 ceived, and I therefore submit the case as it is known. 
 
 THE CHARGES. 
 
 The following is a copy of the letter written to the Secretary 
 of War, by Clark H. Wells, U. S. N., over four months before 
 my dismissal, and the only charges known to me, as having 
 been made. 
 
 Navt Yabd, j 
 
 Philadelphia, March 3d, 1863. j 
 
 Sub : As a loyal officer of the U. S. Navy, it becomes my duty, however pain- 
 ful, to report to you, officially, Major Gbanville O. Hallee, U. S. A., now a 
 Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Sixth Infantry, for uttering disloyal sentiments in my 
 presence, on the night of December 16th or 17th, 1862, in his tent opposite 
 
8 
 
 Fredericksburg, Va., such as these : "Here's to a Northern Confederation and a 
 Southern one, while Lincoln is President." This was given in the shape of a 
 toast to Major Whiting, and which called forth a severe rebuke from ine, and 
 which was the cause of my leaving him, and when I had declared my intention 
 of doing so, inconsequence of his disloyal language, he replied "that if his 
 presence was so disagreeable to me, he would procure as a companion to share 
 with me his tent, a Black Republican, and he would go elsewhere." He had also 
 said on a former occasion, "that he considered the President responsible for the 
 loss of life at the battle of Fredericksburg." I enclose to you copies of two let- 
 ters addressed to Major now Brevet Lieut. Col. Haller, and extract from his in 
 relation to this matter, which I conceive to be my duty to lay before you. 
 
 I will furnish a copy of this letter to Major, now Brevet Lieutenant Colonel 
 
 Haller. 
 
 Respectfully yours, 
 
 C. H. WELLS, 
 
 Lieut. Commander, TJ. S. N. 
 
 Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, Washington City, D. C. 
 
 DIRECT TESTIMONY. 
 
 The Major Whiting, alluded to as the officer to whom I gave 
 a toast, is Major Charles J. Whiting, 2nd U. S. Cavalry, who, 
 on my sending him recently a copy of Wells' letter, writes : 
 
 Portland, Me., September 27th, 18G3. 
 My Dear Major : 
 
 Yours of the 23d I received yesterday, also a copy of C. H. Wells' letter to 
 the Secretary of War. I say without any hesitation, that upon the time referred 
 to in his letter, you never proposed such a toast, as he says you did, or uttered 
 any sentiments which a true lover of his country might not have uttered, even as 
 an officer of the army. I cannot recollect the whole conversation ; but my recol- 
 lection of the general tenor of it is very distinct — and I think Lieut. Wells first 
 got offended with you, upon your asking him why he had not crossed the pon- 
 toon bridge ? which question was drawn from you by Wells' insinuating, that 
 you had always remained at Headquarters. You are at liberty to show this let- 
 ter to any of your friends, and state publicly or in print, that I pronounce Lieut. 
 Wells' statement in regard to you, in connection with my name, as false in 
 spirit, as well as letter. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 CHAS. J. WHITING. 
 Received at York, Pa., October 3d, 1863, on my return from Chambersburg, Pa. 
 
9 
 
 But the accusations date back to December 16th or 17th; 
 1862, at which time Major General Burnside was in command. 
 Desirous of knowing, whether or not he was satisfied with my 
 conduct and loyalty, after I had been accused of " disloyal sen- 
 ments" by this unfortunate Wells, I addresed a note to him, 
 and received the following reply : 
 
 Headqttartees Department op the Ohio, [ 
 Cincinnati, O., March 27, 1863. \ 
 
 Major Granville 0. Holler, Headquarters Army Potomac : 
 
 My Dear Major : I take great pleasure in answering yours of the 22d inst. , 
 and awarding to you my cordial approbation of your services while under my 
 command. 
 
 The interest, skill, and loyalty you have always manifested in the performance 
 of your duties, was a subject of comment at our Headquarters, and the result of 
 your labors was always satisfactory. 
 
 Your faithful services, both before the breaking out of this rebellion, and 
 since the commencement of the war, have given abundant proof to the public of 
 your devotion to your country, and your friends who have known you need no 
 evidence to substantiate your loyalty and true patriotism. 
 
 I regret that you find it necessary to ask to be relieved from your post, and 
 trust your health may soon allow you to return to duty in the field. 
 
 I am, Sir, 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 A. E. BUKNSIDE, Maj. Gen. 
 
 At the time this unfortunate Wells was in Washington, per- 
 sonally playing the part of an Informer, I was employed by 
 Major General Couch, as an Extra Aide-de-camp, and busily 
 engaged, at remote points from him, in organizing the militia ; 
 obstructing the roads in the South Mountain ; directing mili- 
 tary operations ; and with a few score of mounted men, observ- 
 ing the enemy, and keeping the General advised of the Kebel 
 movements, in Adams and York Counties. 
 
 In a private letter I had the honor to receive from General 
 Couch, after he had learned the alleged grounds for my dismis- 
 sal, alluding to the cause of it, he writes that it " perfectly as- 
 tounded me, never dreaming but that you were as loyal as my- 
 self." 
 
10 
 
 On the 27th of June, 1863, alluding to my services in the 
 neighborhood of Gettysburg, in a telegram to me he says : 
 " Your assistance has been invaluable." 
 
 And, in an " official " letter, he writes as follows : 
 
 Head Quabtees, Depaetment of Susquehanna, I 
 Chanibersburg, August 13, '63. t 
 
 Major G. 0. Haller, York, Pa. : 
 
 Deae Sie : I duly received your letter of the 28th inst., transmitting reports 
 of your operations at Gettysburg, York, Columbia, &e. , while serving in the ca- 
 pacity of Aide-de-camp on my Staff. 
 
 Having carefully read these reports, I was impressed with the energy, action 
 and good judgment displayed by you at the time of the invasion. Without 
 any organized force at the commencement of it, you, with the aid of loyal citizens 
 of Gettysburg and vicinity, were enabled to make a show of resistance to the in- 
 vaders, and keep this department, and therefore the General Government, well 
 informed of rebel movements. 
 
 Yonr services were valuable to the country. For this Department I ex- 
 press to you my thanks. 
 
 You can leave to your children the proud heritage that when your State was 
 threatened by the fearful calamity of rebel invasion you were among the very 
 foremost of its defenders. 
 
 I am very respectfully, 
 
 Your Obedient Servant, 
 
 D. N. COUCH, 
 
 Major General. 
 
 Here I might allow my case to rest. The testimony of Major 
 Whiting and of Major Generals Bumside and Couch are consis- 
 tent and conclusive. Although actions are better evidence than 
 words, the words themselves are here conclusive. 
 
 But this is not the only testimony I have to produce. I will 
 show before closing my defence that this unfortunate "Wells has 
 been a Democrat, a Secessionist, and a Republican and Negro 
 Sympathizer, which are not only inconsistent but cannot fail to 
 excite a lively mistrust in his love for truth and for fixed princi- 
 ples. But at the date, the 16th or 17th of December, he was 
 stopping with me as my guest, yet he ignores the rules of hos- 
 pitality, and endeavors to injure me, for he tells Mr. Stanton of a 
 toast I should have given Major Whiting, which caused him to 
 give me a severe rebuke, then leave my tent, never to come near 
 
11 
 
 it again so. far as his letter goes. His language in this letter 
 plainly tells that he could not any longer hold intercourse with 
 me — one so disloyal as myself. But I will now present a few of 
 his letters to me after this event, to give the lie from his own lips 
 to this idea, thrown out by him to gull Secretary Stanton. He 
 says ijiat I gave that toast, on the 16th or 17th of December. 
 Now only two or three days after this, he wrote to me as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 Yoke, Pa., December 19, 1862. 
 My Dear Major : 
 
 I arrived home safely in a few hours after leaving General Franklin's tent, 
 and found all the folks well. Mrs. Haller and the children took supper with us 
 last evening, and had j r ou been present you would have enjoyed the oysters, 
 which were very fine indeed. I enjoyed them the more, as my appetite had been 
 sharpened by my brief campaign in Virginia. 
 
 I gave your wife all the news, and when I had done, I found that I had not 
 imparted anything that she had not seen in the papers. The people, as well as I 
 can judge, are not dispirited in the least ; those who sympathize with the South 
 are exultant as a matter of course, and would no doubt give expression to their 
 thoughts if they thought they could do so with impunity. [Here he admits that 
 he has not heard of a single instance where a person has given expression to his 
 thoughts, but it is a matter of course, in his mind, that there are Southern sympa- 
 thizers and that they are exultant. Is not a clause like this mere slander ?] 
 
 All admire the gallant conduct of Franklin, inasmuch, that his friends here 
 are going to present him with a sword, which he is certainly deserving of, and 
 which he will no doubt appreciate. [On my return to York, I found that the 
 statement about the presentation of a sword was a mere freak of his imagina- 
 tion!] 
 
 There is nothing else going on in town ; even the battle of Saturday last is lit- 
 tle talked of, which shows the phlegmatic character of our population. 
 
 I travelled to Washington in company with Lieut. B., (Corps of Engineers), and 
 learned from him that you had had another entertainment, the effects of which 
 he felt in the shape of a headache. How did you stand it ? I am afraid that 
 these little social gatherings tend to make you express yourself too openly on po- 
 litical subjects, which some civilian might take advantage of, and use it to your 
 prejudice, and so I would caution you to be more giiarded. [Does not this im- 
 ply that he would scorn, as all officers would, to take advantage ©f, and use to my 
 prejudice, any opinions I express in the privacy of my tent to friends '?] 
 
 I shall ever recollect my visit to the Army, and bear witness to the bravery and 
 devotion of our troops. It has made a most pleasant impression upon my mind, 
 and I am more confident than ever of our ultimate success. 
 
 Remember me kindly to Captain dishing and to Major Whiting ; also those 
 whose names I cannot now recollect. 
 
12 
 
 Lieut. Spaulding, 2d Cavalry, was kind enough to loan me his horse, when I 
 rode to Franklin's Headquarters. I returned hirn the next day by an Orderly 
 from Franklin's Corps. I hope he arrived safely, as he had been well taken 
 care of. 
 
 Thank Mr. Spaulding for me for his horse and kind attentions ; also Dr. Wil- 
 son, who lives in the same tent with him. 
 
 I saw the Asst. Secretary of the Navy for a moment, and he assured me 
 that I should be ordered as Captain of the Philadelphia Navy Yard ; so I shall 
 soon leave. 
 
 If I can be of any service to you let me know. I saw your brother this morn- 
 ing, and gave him a brief account of yourself, and the military operations before 
 Fredericksburg. 
 
 Look out for the bridge over the Potomac Creek, I came across in an open 
 
 car, and, I felt very much like a man suspended by a wire. Let me hear from 
 
 you soon. 
 
 Sincerely yours, 
 
 C. H. WELLS, U. S. N. 
 
 Here he says : " If I can be of any seevice to you let me 
 know." Is this the language to be expected from him, after 
 writing such statements to Mr. Stanton? In this letter he 
 makes a direct allusion to my political opinions, but shows most 
 clearly that he was not offended at them, and would scorn to 
 take advantage of them or use them to my prejudice, but it oc- 
 curred to him that some civilian might, and he therefore cau- 
 tioned me to be more guarded. But so innocent was I of hav- 
 ing said anything on political subjects which could possibly in- 
 jure me with an honorable man, that, in my reply, I wrote him 
 that all I had said I woulfl not hesitate to repeat, even before 
 the President, if ho desired to learn my views. This letter 
 from him, standing by itself, will satisfy the most skeptical that 
 my political opinions had not offended the unfortunate man, nor 
 caused him to leave my tent. 
 
 But sometime about midnight, perhaps one o'clock in the 
 morning, he left my tent " in a huff" to sleep elsewhere, and he 
 labors hard to connect it with the imaginary toast that I gave to 
 Major Whiting. As Major Whiting unhesitatingly declares 
 that I never gave any such toast, it is evideut that he labors un- 
 der some hallucination, or is lending himself to some " hell-born" 
 scheme — borrowing one of his favorite adjectives. And here, 
 
13 
 
 perhaps, it will be proper to show the real cause of this " much 
 ado about nothing." 
 
 Ou the evening in question, I had unexpectedly received some 
 Scotch whisky, and as some friends came in I offered them a 
 hot punch, and, of course, gave to my guest at the same time. 
 He drank cautiously, but as officers came in, at different times, 
 he drank often, and by midnight, the punch, I have supposed, 
 had affected his mind so far as to show peculiarities of his dis- 
 position. I had taken the pains to explain to him the difficul- 
 ties, the causes of delay, and failure of the Peninsular Cam- 
 paign. I spoke of South Mountain and Antietam as proofs of 
 Gen'. McClellan's abilities, and I expressed regret that at the 
 moment the General was leading his successful Army through 
 Virginia, and had expressed his expectation in four or five days 
 more to be in a position to compel the enemy to fight him on a 
 field of his own choosing, and we knew the Army of the Poto- 
 mac never before was in better fighting condition, and therefore 
 we all felt confident of great results. — I explained to him that it 
 was not necessary to attack the Confederate Army behind in- 
 trenchments at Culpepper C. H., if we could reach the Railroad 
 from Richmond without it : the supplies from Richmond once 
 cut off, the intrenchments would be of little value : and the 
 Army of the Potomac once between Lee's Army and Richmond 
 would have great advantages in its favor — but the election in 
 New York having turned against the Administration, it was fol- 
 lowed by the removal of General McClellan, and all our pros- 
 pects on his proposed line of march were given up ; for the new 
 commander adopted a different line and plan of operations. 
 Thus, for the victories we anticipated, we had now to mourn over 
 the disasters at Fredericksburg. I thought the interference of 
 the Administration had changed certain victory into disaster. 
 I deprecated politics Avhen it was allowed to interfere with the 
 management of Armies : that the interference had brought about 
 heavy losses and defeat at Fredericksburg, and the Administra- 
 tion were in this light responsible for the losses and all the con- 
 sequences which should follow from the change. But Mr. Wells 
 saw that this view would not inspire the people with confidence 
 
14 
 
 in what he called " the government" and intimated that I ought 
 to take some other view, " for it is the duty of all officers to 
 sustain the Government." I then explained to him the differ- 
 ence between "the Government" and "the Administration." 
 That when the Administration was controlled by the Constitu- 
 tion and the Laws of Congress, and its actions regulated by pure 
 Patriotism, then I believed every officer and the whole country 
 should and would support it. But I left it to him to say if the re- 
 moval of McClellan was from Patriotic or from Party motives ? 
 And his reply was that he thought I was a " little " disloyal. I 
 then reminded him of my conduct at Fredericksburg, to let my 
 actions speak for my loyalty. He stood by, when Brig. Gen. 
 Haupt, Bailroad Engineer, had told me that two hundred sol- 
 diers and his carpenters, while the firing was going on at Fred- 
 ericksburg, had abandoned their work at the R. R. Bridge, and 
 he could not get on with the work. I then volunteered to fur- 
 nish him with one hundred men of General Headquarters' Guard 
 — the 93d N. Y. Vols. — if General Burnsede would approve of it 
 and I would remain with them and guarantee that none would 
 quit, nor allow his workmen to quit, merely for the firing. Yet, 
 to this service, I received for answer " that there teas no danger 
 in it." Now, as he and I had been that day in Fredericksburg, 
 and each was careful to cross the pontoon bridge during the in- 
 tervals between the enemy's cannonading, I asked him " Why 
 he had not crossed the pontoon bridge when I did ?" He in- 
 stantly flared up and asked " Do you mean to say that I was 
 afraid ?" as if I had imputed an unmanly fear to his action, and 
 from this time he manifested a determination to leave me. He 
 asked Major "Whiting if he might sleep in his tent, intimating 
 that I was disloyal, although he had never before met Major 
 Whiting, who was at a loss to understand his conduct. I then 
 offered him my tent to himself, saying he could take my bed 
 and I would sleep in some friend's tent : but he answered that 
 he would not turn me out of my tent. I then offered " to get 
 him a tent to sleep in, with some Black Republican." But in- 
 stead of appreciating my offer, he insisted upon sleeping in Ma- 
 jor Whiting's tent, without being invited, and packed up his car- 
 
15 
 
 pet bag to accompany him. Upon my requesting Major Whi- 
 ting to take him along, he kindly consented to do so. 
 
 Poor fellow ! I believed then that the punch he had taken 
 had affected his brain, and I dreaded the consequence, for it 
 might bring back a serious attack of his old infirmity, which 
 had placed him under the charge of the physicians in the Penn- 
 sylvania Hospital for the Insane at Philadelphia, for some three 
 months, the year previous. I saw that he was wild, if not be- 
 side himself, but I did not dream that he labored under hallu- 
 cinations, and could forget the conversation of that night. The 
 next afternoon, the excitement had passed off, and he came vol- 
 untarily to my tent, when I told him that I had fearedthat his 
 old infirmity had returned ; but he begged me not to say anj^- 
 thing about the previous evening, and there the matter dropped, 
 he going off to York, Pa., a very cordial friend It was quite a 
 surprise to me to hear him, a month afterwards, give his recol- 
 lections of that night in the extraordinary manner in which he 
 presents it. He writes : 
 
 Navy Yakd, Philadelphia, [ 
 January 16, 1863. j 
 
 Major Sailer : 
 
 My Dear Sie: I should have replied to your letter before, but ever since my 
 arrival at this station I have been kept very busy, and when night conies, I feel 
 too tired to do anything but smoke and chat with the children ; after all there is 
 nothing like one's home, which you have doubtless experienced for so many 
 years. 
 
 Mrs. is here on a visit for the purpose of procuring some little com- 
 forts for her brother, whom we saw. I am pleasantly situated, having for the 
 first time in my naval career, a Government house to live in, but which I was 
 obliged to furnish to some extent. "Were it not that I have been away a year in 
 the S. A. Squadron and for the sake of my family, I would prefer going to Sea in 
 these exciting times, although my naval friends tell me that I have done my 
 share ; I think not, for I believe that no officer can do too much to assist in crush- 
 ing out this sinful rebellion. 
 
 During my short visit to Gen. Franklin with whom I have been intimate for 
 many years, I was glad to see that he was thoroughly Union in his sentiments, 
 and had a horror of anything like disloyalty or secession. I have ever enter- 
 tained a high opinion of his abilities as a man and as a soldier. The sword 
 which will be presented to him will have inscribed upon it all the battles he has 
 been engaged in. [This was a most deliberate falsehood, for there was no sword. ] 
 
16 
 
 I heard from others in the cainp that his bravery in the battle of Fredericksburg 
 was of the highest order, and that alone entitles him to the distinguished honor 
 of having a sword given him. 
 
 You mention in your letter that anything you may have said concerning the 
 manner in which this war was carried on you would not hesitate to repeat. [So 
 far as my statements went, I would not hesitate to repeat them, but what he here 
 says I uttered, the reader will seebyMaj. Whitings' letter, "is false in sjririt as ivcll 
 as in letter. ,''] At least I judge so. Do you recollect proposing the toast to Maj. 
 Whiting ? and which was the oceasion of my leaving your tent. " Here's to a 
 Southern Confederacy, and a Northern one during the Administration of Lincoln," 
 and another expression you had made use of before, in charging the President 
 with loss of life in the battle of Fredericksburg, and that you believed "that it 
 was the intention of the Administration to sacrifice the Army of the Potomac in 
 the neighborhood of Eichmond. [This charge he voluntarily abandons in his 
 letter to Secretary Stanton.] If these are your sentiments I would not hesitate to 
 proclaim them, and were I to entertain such, I should resign my Commission. I 
 do not mention these matters with a view of renewing any or causing unpleasant 
 feeling, but merely to show you that you are doing yourself an injustice, for I 
 cannot believe that you think so, [here he admits the above are not my sentiments ! ] 
 otherwise you would not remain in the Aimy. Were the opinions you have ex- 
 pressed before me and others made known, it would be exceedingly prejudicial 
 to you. In these times it is the duty of all officers to sustain the Administration 
 in the suppression of this rebellion. No mid-way course can be taken. 
 
 A year ago I was, what is termed a pro-slavery man, but I saw enough while 
 down South to change my views entirely, for I regard Slavery as a curse to our 
 Country, and the cause of this hell-born rebellion. [Yet he JiMs. and brought 
 away a negro and has his services now ! J 
 
 I believe there is nothing new in York ; I have no affection for that place, as 
 it contains a strong disloyal element, chiefly confined to those who have not 
 shouldered the musket. If you should visit the city, I hope you will let me know. 
 I regret very much to hear of the accident to Capt Gushing but I hope ere this 
 he has entirely recovered. This horseback riding I have always considered dan- 
 gerous, I therefore never mounted a horse without feeling uncomfortable. Noth- 
 ing like a ship after all. 
 
 That Galveston affair we all deplore, being the only mishap to our Navy 
 since the breaking out of the rebellion. We lost four good officers by the pre- 
 mature blowing up of one of the Steamers. The "Patapsco," a new Monitor 
 was here two weeks ago. I regard her as invulnerable. She carries a gun weigh- 
 ing forty-one thousand pounds, and throws a ball of 450 lbs. screw, charge of 
 powder 35 lbs. , also a two-hundred pound rifle. Altogether site is a most for- 
 midable vessel. 
 
 Kind regards to Maj. Whiting. Did Lieut. Spaulding of his regiment re- 
 ceive the horse which I had returned by one of Gen. Franklin's orderlies ? Kind 
 regards to Capts. Gibson and Franklin, should you meet with them. Let me 
 hear from you, and believe me to bo . 
 
 Yours sincerely, 
 
 C. H. WELLfl, U. S. N. 
 
17 
 
 As Major Whiting was a disinterested witness, who had 
 seen all and heard all that was said, I desired him to write a let- 
 ter to Wells on purpose to remove the hallucination under 
 which he seemed to labor. But the Major was in Washington 
 on Court martial duty, and that duty generally being tempo- 
 rary, I expected him back almost daily, but before he returned, 
 I received the following letter : 
 
 Navy 'Yard, ' ) 
 Philadelphia, February 17th, 1863. j 
 
 Major Holler: 
 
 My Dear Sir : Since I wrote you in reply to your letter, I have thought so 
 much over what had occurred in your tent, and which was the cause of my leav- 
 ing you, that I cannot see why I should not report your disloyal language to the 
 Secretary of War, painful as it may be. [This expression is undoubtedly used to 
 prepare my mind for the closing, passage. "No one can doubt my loyalty, and I 
 hope you will give me the credit of performing my duty conscientiously. " Now 
 it has come to my knowledge, and I can show by two witnesses, that this unfortu- 
 nate man has spoken of an officer of the U. S. Navy, high in rank, as having a 
 son who was at sea with the South Atlantic Squadron, and this son was in cor- 
 respondence with the Rebels and was helping them, or words of similar import ; 
 and when he was asked why he had not reported the case to the Navy Department, 
 the reply was : "It would only do me harm — it would bring down the Commo- 
 dore on me," or words to this effect ; showing how "conscientiously" he has been 
 performing his duty!] but in these times when we are engaged in a deadly 
 struggle to sustain our Government, I would sacrifice my son. 
 
 You uttered this expression in my presence, ' ' Here's to a Northern Confede- 
 ration and to a' Southern one, while Lincoln is President," which you gave as a 
 toast to Major Whiting in your tent, and had also said " that you considered the 
 President responsible for the loss of life at the battle of Fredericksburg. " No 
 one can doubt my loyalty, and, I hope you will give me the credit of performing 
 my duty conscientiously. 
 
 I am yours, 
 
 C. H. WELLS, 
 
 Lieut. Commander, TJ. S. N. 
 
 Immediately on the receipt of the above letter, I wrote to 
 him, as follows : 
 
 York, Penna., February 18th, 1863. 
 Lieut. Commander Clark II. Wells, U. S. N., Commcmling Navy Yard, Phila : 
 
 My DtfAR Sir : Your letters of the 16th of January and 17th of February, are 
 received, and contents noticed. 
 
 2 
 
18 
 
 The absence of Major Whiuno, U. S, A., on a Court Martial at the city of 
 Washington, prevented my laying before him the former of the two letters, antK 
 getting from him a denial of the statements which you make, and then replying 
 to yours. I shall not ask you to take my own statements. Fortunately, there 
 was a witness present on the occasion of the conversation referred to in your let- 
 ters, who saw all, heard all, and knows all that occurred. 
 
 I have not seen him since the receipt of your letters, and I think when called 
 upon, he will remove the hallucination under which you seem to labor. 
 
 One thing I remember, and can hardly think that you have forgotten it. I 
 gave a toast, and only one, it was : 
 
 " The Constitution as it is : The Union as it was!" 
 
 If this is disloyalty, then as Patrick Henry says : "Make the most of it!" 
 
 In the frame of mind in which you have written, it is obvious that all pre- 
 vious relations, however agreeable, are ignored. I shall not trouble you, there- 
 fore, with an account of your Mends, or the on dits of this place. 
 
 As a Mason it is my duty to respect you as a brother, but I trust you will so 
 conduct your course towards all brethren, that discord may not be charged upon 
 you. 
 
 Fraternally yours, 
 
 G. O. HALLEE. 
 
 He became impatient however, and on the 4th of March he 
 forwarded to me a copy of his letter to the Secretary of War, of 
 March 3d, 1863, copied on page — . As soon as my duties per- 
 mitted, I wrote to him the subjoined letter, which discharged 
 the matter from my mind, until dismissed, excepting once, when 
 in York, I proposed to some masonic friends to have this mat- 
 ter investigated, and was strongly advised against it. 
 
 Camp near Falmouth, Va., ) 
 March 20th, 1863. J 
 
 ( '. //. Wells, Lieid. Commander, Jjf S. N. : 
 
 My Dear Sir : Your letter of March 4th, enclosing a copy of your letter to 
 the Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, reporting me "for utteringjdisloyal 
 sentiments in my [your] presence " is received. I have now waited over two 
 weeks to learn what course the War Department would pursue on your state- 
 ments—perhaps you can tell. They have not even asked for an application. 
 
 It is due to myself to say, that in passing through Washington, on the 24th 
 of February, I called on Major Whiting and showed him your letters, and a copy 
 of mine to you of February 19th, in which I promised or assumed that he wonld 
 make a statement which I had promised to forward to you. He then offered to 
 write one, and as I would leave next morning too early to get it, be was to for- 
 ward it to me here. He returned on the 5th inst., and on the Cth called at my 
 tent and stated that he had forgotten to write. Having stated to you masonically 
 
19 
 
 that I thought when he was called upon, he would give you a statement which 
 would remove the hallucination under which you seem to labor. I was entitled 
 as a Mason to a healing ; but your haste indicates rather an over-zealous desire 
 to open a correspondence with the Honorable Secretary of War, than conform to 
 obligations and preserve your honor and character from a foul blot. I take it 
 for granted that the Secretary of War will refer your letter to Major Whiting, and 
 I trust will allow me to be heard in the case. I feel safer in his hands than, I am 
 sorry to say, I would in yours, and the day will come, I trust, when I can have 
 this matter investigated by the Masonic Lodge in York, and your conduct sifted 
 and stamped as it deserves. 
 
 In your letter of Feb. 20th, you write, "I shall not dwell upon personal al- 
 lusions as the matter has, in my opinion, taken an official character. " This'may 
 be your opinion, but the society in which I have been schooled for the last twen- 
 ty-three years does not allow an officer or gentleman to accept the hospitalities 
 of another as a friend and then go off and comment on what he has seen or heard 
 to that friend's prejudice : much less can he cover himself with his official char- 
 acter when he is not there in his official capacity. But aside from the violations 
 of hospitality and courtesy, there is a question of veracity in your statements. 
 
 I have heretofore abstained from commenting on your conduct and your lec- 
 tures to me, in your letters, from motives of delicacy. I had no wish to lend my- 
 self in any way to produce an open rupture of our social relations. You must do 
 me the justice to admit in your heart, that you have thrust this issue upon me. 
 You have repeatedly thrust at me your charges of disloyalty, after I told you that 
 I would not ask you to take my own statements, but agreed to leave it to one who 
 saw all, heard all, and knew all that took place. You will yet learn that your 
 statement to the Honorable Secretary of War is false. 
 
 It is now my turn to lecture you a little and hold up to your gaze a few reflec- 
 tions of your own, for I hold that the old truism " Actions speak louder than 
 icords, '' is a self-evident fact, and by this test I am prepared to compare our Pa- 
 triotism. 
 
 You saw me in Fredericksburg hasten to the wounded man and aiding there. 
 You know that I volunteered, (when my duties excused me from service which 
 might expose my person to danger, ) to furnish^ne hundred men of my com- 
 mand and stay with them to fix the 11. R. Bridge, because two hundred men had 
 that day fled from that duty. You know too that I am in the field £yid that Gen- 
 erals Buenside and Hooker have retained me in my old position under Gen. 
 McClellan, and they at least are satisfied with my loyalty and the discharge of 
 my duties. 
 
 How is it with you ? Your patriotism stands mostly on paper. In your let- 
 ter of January 16th you write : "that I [you] had been away a year." [Now think 
 of it, you were "away a year .'" Why, thousands of volunteers left their homes, 
 with business unsettled, and have been away two years /] and for the sake of my 
 [your] /«»»'/(/ [think, too, you have said you are ready "to sacrifice your son," 
 yet your family prevents you doing your duty, for you say] I [you] would prefer 
 going to sea in these exciting times, although my naval friends tell vie that I have done 
 
20 
 
 my share. I think not, for I believe that no officer can do too much to assist in crush- 
 ing out this sinful rebellion.'" Here then, family considerations are acknowledged to 
 have crushed outyonr patriotism, for you think that you have not done your share 
 — that you cannot do too much. While you here admit that loyalty and patriot- 
 ism require your services at sea, yet you have sought at the Navy Department 
 for the order placing you in a peaceful station. This is your hoasted loyalty, and 
 in your letter of February 17, you say : "no one can doubt my [your] loyally." I 
 have found, by experience, that the most sanctimonious members of a church — 
 those who intrude their religious feelings on all around them — are the most 
 hypocritical, and have motives for displaying their outward piety. The truly 
 pious man retires to the inner closet and there offers up his devotions. He lets 
 his conduct speak of his moral qualities. So in all relations, I look at a man's 
 actions, not at his professions and boastings, and make up my mind. In your 
 letter of February 17, written from the quiet Navy Yard at Philadelphia, your 
 patriotism reaches the climax. You say : " When we are engaged in a deadly^ 
 struggle to sustain [I suppose you unintentionally omitted the words "the constitu- 
 tion of "] our government, I would sacrifice my son." Had this passage been pre- 
 pared at sea, while devoting your life as a sacrifice, if necessary, to your bleeding 
 country, it might pass for noble patriotism, [although repugnant to our animal 
 instincts, and evincing a most unnatural frame of mind, ] but, while you take 
 such good care of your own life, it sounds very much like buncombe 1 
 
 Before that God, whom you profess to worship — who knows our hearts — and 
 who understands our motives — I can fearlessly submit my loyalty and yours, and 
 ask him to judge between us. 
 
 There are several passages in your letters, which might be noticed in addi- 
 tion to those above. But enough of this. I trust that I may be able soon to get 
 to York, and there I can get an investigation which will decide how far your 
 charges of disloyalty go, and disinterested brethren judge between us. 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 G. 0. HALLEE, 
 
 Major 7th Infantry. 
 
 THE APPLICATION FOR A COURT OF INQUIRY. 
 
 The following is the letter first submitted to the Secretary of 
 War, and the Eeader will perceive, after perusing the evidence 
 before him of my loyalty, and of my arduous services, that my 
 case is presented in a calm and argumentative manner, designed 
 to impress the Secretary of War with its truthfulness, then ask 
 as a matter of sheer justice to myself, for an official investiga- 
 tion, believing that it is a right, which cannot be questioned, that 
 an Officer should have a thorough investigation into any charges, 
 
21 
 
 if he declares them to be untrue. An Officer's character and 
 honor are more to him than his life, or wealth, and if they can 
 be arbitrarily taken from him, as in my case, the Officers of the 
 Army must soon, indeed, become mere instruments of the Secre- 
 tary to enforce his will, whether in support of Law or not. The 
 application is as follows : 
 
 York, Pa., August 8th, 1863. 
 
 Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War. 
 
 Sir : On the 29th ult., I received a copy of Special Orders 
 No. 331, which informed me that, " by direction of the Presi- 
 dent " I was " dismissed the service of the United States for 
 disloyal conduct and the utterance of disloyal sentiments." 
 
 By this order I am deprived of the profession for which my 
 education and life long habits have fitted me, and I am driven 
 from it, covered with whatever of infamy the recorded condem- 
 nation of the highest authority can bring on my character. 
 The statements which brought this about, being untrue, I hope 
 it is not too late to get justice. At all events, I take the liberty 
 to give you a true statement of my case, which, perhaps, may 
 serve me in place of that regular defence which I have had no 
 opportunity to make. Some vindication of myself I certainly 
 owe to my family and my friends. 
 
 Undoubtedly an order which may consign an officer to ruin 
 and disgrace, ought to be placed oh specific and intelligible 
 grounds. " Disloyal conduct " and "disloyal sentiments" are 
 phrases unknown to any law civil or military, and have come 
 into fashion of late, as mere party catchwords, signifying any- 
 thing or nothing, according to the notions of the persons who 
 use them. 
 
 That I am or have ever been really disloyal in word, thought, 
 or deed, is utterly and nakedly false. From the time I first en- 
 tered the army, nearly twenty-four years ago, I have been true 
 and faithful to my country, her government, her constitution 
 and her laws. And this avertment never has been, and never 
 will be controverted by the testimony of any man who is honest 
 
22 
 
 and sane. My services vouch for this. I was in much of the 
 Florida war : through all the Mexican war, and in most of the 
 battles from Palo Alto to El Mollnq Del Eey and Capture of 
 the City of Mexico inclusive. I was engaged in several Indian 
 Wars on the Pacific Coast and elsewhere, and in this Rebellion 
 from its commencement until notified of my dismissal. I have 
 never failed in the performance of any duty however difficult or 
 dangerous, and I have never been charged with a single act of 
 insubordination. I t.hink I can say without boasting that I 
 have enjoyed far beyond many officers the friendship of my 
 associates and the approbation of my superiors in the service. 
 The official reports on file in your Department, and printed in 
 the Congressional Documents, will not only show this, but will 
 prove that my behavior in every important battle, won from the 
 Commanding Officers, expressions of the highest praise. I 
 speak with the pride which becomes a soldier, when I say that 
 my record is without stain. 
 
 Almost contemporaneously with the base accusations of 
 Wells, Major General Burnside was writing the warmest eulo- 
 gium on my fidelity to the cause of the Union : and only a few 
 days before my dismissal, Major General Couch gave me the 
 strongest evidence of his confidence, and of the high apprecia- 
 tion in which he held what he was pleased to call " the invalua- 
 ble assistance'' I had rendered him, in retarding the advance of 
 the enemy in their march" towards Philadelphia. 
 
 I am not now, I have never been, and it is likely I never will 
 be a Politican. That is not my trade ! I have interfered in no 
 canvass, have written nothing for newspapers, and spoken at no 
 public meetings. But I have held opinions on Public Affairs 
 which, as they do not change when the civil administration 
 changes, are sometimes favorable and sometimes unfavorable to 
 the party in power. To these opinions, I have occasionally, in 
 the freedom of private conversation, given moderate, fair, and 
 inoffensive expression. This non-intervention in the political 
 disputes of the people is the custom of service among the best 
 officers of the Regular Army, and I have followed it because it 
 has Jhe approbation of my judgment and my conscience : and 
 
23 
 
 this freedom of opinion has been conceded to officers of the 
 Army from the foundation of this Republic, and never has been 
 questioned until now. 
 
 One Clark t H. Wells, a Lieutenant Commander in the U. S. 
 Navy, had a conversation with Major Charles J. Whiting, 2nd 
 U. S. Cavalry, and myself, on or about the 17th December, 
 1862, (over seven months ago,) at my tent, on the Rappahan- 
 nock, in which politics were mentioned, and it is upon his false 
 and perverted statements of that private conversation that my 
 dismissal is grounded. Those statements were referred to some 
 subordinate in your office, and upon those alone I was found 
 guilty of disloyalty, reported for dismissal, and actually dis- 
 missed. I now appeal to your sense of justice and ask 
 you whether that is the fair play to which an officer of twenty 
 four years' service, with an unblemished record, is entitled ? 
 Who, in the army is safe, if the War Department opens its ear 
 to the base whispers of every paltry spy, who treacherously 
 takes advantage of an officer's hospitality and becomes an in- 
 former to curry favor with the dispensers of patronage ? Apart 
 from the individual wrong which such a practice must produce, 
 can anything be better calculated to demoralize the Army and 
 bring the service, as well as the Government itself, into dis- 
 repute? 
 
 Conversations are proverbially unreliable as evidence. They 
 are so easily misunderstood, and so difficult to remember that 
 there is not one instance in many thousands where the casual 
 talk of a man can be reproduced with accuracy even by respect- 
 able witnesses. Nay, where is the man who can repeat exactly 
 what he himself has said but yesterday ? If conversations are 
 of small account when detailed with all possible fairness, they 
 become contemptible when tattled by a man" of weak under- 
 standing and malicious heart. 
 
 I here aver that I never uttered the words imputed to me by 
 Wells, nor any words of similar import, either at the time he re- 
 fers to, or at any other time in my life. He says I drank to a 
 Southern Confederacy during this Administration. This is 
 merely and simply false. I can prove my denial to be true by 
 
24 
 
 the direct testimony of Majoe Whiting, (before mentioned,) a 
 gentleman whose honor and veracity no one who knows him 
 , will doubt. The only toast given by me on that occasion was 
 this : "Here's to the Constitution as it is, and the Union as it 
 was!" which I thought then and think now, expresses a senti- 
 ment perfectly patriotic and most purely loyal. 
 
 Why did Mr. Wells make this false statement ? Let me tell 
 you. The man is crazy. Yes : the witness upon whose ex-parte 
 statements your department has endeavored to bring ruin to me 
 and my family is a lunatic ! It was only on the 11th of October, 
 1861, that he was released from the Pennsylvania Hospital for 
 the Insane at Philadelphia, and the act was accompanied by the 
 written regret of the Medical Officer in charge, at seeing him 
 leave before he was entirely well. I have known him for a long 
 time ; on my return to Camp, near Falmouth, Va., from York, 
 Pa., he asked to accompany me to see an intimate friend. 
 Thinking him harmless, I did not refuse : on the contrary, 
 shared with him my tent and table, until he found his friend. 
 He was there not merely as my guest, but % a self-invited guest, 
 and under the greater obligations to respect the hospitality. 
 
 On the occasion to which his statements refer, he drank some 
 punch, not excessively but enough to inflame his weak brain 
 and aggravate his mental disease, which gradually irritated his 
 morbid temper, and fixed his nialice upon myself. He imagined 
 that I had insinuated an unmanly fear on his part in crossing 
 the Rappahannock river, during the firing of the enemy. He 
 asked Major Whiting, whom he had met for the first time, to 
 let him (Wells) sleep in his (Whiting's) tent, and insisted upon 
 doing so while Major Whiting was advising him against it. 
 It was in this manner I offered to find him a tent to sleep in 
 where he would be with a Black Republican — not as he says I 
 did. Although the moment before, he had denounced Southern 
 chivalry, and their institution of Slavery as a wrong and a curse, 
 he became particularly incensed at this offer and invited hirnself 
 into a stranger's tent. The next day, of his own accord, he 
 came to my tent and begged me to say nothing more about the 
 matter. His conduct and language for a long time afterwards 
 
25 
 
 did not indicate that tlie fancies excited by the punch had 
 passed into settled hallucinations. On the contrary, when he 
 left the Camp and returned to York where my family lived, he 
 saw them, told them all about me, wrote an account of their 
 health, and even cautioned me not to speak unguardedly on po- 
 litical subjects " lest some civilian might take advantage of it to 
 injure me. When he wrote me at a still later period that he in- 
 tended to accuse me of disloyalty for toasting the Southern 
 Confederacy, I did my best to deter him until I could convince 
 him, through Major Whiting, that he was in error. I knew he 
 was not a responsible creature and I could feel no enmity to- 
 wards him. But all my efforts to reason with him only strength- 
 ened his mental delusion, and intensified the insane malignity 
 with which he had come to regard me. 
 
 Mr. Wells is not without that cunning which usually accom- 
 panies madness. Since his release from the Lunatic Asylum, 
 he has taken all occasions, in season and out of season, to make 
 his devotion to the administration conspicuous. But this is all 
 feigned, for, if what he said when the war began is any indica- 
 tion of his mind, he must be a confirmed secessionist. He 
 pushes his fortune and tries to win promotion by threatening 
 men with false accusations — always where he thinks it is his in- 
 terest to do so — and several persons (among them his near rela- 
 tions) have been put in serious peril by his machinations. Thus 
 far he has been remarkably successful. It is a fact "that this 
 Lunatic, so recently from the mad house, and seemingly unfit to 
 run at large, has been very recently appointed the Commandant 
 of the Navy Yard at Philadelphia. 
 
 When I was informed by Mr. Wells himself that he had made 
 this accusation, I did not think it necessary to send in a defense 
 for I had faith in the government of the Country which I had 
 served so long, and I believed that before any action would be 
 taken against me, I would be called upon for an explanation. I 
 certainly had no fear that the War Department would proceed 
 on the unsupported statement of a crazy man, when it was 
 known that there was a sane witness who could tell all about it 
 I however consulted friends and every one advised me that I t 
 
26 
 
 should not notice the allegations nor make any exposure of my 
 accuser until it became absolutely necessary. I could not fore- 
 see that the necessity might exist without my knowing it. 
 
 I have made no assertions here which I cannot prove if an op- 
 portunity be given me, either by documentary or oral evidence. 
 The letters, I refer to, are in my possession, the official reports 
 are on file, and the witnesses will be forthcoming. 
 
 I do not suppose that either you or the President understood 
 the nature of my case. Your action was grounded on the re- 
 port laid before you, and I now respectfully request of you the 
 privilege of proving before a "Court of Inquiry, or properly au- 
 thorized Court, that the report was made upon the false testi- 
 mony of an incompetent and irresponsible witness, taken in a 
 corner behind my back, and without the privilege to cross-ex- 
 amine. With these facts before you, I trust that, as an act of 
 sheer justice to myself, an investigation will be ordered. If I 
 shall succeed in this I will leave the rest with the utmost confi- 
 dence in your hands. 
 
 I have the honor to be, very respectfully, 
 Your obedient Servant, 
 
 GKANVILLE O. HALLEE, 
 
 (late Major 7th Infantry.) 
 
27 
 
 MEMOIR OF MILITARY SERVICES 
 
 . or 
 
 Major Grana^ille 0. Haller, 
 
 U. S, ARMY. 
 
 I was an applicant for the appointment of Cadet in the Mili- 
 tary Academy at West Point, in 1839, but having turned my 
 twentieth year, I received an invitation to appear before a Mili- 
 tary board, which convened in the City of "Washington, to ex- 
 amine the qualifications of young men who desired to be commis- 
 sioned as Officers ; and having passed a satisfactory examination, 
 I received from President Martin Van Buren, through the Hon. 
 Joel K. Poinsett, Secretary of War, a Commission with the 
 rank of Second Lieutenant in the 4th. Eegiment of Infantry, 
 from the 17th day of November, 1839. I had served in the 
 Army, consequently, at the date of my dismissal, twenty-three 
 years, eight months, and eight days. 
 
 In 1840, I joined my Eegiment at Fort Gibson, a very sickly 
 post, in the Cherokee Nation of Indians. 
 
 THE FLORIDA WAR. 
 
 In 1841, my Eegiment entered Florida the second time. My 
 company formed part of Major Belknap's column which explor- 
 ed and scouted the Big Cypress Swamp. In this expedition all 
 the Officers and Men had to carry knapsacks, as the country 
 
28 
 
 was impracticable for horses or mules. Each one carried his 
 change of clothing, blankets, and seven days' rations, and had 
 to wade daily in water from anlde to waist deep, but mostly 
 about twelve inches cfeep — in stretches of usually eight or ten 
 miles — in the cold weather of December. I find honorable 
 mention of my name, in this field, in Sprague's History op the 
 Florida War— pages 360 to 376. On the 20th December 1841, 
 the Indians in this swamp fired upon our column while in water 
 three feet deep, killing several men. 
 
 In 1842, as Acting Adjutant of my Kegiment, Lserved with 
 the expedition under Col. Worth which scouted the Wahoo 
 Swamp, then crossed to the Palalikaha river, where his troops 
 surprised Halleck Tustenugge in his camp with all of the wo- 
 men and children of the tribe about him, and. obliged him to 
 fight, to give time to the non-combatants to escape. The lodges, 
 clothing and dried meats, etc. fell into our hands, after a sharp 
 skirmish, in which they had several warriors wounded. This 
 misfortune obliged Halleck to sue for peace, which was soon fol- 
 lowed by the suspension of Indian hostilities. The Regiment 
 was then sent to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. 
 
 In 1844, my Regiment was ordered into Louisiana and en- 
 camped near Nachetoches, on the borders of Texas, as part of 
 the "Army, of Observation," as Mexico had threatened Texas 
 with invasion on account of her negotiating terms of annexation 
 with the United States. 
 
 In 1845, the 3d and 4th Regiments of Infantry became the 
 " Army of Occupation" and took possession of St. Joseph's Is- 
 land and Corpus Christi, Texas. I was here appointed *' Brig- 
 ade Major" of the 3d Brigade, a title now obsolete, as the duty 
 is performed by the Assistant Adjutant General. 
 
 THE MEXICAN. WAR. 
 
 In 1846, the "Army of Occupation" marched to the Rio Grande 
 and encamped opposite Matamoros. I was here appointed the 
 Commissary of 3d Brigade. At Point Isabella I was ordered 
 
29 
 
 to receive and receipt for all the subsistence stores, which the 
 train of wagons would be able to carry to Fort Brown. .Return- 
 ing, the enemy met us at Palo Alto, on the 8th of May, and 
 disputed our passage, but had to fall back : on the 9th the 
 enemy held a stronger position, and fought the battle of Resaca 
 De la Palma, and sustained heavy losses, and defeat. A large 
 quantity of their subsistence stores, was captured, and placed in 
 my charge. On the field, I acted as an Aid-de-Camp to Lt. Col. 
 John Garland, 4th Infantry, Commanding the 3d Brigade, and 
 in his report of those actions, he has expressed his indebtedness 
 to me "for valuable assistance. 
 
 When the Army marched to Monterey, in addition to the du- 
 ties of Commissary of 3d Brigade, I was charged with the duties 
 of Quarter-master and Commissary to Gen. Twiggs' Division. 
 Immediately on our arrival before Monterey, I was ordered to 
 take charge of all the subsistance that had been brought to that 
 place, with instructions to be sparing in the issues, and by judi- 
 cious distributions, protracted the subsistance until fresh sup- 
 plies were received. I was kept on Commissary duty until Gen. 
 Worth's Division was withdrawn from Saltillo, to join Gen. 
 Scott's column. Before embarking for Vera Cruz, Gen. Worth 
 directed Company Commanders, who were also doing Staff duty, 
 to select one of the two duties which they preferred, and surrender 
 the other. I thereupon retained command of my Company, and 
 turned over my Staff duty to Lieut. Grant, of my Regiment, now 
 the distinguished Major General Grant. 
 
 At Vera Cruz, Gen. Worth's Division was charged with the 
 construction of certain trenches, and my Regiment worked both 
 night and day, then furnished guards for them. Our labors 
 were incessant until the City capitulated. 
 
 At Cerro Gordo, my Regiment was part of the Reserve, but 
 witnessed and participated in the success of that day. 
 
 The Castle of Perote and the City of Puebla fell without a 
 blow, but the 4th Infantry formed part of the column sent to 
 reduce those places. 
 
 In the Valley of Mexico, my Regiment participated in all the 
 battles. At El molino del Rey, I was one of the "Storming 
 
30 
 
 Party," being selected as one of the officers to bring on the as- 
 sault. In the Capture of the City of Mexico, our last blow, my 
 conduct seems to have met the decided approbation of my Su- 
 perior Officers, and I may be pardoned, I trust, for presenting 
 extracts from Official reports in regard to my services. 
 
 Extracts from reports of Commanding Officers, in relation to the conduct of Gran- 
 ville Owen Haller Major 1th Infantry, in the Wak. with Mexico, (fa a 
 Lieutenant of the 4th Regiment of infantry,) extracted from The Ex- 
 ecutive Documents, No. 1 ; 30th Congress, 1st Session : 
 read December 1th, 1847, and published by 
 the Senate, to wit : 
 
 From Gen. Worth's report, speaking of the Capture of the City of Mexico, and 
 dated at "Headquarters, 1st Division, City of Mexico, September 16th 1847." 
 [See page 394.] 
 
 " I have again to make acknowledgements "to * 
 S. Smith, Haller, and Grant, 4th Infantry, especially;" 
 
 Again : 
 
 From Lieut. Gus. W. Smith's report while advancing towards the Garita de San 
 Cosme> one of the gates of the City, dated at " Engineer Quarters, City of 
 Mexico, September lGth, 1847 [See Page 168, appendix.] 
 
 « * * * Lieutenants Haller and Judah, of the 4th In- 
 fantry, and Lieutenant Pickett, of the 8th, who were in 
 " advance, gave me what information they had already acquired, 
 " and rendered efficient aid in conducting the operations." * * 
 
 Again : 
 
 From Brevet Col. John Garland's report of The Capture of the City, dated at 
 "Headquarters 1st. Brigade, 1st Division, Mexico, September 16th, 1847." 
 " [See Appendix, Pages 170 and 171." 
 
 " * * * I must not omit to call the attention of the 
 " General to Lieutenant Haller, of the 4th Infantry, who gave 
 " evidence of courage and good conduct ; his efforts were untiring 
 " and crowned with good results ; and, also, to Lieutenant 
 
31 
 
 " Grant, of the same Regiment, etc." * 
 
 Again: 
 
 From Major Feancts Lee's report of The Capture of the City, dated at " Head- 
 quarters Fourth Infantry, City of Mexico, September 16th, 1847". [See Appen- 
 dix, Pago 17G. 
 
 " * * * I detached Lieutenants Haller and Judah, 
 "with A and C Companies, to support Major Buchanan ; and, 
 " by his orders, they were advanced on the left of the road, 
 " through and over the houses towards the Garita." * * 
 
 « * * * Lieutenant Haller, with Company C. had been 
 " previously detached to another portion of the City on similar 
 " duty, which he executed in a satisfactory manner." * * 
 
 " My duty now requires that among all who behaved well, I 
 " name those who were most distinguished for their zeal and 
 "activity." »*"*$« 
 
 "* * * and First Lieutenants Gore, Sidney Smith 
 " (mortally wounded on the 14th,) and Haller, and 2d Lieu- 
 " tenants Grant and Judah, behaved with distinguished gal- 
 " lantry on the 13th, and 14th." * * * 
 
 " Whilst I deem it proper to particularize the above named 
 " Officers, I cannot refrain from calling the attention of the Major 
 " General Commanding to the fact that there is not, nor has not 
 " been, a single Captain on duty with it. This when a Regiment 
 " has behaved so well, and when its young officers have uniformly 
 " displayed such gallantry, should be taken into consideration in 
 "the distribution of those rewards which are the great incen- 
 tives, etc." 
 
 EL MOLINO DEL RE}\ 
 
 From Gen. Worth's Report, dated "Headquarters, 1st Division, Tacubaya, 
 September 10th, 1847," [See Pages 363-5-6.] 
 
 ■ 
 
 ".* * when the assaulting party commanded by 
 
32 
 
 "Wright, and guided by that accomplished officer, Captain 
 " Mason of the Engineers, assisted by Lieutenant Foster, dashed 
 " gallantly forward to the assault. Unshaken by the galling of 
 " the musketry and canister that was showered upon them, on 
 " they rushed, driving Infantry and Artillery men at the point of 
 '• the bayonet. The enemy's field battery was taken, and his 
 " own guns were trailed upon his retreating masses ; before 
 " however, they could be discharged, perceiving that he had 
 " been dispossessed of his strong position by comparatively a 
 " handful of men, he made a desperate effort to regain it. Ac- 
 " cordingly his retiring forces rallied and formed with this object. 
 " Aided by the Infantry, which covered the housetops (within 
 " reach of which the battery had been moved during the night,) 
 " the enemy's whole line opened upon the assaulting party a 
 " terrific fire of musketry, which struck down eleven out of the 
 "fourteen officers that composed the command and non-commis- 
 " sioned officers and men in proportion ; etc. 
 
 et * * * Commending the gallant dead, the wounded, 
 " and the few unscathed, to the respectful memory of their 
 " countrymen, and the rewards due to valor and conduct, I pre- 
 " sent the names of those especially noticed by subordinate 
 " commanders, uniting in all they have said, and extending the 
 
 " same Jtestimony to those not named. * ~ :f * * 
 
 ########### 
 
 "Assaulting Column. — Brevet Major "Weight, 8th Inf., 
 " commanding, wounded ; Capt. J. L. Mason, Engineers, 
 "wounded ; Capt. E. Mekeill, 5th Inf., killed ; Capt. A. Cady, 
 " 6th Inf., wounded ; Capt. W. H. T. Walkee, 6th Inf., wound- 
 " ed ; Capt. J. V. Bomfoed, 8th Inf. ; 1st Lieut. M. L. Shackle- 
 "foed, 2d Art., wounded; 1st Lieut. C. B. Daniels, 2d Art. 
 " wounded ; 1st Lieut.* G. O. Hallee, 4th Inf. ; 1st Lieut. J. 
 " D. Claeke, 8th Inf., wounded ; 2d Lieut. J. F. Faery, 3d Art., 
 " killed ; 2d Lieut. J. G. Snelling, 8th Inf., wounded ; 2d Lieut. 
 " M. Maloney, 4th Inf. ; 2d Lieut. John G. Foster, Eng., 
 " wounded." » 
 
33 
 
 Again : 
 
 Prom Brevet Major Weight's Report as commander of the storming party dated 
 "Tacubaya, Mexico, Sept., 10th, 1847." [See Appendix Page 165.] 
 
 The 2d company, composed of the 4th Infantry, was under 
 " Capt. Walker, 6th Infantry, with 1st Lieut. Haller." 
 
 " The conduct of all the officers and men on this occasion is 
 " worthy the highest commendation. Eleven officers, and a 
 "large number of the rank and file, were either killed or 
 " wounded." 
 
 Again : 
 
 From Major Francis Lee's Report dated "Headquarters 4th Infantry Tacubaya, 
 Mexico, September 9th, 1847," [Appendix, Pages 143-4.] 
 
 " The battalion, except a detail of 100 men for the storming, 
 " under Lieutenants Haller and Maloney, was formed, ect." * * 
 
 " It now only remains for me to designate those who gallantly 
 " distinguished themselves, and were most active during the 
 "day." * * ■* * 
 
 "First Lieuts. Gore and Haller, especially mentioned to 
 " me by Major Buchanan ; * * * * * * 
 
 Then follows all the names of the officers of the Eegiment, who 
 were present in the action, and immediately after he says : "It 
 " will be proper to state that 1st Lieutenant Haller and 2d, 
 " Lieutenant Maloney, joined the battalion immediately after 
 " the charge of the storming party, and remained with it during 
 " the day." 
 
 CONTRERAS, SAN ANTONIO, AND CHURUBUSCO. 
 
 From Major Lee's Report of the series of "glorious victories" on the 20th, August, 
 dated at "Headquarters, 4th Infantry, Landrillera, Mexico, August 23d, 1847," 
 [See Appendix Page 52. ] 
 
 " I cannot too much commend the officers of my battalion. 
 " Their successful exertions are the more commendable as they 
 " were so few in number, and I beg leave, therefore, to mention 
 " their names." 
 
 Then follows all the names of the officers of the Eegiment 
 
 3 
 
34 
 
 present that day, among which will be found : " 1st Lieut. G. 
 O. Haller commanding Company." 
 
 Again : 
 
 From Brevet Col. Oakland's Report of the actions of the 20th August 1817, dated 
 "Headquarters, 1st Brigade, 1st Divison, Tacubaya, August 23d, 1847," [Bee 
 Appendix, Page 47. ] 
 
 it # * * ijij^ 4^ Xnfantry at this moment rejoined me, 
 
 " and Major Lee was directed to advance and occupy the 
 
 " extreme right of our line. These movements were executed 
 
 " und»r a heavy fire of cannon and musketry ; our troops, how- 
 
 " ever, continued to advance slowly, but steadily, through fields 
 
 " of rank corn and over deep ditches. The battle field, from 
 
 " the bridge head to the left of the enemy's line, was warmly 
 
 " contested for about two hours, the musketry rolling without 
 
 " one moment's intermission, etc." 
 
 For my services in Mexico, I received two commissions by 
 Brevet. • The first one was. the rank of Captain by Brevet, from 
 the 8th, Sept., 1847, "For gallant and meritorious conduct in the 
 battle of Molino del Rey." The second was the rank of 3Iajor 
 by Brevet, from the 13th Sept., 1847, "for gallant and merito- 
 rious conduct in the battle of Chapultepec, Mexico." I have 
 also been furnished with the resolutions of the Legislature of 
 Pennsylvania, and my name has been inscribed in the journals 
 of both the Houses, in compliment to my services. 
 
 SERVICES ON THE PACIFIC SLOPE. 
 
 In 1852, my Company embarked on the U. S. storeship Fre- 
 donia, sailed around Cape Horn, and after a seven months voy- 
 age, reached San Francisco, thence sailed in a steamer to Fort 
 Vancouver, Washington Territory, and shortly after, July 1853, 
 was stationed at Fort Dalles, Oregon, then a Territory, a 
 dreary, isolated spot, but since has become a thriving city, in 
 
35 
 
 consequence of the developments of the Gold regions to the 
 East of it. In those days freight from Portland to the Dalles 
 (one hundred miles) was $75.00 per ton : the ordinary necessi- 
 ties of a family, far exceeded an officer's pay : luxuries were 
 scarcely to be had — eggs 12h cents each, butter $1.50 per pound, 
 contract price of Beef 27 cents per pound., etc. At that time it 
 was indeed, mentally as well as pecuniarily, a great trial to be 
 confined to a post so destitute of all that makes life agreeable. 
 
 MASSACEE ON BOISE EIVEE, AND MILITAEY EXPEDITION. 
 
 In 1854, the family of a Mr. Ward, and other immigrants, 
 were massacred on Boise River, about three hundred and fifty- 
 five miles froin the Dalles, by the Winneste Indians, a tribe of 
 the great Shoshone Nation, under circumstances of the most 
 atrocious barbarity. 
 
 The two companies then at Fort Dalles, were reduced 
 by discharges and desertions to fifty-six soldiers all told. 
 I was dispatched with twenty-six of them to the massacre 
 ground, there to chastise the murderers and give protection to 
 the immigrants. The citizens of, and the immigrants at the 
 Dalles, thinking my small force inadequate, formed a company 
 of thirty-nine volunteers, followed after me, and reported for 
 duty. At the Grande Roncle, (one hundred and ninety miles 
 from the Dalles,) a few warriors of the Nez Perces, and Uma- 
 tilla Indians offered their services to me, and were accepted. 
 Witli,this mixed force we invaded the usual haunts of the mur- 
 derers, killed a few, and recaptured the clothing and other ef- 
 fects taken from their victims. With an old Indian, some 
 squaws and children, captives, we brought up the rear of the 
 Immigration. In the correspondence between Brig. Gen. John 
 E. Wool, commanding the Department of the Pacific, and the 
 then Secretary of War, Jeffeeson Davis, which was published by 
 the U. S. Senate, I found the latter has expressed his approval, 
 in strong terms, of my services and energy in this expedition. 
 
36 
 
 SECOND SNAKE INDIAN EXPEDITION. 
 
 In 1855, General Wool organized a force of over one hundred 
 and fifty men, and placed me in command, to further chastise 
 these murderers. Returning to Fort Boise in the fishing sea- 
 son, we drove the guilty Indians from their fishing places on 
 Boise and Payette rivers, then advanced some five hundred 
 miles from Fort Dalles, and established a depot on the Big Ca- 
 mash Prairie, from whence we scouted the head-waters of Boise, 
 Payette, and Salmon rivers, on the North of us, and to the 
 Rocky Mountains and head-waters of the Missouri, on the East, 
 and at Salmon Falls and along Snake river on the South. In 
 this expedition we hung several of the murderers over the 
 graves of their victims ; in the mountains we hung and killed 
 others, until we had destroyed as many warriors as they had 
 killed of the whites, besides having captured women and chil- 
 dren and old men. The remnant of the tribe fled in terror to- 
 wards Humboldt river in California. In this expedition some 
 of our horses had travelled at least seventeen hundred miles. 
 
 EFFECTS OF GOLD DISCOVERIES. 
 
 About this time, the discoveries of gold by the employees of 
 the Hudson Bay Company, near their trading post, Fort Col- 
 ville, in Washington Territory, became well known, and caused 
 many miners to visit that region ; many passing from Puget 
 Sound through the Klikatat and Yakima Country, and, m the 
 latter, two or more miners were murdered. Having ordered my 
 command to return to the Dalles, I proceeded in advance by 
 rapid marches, and found a threatening state of affairs to exist 
 quite close to Fort Dalles. The Indian tribes were sullen and 
 hostile, and the Whites much excited. Major Bolan, a highly 
 esteemed citizen of Washington Territory, and Sub-Indian 
 Agent in charge o&the Yakimas, went to this tribe to counsel 
 them for Peace and to get the murderers. He was assassina- 
 ted. The Indians knew very well that if the death of their 
 Agent became known to the troops, immediate war would fol- 
 
37 
 
 low. They therefore sent runners to inform their allies of 
 their danger, and threw out scouts to observe the movements of 
 the soldiers at Fort Dalles, and took every precaution to keep 
 those Indians not disposed for war, from communicating with 
 the white people. 
 
 THE OREGON WAE. 
 
 The long absence of Major Bolan from the Dalles, caused 
 me to send an Indian Spy in the Yakima district to learn 
 something about him. It was with difficulty he could get 
 back. Li the meantime an Old Squaw escaped through 
 their lines and brought the news of Bolan' s assassination, and 
 the collection of warriors from all the neighboring tribes to 
 wipe out the White people. The information was confirmed in 
 various ways, and it was duly communicated to the. Command- 
 ing Officer of the District, stationed at Fort Vancouver. 
 By this time the Infantry portion of my Battalion had 
 arrived from the Camash prairie, and all the available force at 
 Fort Dalles — making one hundred fighting men, divided into 
 two companies, and one Sergeant Major, and one Commissary 
 and Quartermaster Sergeant — total 102 — having Captain (now 
 Brigadier General) Kussell and myself commanding companies ; 
 Lieut. Gracte in charge of the Mountain Howitzer ; and Asst. 
 Surgeon George W. Hammond, as medical officer — were held in 
 readiness, with subsistence, for the command/ prepared for 
 the pack-mules, to march at a moment's notice. But this news 
 brought me no orders to march. 
 
 Fortunately the Acting Governor of Washington Territory 
 heard of the murders of the two Miners, and made a requisition 
 for one Company of U. S. Troops to invade the Yakima Coun- 
 try from Fort Dalles and demand the murderers from that tribe. 
 The Commandant of the District ordered me to send a Company, 
 but knowing the peril, I took the responsibility of taking all un- 
 available force, and went in person. A consciousness of the 
 danger induced me to proceed with, not to send this little band of 
 soldiers, and I believe that the Adjutant General, of the U. S. 
 Army, will bear me witness that I have never sought to avoid 
 
38 
 
 necessary danger, but have always encountered the enemy and 
 used my humble abilities to the best advantage for my country. 
 
 THE THREE DAYS FIGHTING. 
 
 The first night out my spy returned having escaped from the 
 hostile camp and declared that Kamiarkin, the Yakima Chief, 
 had collected more warriors than he was able to designate by 
 numbers, and that a force double the size of my command would 
 never be able to get back. We however advanced and on 
 the fourth day, as we descended a hill to the bottom lands of 
 Topinish Creek to encamp, we discovered the Indians taking . 
 position behind trees to fight. At the same time, a Chief on a 
 distant bluff was making a harangue to his warriors, who replied 
 to him with yells, and thus showed their positions and that they 
 were not greatly superior in numbers. As soon as our mule 
 train had come up and our rear was properly guarded, we at- 
 tacked our adversaries and drove them off. During the action 
 fresh warriors came up and showed themselves on the bluffs 
 around us. At sundown perhaps six hundred warriors were 
 in View but all retired during the twilight. Early the next 
 morning the warriors surrounded our position but a few shots 
 made them cautious, until they found our balls fell wide of 
 their marks — we having only the old smooth bored muskets 
 with spherical balls. In several instances war parties becoming 
 more venturesome would crawl up very close to the knolls be- 
 hind which our men awaited their approach, and would with 
 stones construct what is now called rifle pits, to annoy our 
 skirmishers when they exposed themselves, and these were 
 driven off by bayonet charges. 
 
 Our position enabled us to see over the plain, and hourly 
 fresh clouds of dust announced the approach of reinforcements 
 to our foes. We had not rations enough to hold out until re- 
 inforcements from Fort Vancouver could join us, and it would 
 have been as foolish as disastrous to attempt with my small 
 force of foot soldiers to chastise or subdue the well mounted and 
 active enemy before us. Prudence therefore made it my duty 
 
39 
 
 to return if practicable to Fort Dalles, where a properly mounted 
 party would be organized to assist our efforts. Hence at night 
 we retraced our steps to the top of the mountain near us, and 
 allowed the men rest, and next morning fell back towards Fort 
 Dalles, skirmishing with the Indians until nearly sundown. We 
 * lost five killed and seventeen wounded, and brought the wounded 
 in safely, also the corpse of the gallant Commissary Sergeant 
 Mulholland, who fell in the last bayonet charge. 
 
 I may here introduce, I hope without impropriety, a letter from 
 Father Pandosy, of the Society of Oblates of the Immaculate 
 Mary, of the Roman Catholic Mission in the Yakima Country, in 
 regard to the number of Indians. 
 
 To Major Haller : 
 
 Major : I had jnst returned from the Sound when you reached the Tapinnish. 
 I found the Indians irritated in an excessive degree, I endeavored to calm their 
 spirits, and for this purpose I sent expresses^ to all the Camps to endeavor to 
 induce the Chiefs to repair to my mission, representing to them that it was to 
 their greatest interest to make peace. A good many who heard my message 
 came, but the great majority were expecting that the moment had come to 
 measure their strength with the white people, particularly the people of Karni- 
 arken and the Klikatats, the great authors of the war ; the Klikatats have always 
 made the Indians of this vicinity believe the Americans were cowardly and en- 
 tirely inexperienced in the art of war, that in the war with the Shastasthe Ameri- 
 cans were defeated, and were obliged to employ their arms (those of the Klika- 
 tats) to make good their retreat, the Klikatats, I say, could not^ be restrained, 
 and the spies sent by Kamiarken to examine the movements of the soldiers at 
 the Dalles returned at the same time to the camp of Kamiarken and reported 
 you were coming with a considerable force to ensnare in a net (prendre dans un 
 piecje) all the Chiefs. That you wished to speak them fair, and thus induce them 
 to visit your camp, when you would seize and hang Te-i-as and his son, Owvrai 
 and his son, Kamiarken, Shawawai and his son, Sklon and all the people who 
 have influence. Some moments after,' two or three Klikatats came into the 
 camp of Kamiarken and announced your arrival at the "Assum," and 
 (so close to them) that you had gotten in between the front and the rear of their 
 party while advancing. These Klikatats came from Kamas Lake and Vancouver, 
 and in their report they enlarged upon the report of the spies, saying that on 
 their route they had been attacked several times, by 500 soldiers who had come 
 from Vancouver to join you, and with the intention to increase the irritation of 
 Kamiarken, they added that his great friend Tamiatas had been taken and 
 hung. 
 
 On this news Kamiarken immediately sent expresses to all the Camps to 
 
40 
 
 assemble the men and direct them to advance to meet you at the Tapinnish. 
 That you had been attacked by the Klikatats, who numbered four or five hun- 
 dred men. They were at once reinforced with the people of Kamiarken, Skawa- 
 wai and Sklon ; Owvria, who was farther off did not get the news so soon, and was 
 later in directing his people towards the Tapinnish. If your position would 
 permit you would have seen a continual procession the whole of Saturday and 
 Sunday. 
 
 Knowing the small number of soldiers then at your disposal, the fierce rage 
 in the hearts of some of the tribes, and the infinitely superior numbers of the 
 savages, I did not think it possible you could execute so happy and honorable a 
 retreat as that which signalized your return to the Dalles. 
 
 In the meantime all the warriors were marching to give you battle. I wrote 
 you a letter by an Indian. They would consent to a peace if the Americans 
 wished a peace and would grant a reserve on their own lands, and not exile them 
 from their native country. But in case that their conditions were not accepted, 
 they were resolved to fight to the last extremity, determined, even if they 
 succumbed (these are their literal expressions) they would sooner destroy their 
 wives and their ohildren, than to have them fall into the hands of the Americans, 
 who would gratify with them their infamous passions. Still, if the Americans 
 and the soldiers desired a peace, they were willing ; if they preferred a war, they 
 were also for war. Their numbers at this moment were fifteen hundred men, 
 and if they wished it, they could soon have had two thousand men. 
 
 The number 1500 woidd appear to be exaggerated when one thinks that the 
 Indians of the Mission had refused to take up their arms, and had retired to 
 another country, but their numbers were fully replaced by the bands come, not 
 only from the- environs, as the Indians on the banks of the Columbia, the Wal- 
 la-wallas, the Pelousas, Cayuses, Priests' Rapids, the Piskousas, but also the 
 Chelelpams and the Spokans. 
 
 The best of the Chiefs, who wished for peace, and who was already distin- 
 guished for saving the lives of Americans, and giving them provisions for their 
 road, was entrusted at the risk of his life, to carry you a common letter, but he 
 did not overtake you until you were in the mountain and during the night. He 
 camped near yours, because he feared the flag of peace, by which he approached 
 you, might not perhaps be recognized, and in the morning on waking, you had 
 continued your route to the Dalles. His horse was much fatigued, and he could 
 not follow further. He returned to the Mission and assured me that you were 
 beyond danger as the Indians were no longer pursuing you. This news rejoiced 
 me greatly, and I could only attribute your safety to a special interposition of 
 Divine Providence, who had been pleased to hear our prayers, for I believe it to 
 be a moral impossibility that 100 soldiers could be able to resist 1500 Indiana, 
 determined to conquer or to die. 
 
 I have the honor to be, Major, 
 
 Your very humble and obedient servant, 
 (Signed) MIE CLES PANDOSY. 
 
 The above is a true translation of the meaning of my letter to Major Haller. 
 
 MIE CLES PANDOSY, O. M. I. 
 
41 
 
 The Commandant of the District being advised by courier of 
 the defeat of my expedition, and the vast proportions that the 
 war was likely to assume, called on the Governors of Oregon 
 and Washington Territories, each, for two Companies of 
 Volunteers. ♦ 
 
 MAJOE GABRIEL J. RAINS' EXPEDITION. 
 
 Gov. Curry, of Oregon Territory, believing that a respectable 
 force sent into the hostile country would keep the enemy oc- 
 cupied at their own homes watching after the safety of their 
 women and children, and thus save the White Settlements from 
 rapine and murder, called out a Regiment and commissioned 
 the present Senator from Oregon, General Nesmith, as the 
 Colonel. But this commission being superior to the rank of 
 the Major Commanding the District, the latter threw obstacles 
 in the way of so large a force, apprehending the loss of com- 
 mand in the District. Some delay occurred and the winter wea- 
 ther overtook the troops in the enemy's country, and drove 
 them back to the Dalles. It was not until the Acting Governor 
 of Washington Territory had called out two Companies of Vol- 
 unteers and made the Commandant of the District Brigadier 
 General of these two Companies and such forces as should op- 
 erate in his Territory, that the column was put in motion. 
 
 Our forces consisted of about three hundred Regulars (among 
 the officers, tjie present Major Generals Sheridan, Ord, and Au- 
 gur, and Brig. Gen. Russel,) and about five hundred Volunteer 
 Cavalry, well mounted, marched through a dangerous gorge in 
 the mountains into the Yakima Valley, and found a few Indians 
 upon the opposite side of the river, evidently bent on annoying 
 vis. The Infantry was ordered across the river, but the water 
 was so cold and swift that two men were chilled and unable to 
 save themselves from drowning. Col. Nesmith then crossed 
 with a troop of Cavalry and routed the enemy without a 
 casualty, except a trifling wound to his horse. Another portion 
 
42 
 
 of the Cavalry had gone off in another direction, to forage, and 
 was fired upon by the Indians and had a few men wounded. 
 
 Next morning we could see distinctly masses of the Indians 
 on the "Buttes" at the mouth of Attanem Creek, only a few 
 miles off, and some of the Braves came up quite close to our 
 camp. Our General estimated the enemy at three hundred 
 Warriors, yet these Braves disputed the passage at the "Buttes" 
 until so late an hour that our command went into camp without 
 dislodging them. Our General then invited the best marksmen 
 to go out to the "Butte" in front, and have "a free fight" with 
 the Indians on the hill, but our men were soon driven into camp 
 in confusion. My company instantly sprang to their arms and 
 covered the retreating party. I learnt from them that the 
 Indians had come down into the timber on the river bank, and 
 had opened a fire on their flank. Immediately my company 
 charged the wood and followed the Indians up hill and drove 
 them off the "Butte" without a casualty. As I advanced, I found 
 Captain Augur's company supporting my movement. The In- 
 dians gave up the field for the night, but, early in the morning, 
 attempted to resume their position on the "Butte." However 
 they were quickly dislodged, and one of them was killed by a 
 friendly Indian who had gone with me through all my Indian 
 Campaigns. Soon after, snow began to fall, and our Campaign 
 came to an inglorious end. This was my tjrird Campaign, in 
 the six months preceding, the first of which exceeded fifteen 
 hundred miles of travel. 
 
 KAMIAEKEN. 
 
 The origin of the war in Oregon is not, I think, generally un- 
 derstood. Kamiarken, the principal Chief of the several bands, 
 who live in the valley of the Yakima, should take rank with the 
 most eminent Chiefs of the Red-men, known to fame, and is 
 worthy the pen of a Prescott. A keen, far-sighted, and resolute 
 Indian, devoted to his race, and most bitterly opposed to the 
 encroachments of the "White-man ; he had kept strict watch 
 over his dominions and never permitted a white man, excepting 
 Catholic Priests, to obtain a foothold within his realm. He had 
 
43 
 
 travelled from Nation to Nation to warn them of their danger in 
 letting the White-man stop to till their soil. At length the 
 U. S. Commissioners called the several nations East of the Cas- 
 cade Mountains together in Council to make a treaty and to fix 
 upon contracted limits ; the Eed-men were told that they must 
 give up many of the spots in which they had lived during their 
 infancy and manhood. It was more than they could bear. 
 They now recognized the wisdom of Kamiakken and turned to 
 him for advice. He reminded them that in winter the snows 
 covered the Cascade Mountains and the river froze over, so that 
 the White-man on the West side of the Mountains had 
 no means of coming to the aid of those in their country : there- 
 fore he advised them to begin to lay in supplies of ammunition 
 and when the ice was formed, then " wipe " out every White- 
 man who treads their soil. The White-man's treaty, he urged, 
 was a hollow form, which, if it bound any one, only bound the 
 Indian, for in the Willamette Valley the Eed-men had made 
 treaties several years before, but to that day they had not re- 
 ceived one of the payments promised to them, and the White- 
 men were now too numerous there to be driven off the Indians' 
 land. The White-men gained time by signing the Treaties 
 there ; he would sign the Treaty, lull the suspicions of the 
 Whites, and get ready the materiel for war. The several Na- 
 tions covenanted together to do so. The Klikatats around Fort 
 Vancouver were in the League, and they sent messengers to the 
 Indians on Rogue river, who also adopted the plan. A most 
 terrible calamity was to fall upon the Whites in mid-winter. 
 But the enthusiasm of Kamiarken's young men could not be re- 
 strained, and they revenged with death the insults of miners to 
 their women. This brought on the war before the appointed 
 time, and the Settlements were on their guard before winter 
 came. The Rogue-river Indians, however, were only a few days 
 behind in their blows, and when General Wool arrived at Fort 
 Vancouver, from San Francisco, he found the Governor of Ore- 
 gon grappling in earnest with his barbarous enemy, leaving lit- 
 tle for the General to do. Wounded in self-esteem, the General 
 tried to convince himself it was no great war, and seems to have 
 
44 
 
 displayed an unworthy opposition to the measures adopted. 
 Kamiaeken fought and defeated my command, and he resisted 
 Brig. Gen. Rains' eight hundred men. But when he saw our 
 numbers rapidly swelling with fresh troops, and no more hope 
 for his poor Country, while Colonel Wright was offering most 
 tempting terms to his people, to get them to bury the Hatchet, 
 he advised them to do so, and sent word to the Colonel that his 
 " talk " was good and his people would accept it, " But as for 
 me — I am Kamiarken still !" and he left his people, to dwell in 
 the Buffalo Country, away from the White-man. 
 
 WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN DONE BY RECOGNIZING THE VOLUNTEERS. 
 
 It was customary for me in the fall of the year to make pur- 
 chases in Portland for the winter, and when going down, 
 Col. Nesmith requested me to deliver a letter to General Wool 
 asking for a Howitzer or two, and a few Artillerists, to be sent 
 to the aid of the other portion of his Regiment, who were 
 threatening the Indians, who had taken forcible possession of 
 the Hudson Bay Company's Fort at the mouth of the Walla- 
 Walla river. I had an agreeable interview with General Wool 
 at Fort Vancouver : he thought the Volunteers too numerous, 
 that they drained the country of the materiel which he could 
 use with better advantage in the hands of Regulars, and would 
 create unnecessary expense. I suggested that the expenses had 
 been already incurred, for which he could not be held responsi- 
 ble, and it would be desirable to make the very best use of the 
 means which he found at hand, in order that the Indians might 
 have plenty to do in guarding their women and children in their 
 own country, and be thus prevented from attacking white settle- 
 ments. 
 
 I stated my convictions that if we pressed the War party at 
 Fort Walla- Walla with a large force, they would cross the Col- 
 umbia river and seek refuge in the Yakima Country, hoping 
 that the river would be a barrier to our pursuit. But the snow 
 had already fallen on the Cascade Mountains on the West side, 
 and on the hills to the North side, and was too deep for animals 
 to travel through it, so there remained only the crossings of the 
 
45 
 
 Columbia river, whereby the Indians could escape. Now if the 
 Volunteers and Regulars co-operated, there would be sufficient 
 troops to place a force upon every trail and pass leading into the 
 Yakima Country. They could easily be crossed over the. river 
 and on a given day the whole force could advance, and the 
 strength of this movement would be, that, the roads converging, 
 would meet just where the enemy would be found, and the 
 Warriors would be enveloped by this large force which must 
 capture them, the women, and stock, and, bring the war to a 
 close. The General seemed to be pleased, and inquired of me 
 where I would construct a Fort if sent into the Walla-Walla 
 Country, and subsequently advised me to drill my company at 
 skirmishing, and get ready for a movement. The only objection 
 which suggested itself to the General was the want of shoes, 
 and the enfeebled condition of the horses that had just made 
 three campaigns. But shoes and horses could have been -sup- 
 plied in time for this movement, if it had been desired. 
 
 WHAT THE VOLUNTEERS ACCOMPLISHED. 
 
 The Howitzers were refused. The volunteers advanced on 
 and captured the Fort, and after three or four days of fighting, 
 defeated the Indians with considerable loss, and drove them out 
 of that country, just in time for Governor I. J. Stevens, of 
 Washington Territory, (who was returning with a small party of 
 Whites and Nez Perces Indians, from the Blackfoot Country, 
 whither he had gone to make a treaty with that Nation,) to get 
 through without being attacked by their large numbers. Dur- 
 ing the fighting Pu-o-pu-o-mox-mox, an old Walla- Walla Chief, 
 feared and respected by friends and foes for his shrewdness and 
 resolution, being a prisoner, attempted to escape and was slain, 
 and mutilations of his body, unworthy a civilized people, were 
 perpetrated by a few individuals. The success of these Volun- 
 teers seemed to disturb the General. From this time he unspar- 
 ingly denounced the Volunteers, as if all had shared in the bru- 
 talities on Pu-o-pu-o-mox-mox. He denounced the Governors 
 and the people of the Territories, and styled the War as a "God 
 send" to the people, who were all the while in imminent dan- 
 
46 
 
 ger of the Tomahawk and Scalping knife. He even stooped so 
 low as to misrepresent history connected with this war. He 
 cautioned the public not to advance the Volunteers any supplies, 
 and intimated that Congress would not reimburse the expenses 
 of the Volunteers, if he could prevent it. The people fearing 
 that the General's influence would retard the payment, if not 
 prevent Congress from voting the appropriation, refused to fur- 
 nish any more supplies. Yet supplies were indispensable, and 
 the Quarter Master and Subsistence Departments were obliged 
 to allow pricfes far above the market rates, to warrant the risks 
 of the merchants as to getting their pay. The claims in Oregon 
 and Washington Territories, growing out of this War, amounted 
 to nearly $6,000,000. The General while trying to guard the 
 purse-strings of the U. S. Treasury, did no other service than 
 actually to swell the cost of things by a considerable per cent- 
 age. 
 
 In "The National Intelligencer" of May 3d 1856,1 found a 
 letter, signed by John E. Wool, so full of falsehoods in regard 
 to my three days fight, that I took the liberty of correcting them, 
 and had a' copy of my letter published in " The Weekly Ore- 
 gonian" at Portland, in Oregon. I submit a copy to give an 
 idea of his perversion of the history of that war. 
 
 Camp in the Valley Kit-e-tas, W. T. , j 
 July 30th, 1856. f 
 
 To the Editors of The National Intelligencer : 
 
 Gentlemen : I have just read in your paper of May 3d, [tri-weekly, ] a letter 
 signed John E. Wool, dated April 2nd, 1856, addressed to you, and mainly oc- 
 cvipied with denunciations of the Governors of Oregon and Washington Terri- 
 tories. 
 
 In that letter, however, occurs the passage hereto annexed, marked A, per- 
 sonal to myself, and injurious to my military character. The General therein 
 asserts that I proceeded against the Yakimas, ' ' but without the precautions necessary 
 against savage warfare." The specification in support of this charge is, that 
 " about sixty miles from the Dalles, on emerging from a deep ravine, he found himself, 
 as lie reports, confronted by 1,500 Indians," or as he elsewhere expresses it, that I 
 allowed my command ' ' to have been drawn into a sort of ambush. " [See letter of 
 Nov. 3d, with Secy of War's report, Ex. Doc. ] 
 
 The facts in the case are these : I was ordered to detail one Company for this 
 service, and I deemed it necessary to send out two Companies. I further deemed it 
 necessary to suspend the District Order which would have withdrawn Lieut. E. 
 
47 
 
 H. Day, and 44 men of L Coinp'y, 3d Artillery, to Fort Vancouver, and I directed 
 that this Company and a Howitzer will be held " in readiness to march at any 
 moment after the departure of the Infantry, and will be considered as the 
 Reserve to the invading Battalion in case of ■necessity." These were the pre- 
 liminary precautions ; and en route there were thrown out habitually the 
 Advance and Rear Guards, and when in the timber the Flank Guards. What 
 necessary precaution then has been omitted ? 
 
 Now, on the 6th October last, when descending a very long hill in an open 
 country, — yet Genl. Wool says, "on emerging from a deep ravine" — and approach- 
 ing a stream whose banks were covered with oak trees and thick undergrowth, 
 the advanced guard perceived the Indians in their front. At the moment a Chief 
 showed himself and harangued his Warriors who replied with the War-whoop. 
 These sounds of course exposed the position generally and the limited number 
 of the Indians — they did not perhaps exceed 200 Warriors — yet the General says, 
 / reported that I was confronted by 1,500 Indians. It happens moreover that I 
 never did, in my reports, state the number, when at its maximum, to be 1,500 
 Indians. But I did notice the War-whoop in my report, and expressly stated 
 that my Advanced Guard was drawn in, the troops deployed for action, and after 
 the Rear Guard had closed up, the action was commenced — yet with these facts 
 before him, Genl. Wool says I allowed my command to fall into a sort of ambuscade. 
 The loss here was one killed and several wounded, and the General says : "after 
 losing two men killed and some thirteen or fourteen wounded, one mortally, he [/] 
 escaped from his [my] perilous condition, &c." 
 
 The field was open to view like a chess board ; we could see War parties in 
 the distance approaching, which swelled the numbers of the enemy consider- 
 ably ; several moves of our adversary were checked, until finding my position 
 guarded at all points, the real attack was developed. Capt. Russell's Conrpany • 
 being on the left descended the hill, turned the right flank of the Indians in the 
 brush, opened a fire upon them en reverse, and followed it up with a vigoroiis 
 charge. The Indians fled and left the field in our possession. Darkness closed 
 around us before the wounded were collected. We then advanced a mile and 
 discovered, on ascending a height, that the Indians were not far off, as their 
 voices were heard, apparently giving orders for an attack. We examined our 
 ground, as well as the darkness would permit, and resolved to hold it ; we lay 
 all night in^readiness for their attack. Daylight, on Sunday, the 7th October, 
 showed our position to be capable of defence, although destitute of wood, grass, 
 and water, and decided me to await there coming events. We were surrounded 
 very early in the morning by GOO or 700 Indians, and they continued to pour in, 
 until evening, when I considered the number doubled. On this morning I wrote 
 my first report, calling out my Reserve of 44 men, and not " 1,000 men to relu ot 
 me," as Genl. Wool has stated. The report was written to be ready in case of dis- 
 aster [another precaution of mine] to apprise the command at Fort Dalles of our 
 danger. Repeated charges with the Bayonet this day caused the Indian skir- 
 mishers to keep off so far as to render their firing comparatively harmless. Our 
 loss was now 13 wounded and two dead. This evening I considered my com- 
 mand in imminent danger, and I resolved to extricate it by a night march. The 
 
48 
 
 troops retired in good order, the separation of the Rear Guard was immediately 
 discovered and the Guide sent off to conduct it on our route, while we advanced 
 to the summit of the mountain to halt there and rest the weary soldiers. It was 
 only after this that I ascertained the character of my guide. Early on the 8th, 
 we resumed our march towards the Dalles, and soon after a running fight ensued. 
 I now dispatched my report, written on the previous morning, expecting the 
 Express to explain the changes. The timber concealed the number of Indians 
 opposing us, but my second report did not justify the General's statement that 
 ' ' with this small force [40 effective men, ] he succeeded in making good his retreat, 
 followed two days and nights by 1, 500 Indians " because I expressly stated that 
 before sundown on this day, we again charged the Indians, drove them out of the 
 timber, and after that they did not molest us. Our total loss was 5 killed and 17 
 wounded — much greater than would appear from the General's statement, who 
 draws the conclusion from his statement that, "under the circumstances I did not 
 consider such an enemy greatly to be dreaded." 
 
 Here are the main facts as briefly stated as a clear understanding of the cir- 
 cumstances, by the Reader, will permit, and they are substantially the same as 
 those I submitted in my reports. I have contrasted the facts with the distortions 
 and exaggerations of General Wool, who "with an effrontery which even his 
 white head ought not to protect from rebuke" adds, " i" think the number greatly 
 exaggerated." My estimate of the number, 1,200 or at most 1,400 Indians, does 
 not materially differ from the statement of Father Pandost, of the Catholic 
 Mission [whose letter is hereto annexed, marked B,] at the period of my retiring 
 from the Sim-coo-a Valley, but the Father shows that even the General's 1,500 
 Indians falls far below the force ultimately collected to fight against me. 
 
 The General has in his letter voluntarily charged me, first, with exposing 
 unguardedly "104 Bank and File " to an ambuscade of 1,500 Indians — a criminal 
 neglect in a commanding officer- and afterwards expresses his convictions that 
 I have exaggerated the number of Indians, therefore, in the second place, made 
 a false report. Even if the General's charges were true, the columns of a news- 
 paper are not the proper place to arraign the offending officer. The charges are 
 very serious, then why has he not arraigned me for trial before a General Court 
 Martial ? Here the General, I fear, has overshot his mark. He has convicted 
 himself either of gross neglect of duty in not causing an investigation and the 
 punishment of the offender, or he has gratuitously, not to use a harsl*er expres- 
 sion, made charges to the injury of the military character of an officer placed 
 under his command. 
 
 And, I regret to add, that, in looking around, I can find nothing to fix upon 
 to exculpate or extenuate the General's conduct towards me. I had made an 
 application to him for a Court of Inquiry, long before his letter was written, which 
 would have investigated the truth of my reports in relation to this expedition. 
 He. actually promised to grant the Court, but it has never convened. And when I 
 learnt casually that the General had sent a report of this expedition to Washing- 
 ton, at variance with my reports, and calculated I feared to prejudice the War 
 Department in regard to my military capacity, I respectfully requested, in due 
 form, a copy of his report, and he refused to grant it. It was by the merest acci- 
 
49 
 
 dent that I became aware, in this isolated region, of his unofficial attack upon 
 rne, before the public, in your paper. As General Wool's statements and 
 charges have been published by you, I respectfully request that you will also 
 insert this letter in the columns of The li<l"'H<jenoer, and oblige 
 
 Yours' truly, 
 
 G. O. HALLEE, 
 ('apt. ith Iufy., and Brevet Major, U. S. A. 
 
 COL. GEORGE WEIGHT'S CAMPAIGN. 
 
 Col. Wright with his Regiment, the 9th Infantry, but armed 
 with the Minnie Rifle, a short time after Brigadier General 
 Rains' expedition, arrived at Fort Vancouver, and assumed 
 command of the District. Gov. Curry, of Oregon Territory, 
 seeing an adequate force of U. S. Troops now ready to take the 
 field, withdrew his volunteers. 
 
 The arduous services performed by my Company in the three 
 expeditions of 1855, induced Col. Wright to let it rest and gar- 
 rison Fort Dalles, while he, in the Spring of 1856, marched with 
 his available force against the hostile Indians. He had provided 
 that one Company of his Regiment should garrison Fort Van- 
 couver and another guard the Portage at the Cascades of the 
 Columbia river, and as two other Companies were operating 
 on Puget Sound, it left him only six Companies and a troop of 
 Cavalry with which to erect several posts in the enemy's Country 
 and also scout and chastise the Indians — he consequently had no 
 soldiers to spare from his expedition. The transportation on 
 the Columbia river being very limited, for the increase of busi- 
 ness brought on by the war, it took time to get the Companies 
 to Fort Dalles, and just as the Company designated to protect 
 the Portage at the Cascades, was about to move, General Wool 
 made a flying visit in the Mail Steamer to Fort yancouver, and 
 finding the two Companies there took them off at once to Puget 
 Sound, beyond Col. Wright's control, without ascertaining what 
 effect it might have on the Colonel's plans. To replace these 
 losses in the Colonel's rear was to weaken and destroy his ef- 
 ficiency in the field. He therefore trusted the Portage to a 
 Sergeant and a few men of the -4th Infantry and commenced his 
 march. The hostile Indians, knowing the movement had corn- 
 
 4 
 
50 
 
 menced, sprang upon the settlement at the Cascades, and com- . 
 pelled the hitherto friendly Indians to join Avith them in killing 
 men, women and children, and burning houses. One of the 
 Steamers barely escaped capture. The soldiers defended their 
 block-house and some families near by, and at the upper extrem- 
 ity of the Portage, all the citizens, who could, rallied in a large 
 storehouse, and there made a gallant defence. As soon as the 
 news reached the Dalles that night, Col. Weight was notified, 
 and next morning his command returned and took passage for 
 the Cascades, where he encountered the enemy and soon routed 
 .them. 
 
 The several tribes around the Dalles still friendly, brought in 
 their arms and proved the sincerity of their friendship by depos- 
 iting them in my charge, and thus relieved from apprehension 
 the minds of the White inhabitants. The Indians elsewhere, 
 hitherto friendly, were surprised at this success against the 
 Whites, and joined the War Party. Besides the serious loss of 
 life and property at the Cascades, and detention and change of 
 plan of Colonel Wright's expedition, the Enemy became more 
 confident and daring. Near the Nachess river, they were drawn 
 up in position to oppose Colonel Wright's progress into their 
 Country. Their force had to be respected, and the Colonel 
 thought it prudent to draw every available soldier from Fort 
 Dalles to join him, so my Company again took the field. A 
 Battalion of three Companies was placed in my charge, and 
 with this force I accompanied him on his long march through 
 the hostile Territory, north of the Dalles. Finally, I was left in 
 the Kit-e-tas Valley to keep out the hostile Indians, until orders 
 were received from General Wool, in the fall of the year, for 
 my Company to proceed to Puget Sound. 
 
 Col. Wright, taught to believe that the Indians had been 
 provoked, by the conduct of the Whites, into hostilities, offered 
 the enemy peace if they would return to their homes and engage 
 not to molest the White people, and he effected an understand- 
 ing with several of the hostile tribes, as he retraced his steps 
 towards the Dalles. But his experience afterwards must have 
 convinced him that the Indians hated the presence of the 
 
51 
 
 White-man, and designed to drive him from their country, for 
 no sooner had the large nation of Spokane Indians the opppor- 
 tunity of fighting our troops with a prospect of success, than 
 they commenced a war. Brevet Lieut. Col. Steptoe, with over 
 one hundred and fifty mounted men of the Regular Service, was 
 attacked by them, and after a severe fight was defeated, and 
 this fine body of men was completely routed from their country, 
 leaving some wounded to take care of themselves. As General 
 Wool " did not consider such an enemy greatly to be dreaded" 
 it seemed as if Providence had come to my assistance and illus- 
 trated by comparison the General's mistake and the merits of 
 my retreat. 
 
 I have dwelt longer upon the War in Oregon, than the humble 
 design of this pamphlet first contemplated. I intended to con- 
 fine myself to my own services merely, but in this war my 
 services were conspicuous, honorable, and attended with consid- 
 erable danger, yet very few persons really know much of the 
 history, except through Gen. Wool's statements, and the role 
 played by him being secondary to the Governor of Oregon, who 
 was ex-officio Commander in Chief of the forces called out for 
 the war within his Territory, and therefore galling to the 
 ambition of a General, who was considered an aspirant to the 
 high office of Constitutional Commander in Chief of the Armies 
 and Navy of the United States. I may be wrong, but I have as- 
 cribed to this ambition the motive for his placing obstacles in 
 the way of the Governor while endeavoring to subdue the fero- 
 cious enemies of civilization and progress, and it may account 
 for the facts of history being distorted and obscured, and the 
 services of his officers being maligned. Having, in my case, de- 
 manded a Court of Inquiry to investigate my conduct in this 
 defeat, he made several attempts to convene one but it has 
 never met, and two, of the three members, who were ordered to 
 sit on the Court, are now dead. The reason for their not hold- 
 ing this Court has never been explained, but since that time 
 General Wool has published his letter of April 2d, 1856, and he 
 has distorted the facts in my case to suit himself, 
 
52 
 
 FORT TOWNSHEND. 
 
 While I was in camp in the Kit-e-tas Valley, I was ordered 
 by General Wool, with my Company, to Pnget Sound. I re- 
 ceived orders, also, before leaving, from the Commandant of 
 the Pnget Sonne! District, Lieut. Col. S. Casey, 9th Inf., to pro- 
 cure at Fort Vancouver the necessary building materials and im- 
 plements, for constructing a Military Post, and to land my 
 Company near the village on Port Townsend, in Washington 
 Territory, and if I approved of the site already chosen for the 
 Fort, to proceed to clearing the land of its timber, arid construct 
 quarters. After a reasonable time my Officers and Soldiers 
 were provided with comfortable barracks, but the labor was 
 severe and immense, to clear the timber away in a dense forest 
 — trees from three to six feet in diameter, and nearly two hun- 
 dred feet high— grade the ground, etc. Yet I had to superin- 
 tend the work, be my own Pioneer in the woods, my own Archi- 
 tect to design the plans of the buildings, nry own Quarter 
 Master and Commissary of Subsistence, and do the duty of 
 Lieutenants, for those promoted to my Company had not then 
 joined. Mr. George Gibbs of Washington Ty., came to my 
 assistance and relived me very much. The change from the 
 excitement of the field service to constant hard labor was a 
 trying one to soldiers. The discovery of rich gold fields, on 
 Fraser river, offered strong temptations to the soldiers to 
 desert to British Columbia. There never was a time when 
 more vigilance was required of one Company officer, and I am 
 sure that no officer ever gave more faithful services to his 
 Country than I did at Fort Townshend. 
 
 SAN JUAN ISLAND. 
 
 The Department of Oregon was formed in 1859 and assigned 
 to Brig. Gen. Harney. He soon altered the face of things, 
 directing Posts, that had just been constructed, to be abandoned, 
 and new ones to be established elsewhere. Ignoring the in- 
 structions of the Secretary of State, Mr. Marcy, to the Governor 
 
53 
 
 of Washington Territory, to abstain from further exercise of 
 authority on San Juan Island until the water boundary between 
 the United States and the British Possessions should be deter- 
 mined by competent authority — and Commissioners were then 
 engaged in adjusting this very line — he sent the Company from 
 Fort Bellingham (just abandoned,) to take possession of San 
 Juan Island and suspend British authority there, and substitute 
 that of the United States. Captain Pickett, Commanding, 
 issued a proclamation to this effect in orders. The Authorities 
 of British Columbia were highly incensed at it, and took meas- 
 ures to collect all their available force near the Island, and 
 might have plunged the two countries immediately in war, but 
 for. an insignificant incident, and, as they had five formidable 
 War Vessels in the waters of British Columbia, they might have 
 suspended, if not destroyed our immense commercial interests 
 on the Pacific Coast, before the Authorities in Washington 
 could be apprised of the trouble — for there was then no tele- 
 graph across the Continent as now. 
 
 The incident alluded to, was the arrival of our mail bringing 
 European news, but, particularly, the battle of Solferino. The 
 British officers first heard of this battle from us, as their mails 
 had failed to arrive. It occurred to them that Me. Dallas, our 
 Minister in England, might there have adjusted the boundary 
 question, and that General Haeney might have received instruc- 
 tions from Washington to occupy the Island. This idea pre- 
 vented them from taking forcible possession of the Island, and 
 before they had obtained positive information to the contrary, 
 General Scott had arrived, and solved the controversy, by 
 allowing an equal number of British Marines to occupy the 
 Island, and British subjects to obtain protection by application 
 to their own Magistrates, until the proper Authorities had 
 mutually agreed to a boundary line and the ownership of the 
 Island. 
 
 The news of British preparations for hostilities soon reached 
 Fort Steilacoom, and the Steamer " Massachusetts" being then 
 in port, awaiting orders, the Lieutenant Colonel Command- 
 ing the District, immediately dispatched me with my Com- 
 
54 
 
 • 
 
 pany, (and a small detachment of Infantry, for the pro- 
 tection of Me. Campbell, the United States Boundary Com- 
 missioner at Semiahmoo, against depredations of Northern In- 
 dians,) with instructions to advise with Captain Pickett and, 
 if he required aid, to land my forces and assume command : to 
 observe the proceedings of the British Navy, and to keep Head- 
 quarters of the District advised of important occurrences : but 
 the ostensible reason, for appearing in the Archipelago, was or- 
 ders to search the Islands for Northern Indians, and remove 
 them beyond our frontier. I reached the harbor on the 1st of 
 August, and found Her Majesty's Steam-Corvette " Tribune" at 
 anchor, and soon after the "Satellite" and "Plumper" ar- 
 rived with a strong force of British Marines and Sappers and 
 Miners, on board, from Fraser river. I communicated my in- 
 structions to Captain Pickett, and awaited coming events. The 
 British Officers questioned me closely, about the news by the 
 mail and of Solferino, and they gradually quieted down, so that 
 I felt at liberty to scout for Northern Indians. As soon as 
 General Harney heard of the British preparations, he sent all 
 his available force on the Columbia river over, and directed 
 Lieut. Col. Casey to take them, and his command at Fort Steila- 
 coom, to the support of Captain Pickett. I was soon after or- 
 dered ashore to assist in fortifying the Island, but the arrival of 
 General Scott broke up the Camp, without completing the de- 
 fences. 
 
 importance of a steamer, for u. s. troops, on the sound. 
 
 While examining the shores of the Islands, in the Archipel- 
 ago, I received a call from the Citizens of Whatcom, by an Ex- 
 press-boat, stating that a party of Nooksahk Indians, painted 
 and armed, taking advantage of the withdrawal of the Troops 
 from Fort Bellingham (one mile off), had entered the town and 
 threatened the lives of Citizens, and were resolved upon releas- 
 ing an Indian Chief held in prison, and actually shot one man, 
 when the Citizens resisted it, by returning their fire and killing- 
 four or more Indians. I hastened to that town, landed my men, 
 and by a march of twenty-five miles struck the river between 
 
 J 
 
55 
 
 the point where the tribe had assembled to ^receive their dead 
 friends, and their homes above, so that they could not pass up 
 the river without my consent. They were astonished to find 
 troops between them and their lodges. They had not had time 
 to think how they should revenge this loss. They received my 
 demand with submission, gave up the Bing-leaders for punish- 
 ment, and the difficulty there subsided. 
 
 A few days time for those Indians to have brooded over their 
 loss, would most probably have involved the settlement, at Bel- 
 lingham Bay, in murder and rapine, but the unexpected pres 
 ence of troops in the heart of their country was so wonderful to 
 them, as to drive all thoughts of revenge out of their " hearts." 
 The Steamer undoubtedly saved a war. 
 
 FORT MOJAVE. 
 
 In August, 1859, my Company was sent to San Francisco, and 
 on arriving there, was ordered to Fort Mojave, on the Colorado 
 river, (of the West,) in New Mexico, over three hundred miles 
 from San Pedro, in California, from whence all our supplies were 
 hauled overland in wagons. This Post has been regarded as the 
 very worst in the United States. In the midst of an arid desert, 
 extending a hundred miles to the East and West, located on a 
 barren Mesa, overlooking the bottom-lands, there was nothing 
 in common with the familiar scenes we met with everywhere 
 else, but the Cotton wood trees on the river bank, and a garden 
 requiring constant irrigation. The heat of Summer is most in- 
 tense, and wind storms charged with heated sand and dust 
 sweep over the spot for days together. No attempt had been 
 made before my arrival to raise potatoes, or cabbages, and we 
 obtained these, grapes, and other fruit, from Los Angelos, in 
 wagons — a distance of two hundred and eighty-five miles. 
 
 While at this post, the United States Astronomical party 
 made their .observations to determine the longitude of the point 
 where the 35th parallel of North Latitude touched the Colo- 
 rado river, a short distance below the Fort. During their stay 
 the Secession movement was inaugurated. Mr. Mowry, the U, 
 
56 
 
 S. Boundary Commissioner, had sent to the Fort a large num- 
 ber of young gentlemen, who favored the movement and dis- 
 cussed the matter freely, and, in their letters to the newspapers 
 of San Francisco, giving the on diis of Fort Mojave, they made 
 repeated mention of my devotion and attachment to the Union 
 "under all circumstances," as they expressed it. Maj. Gen. 
 Winfield S. Hancock, being Quarter Master at Los Angelos, in 
 his letters, kindly kept me advised of the progress of this move- 
 ment, and he too is aware of my sentiments, from my letters. 
 
 Officers have served faithfully in such isolated posts as Forts 
 Dalles and Mojave, and put up with great inconveniences and 
 even sufferings ; but they have endured them the more willingly 
 from the knowledge that in after years such services have al- 
 ways been taken into consideration, greatly to the advantage of 
 those who remained faithfully at their posts. But in my case, 
 the sacrifices, the hard and faithful services, even the loyal sen- 
 timents entertained by me, count as nothing : I cannot get even 
 a hearing. Is this right after nearly twenty-four years of faith- 
 ful service? I appeal to Senators and Legislators of the 
 U. S. Congress, and ask if this is proper ? 
 
 In 1861, Brig. Gen. Sumner assumed Command of the De- 
 partment of California, when he ordered Fort Mojave to be 
 evacuated, directing me to send the property and the Company 
 of the 6th Infantry to Los Angelos, and to proceed to San Di- 
 ego with my Company over land, making the march over four 
 hundred miles. I reached San Diego in June, and the follow- 
 ing November embarked my Company for New York, and 
 thence proceeded to Washington City, and arrived there on the 
 19th of December, 1861. 
 
 I found I had been promoted a Major of the 7th Infantry, but 
 several Companies of this Regiment were on parole, and as I 
 preferred active service, sought duty with the Army of the Po- 
 tomac, and was assigned to Brig. Gen. Andrew Porter's Staff, 
 and appointed by him an Assistant Inspector General in the 
 Provost Marshal General's Department. While around Wash- 
 ington, 1 made several efforts with Mr. Stanton and Brig. Gen. 
 Marcy, Chief of Staff, to get the 7th Infantry exchanged, with 
 
57 
 
 the expectation of having the command of them in the field. 
 Their exchange seemed so probable that I declined opportuni- • 
 ties where I might have obtained the rank of Colonel and Com- 
 mand of a Volunteer Eegiment. The Southern Confederation, 
 however, placed obstacles in the way, and I entered the Penin- 
 sular Campaign without them. While the Army lay at Harri- 
 son's Landing, I obtained from Geneeals McClellan, Frank- 
 lin, and Barry, strong letters of recommendation to Gov. Cur- 
 tin, as to my qualifications for Commanding a Eegiment, hav- 
 ing previously had a conversation with the Governor, who ex- 
 pressed a preference for Eegular Officers to Command Volun- 
 unteers ; but, he said, the War Department positively declined 
 letting him have them. I obtained the necessary permission, 
 and soon ascertained that political recommendations were worth 
 much more than the very best certificates of qualifications for 
 the duty, and dropped the matter, for I have never sought any 
 advancement on my political merits, and have never troubled 
 Mr. Lincoln's Administration, in any way, for promotion. 
 
 As the Army of the Potomac left Fortress Monroe for York- 
 town, Ya., I had the honor to be appointed Commandant of 
 General Headquarters, and in this capacity served during the 
 whole of the Peninsular and the Maryland Campaigns ; was re- 
 tained by Generals Burnside and Hooker, until my health, (an 
 obstinate impetigo, irritated by exposure to the weather) obliged 
 me to seek in-door duty. 
 
 In the Peninsula, I had under my Command five Companies 
 of Volunteers, whose duties were to keep faithful watch over the 
 tents of the several officers at General Headquarters and the 
 important papers in their possession, particularly, when the 
 officers were absent from camp discharging their duties ; also, 
 to escort the General Headquarters' wagon train when on the 
 march and prevent the official papers from being captured. 
 This small Battalion performed its duties most faithfully and ef- 
 ficiently, and on several occasions it was held in readiness to 
 engage with the enemy, when near the James Eiver, in the march 
 from the Chickahominy. 
 
 This Battalion and a few troops under the Provost Marshal 
 
58 
 
 General, were all that were left with General McClellan on his 
 arrival at Alexandria, Ya., and scarcely had he encamped, before 
 I was ordered to report to Brigadier General Haupt, in charge 
 of Railways, with all the available troops at General Headquar- 
 ters, and was sent to Fairfax Railroad Station, to protect the 
 supplies there for General Pope's Army. At the time, this Army 
 was falling back towards Washington, and the wounded were 
 sent here for removal, in the cars, to Alexandria. My command 
 was busily employed for three days at this camp, and, in the mean- 
 time, General McClellan was ordered to Washington and 
 required my services. Although there had now been collected 
 over one thousand volunteers in the camp, exclusive of the Gen- 
 eral Headquarters' troops, yet most of them had just been defeated 
 and felt unsafe in that camp, and I felt apprehensive they would 
 retire if an opportunity permitted. In an interview with General 
 Pope's Assistant Adjutant General, I gave him my views, and 
 he thought I ought to stay, and I did not leave until I had 
 ascertained that the enemy during the night had passed along- 
 General Pope's right towards Leesburg, and a sick soldier came 
 into my camp who had just come from the intrenchments at 
 Mannassas without seeing a rebel soldier. With this informa- 
 tion I felt at liberty to depart, but learnt subsequently, that, in a few 
 hours after, the volunteers withdrew, leaving, some employees at 
 work loading cars with the surplus provisions which were ordered 
 to the rear. I had indicated, soon after my arrival, to General 
 Haupt that we had sufficient supplies in that camp, and requested 
 him to send us empty cars to enable us to dispatch the wounded 
 promptly, which he did on learning my reasons. On our return 
 to Alexandria, we found that the General Headquarters had 
 removed, and we followed on to Washington, but in a few days 
 General McClellan was again placed in Command, and ad- 
 vanced rapidly towards Lee's Army, then at Frederick, Md., 
 and the battles or South Mountain and Antietajvi soon fol- 
 lowed. 
 
 In this Maryland Campaign, Capt. Welden's Company of 
 19th Regiment of Regular Infantry, and the 93d New York Vol- 
 unteers were placed under my charge, as the General Headquar- 
 
59 
 
 ters' Guard, and rendered efficient aid. The Army Corps, when 
 they had fallen back to Washington, did not get time to refit 
 and replace the articles lost in their retreat, and before entering 
 Virginia again, it was but proper that their necessary wants 
 should be supplied. This occasioned some delay, but gave offi- 
 cers a fine opportunity to instruct their commands. I superin- 
 tended the drills of Gen. Headquarters' Guard,and had the satis- 
 faction of seeing the men improve rapidly, and the officers feel 
 pride in acquiring a knowledge of their duties. Subsequently, 
 these officers expressed, in a substantial form, their appreciation 
 of my services, by presenting me through the Colonel of the 
 Kegiment, John S. Crocker, a very handsome sword, silver hilt, 
 having a silver and also a bronze scabbard, a serviceable sword 
 belt, a crimson sash and several sword knots. These were 
 delivered, in the presence of Major Generals Burnside, Hooker 
 and Sickels, Brig. Gen. Buford and many other Officers of the 
 Army of the Potomac, accompanied with interesting remarks 
 on behalf of the donors. On the silver scabbard was in- 
 scribed : 
 
 Presented to 
 
 Major Granville 0. Haller 
 
 7th Inft. U. S. A. Commauding Gen'l Head Quarters 
 
 by the 
 
 Officers of the 93rd N. Y. Volunteers, 
 
 Head Quarters' Guard, Army of the Potomac, 
 
 As a token of regard for his social qualities as a 
 
 Gentleman and his Military ability as an Officer. 
 
 Camp near Falmouth, Va., January 1st, 1863. 
 
 Crossing the Potomac, at Berlin, Md. the Army again re- 
 sumed the invasion .of Virginia, and while marching successfully 
 towards Culpepper, taking possession of the gaj3S in the moun- 
 tains as we advanced, we were told that we might expect a bat- 
 tle in four or five days, and that it should be on ground of our 
 General's own choosing. The army was in high spirits, and 
 had never before been in such perfect fighting order, never better 
 drilled, and never felt more confidence in their ability to defeat 
 the Bebels in an open field. But suddenly, at midnight, a 
 Bearer of dispatches arrived from Washington with orders for 
 
60 
 
 General McClellan to turn over the command to Major Gen. 
 Burnside. The news astounded all ! The blow fell upon the 
 army of the Potomac, and they gave unmistakable evidences 
 of their grief. Thinking only of his country's success, Gen. 
 McClellan encouraged Gen. Burnside to take the command, 
 and offered to remain and assist him in the approaching battle. 
 Gen. Burnside however changed the whole plan of campaign, 
 and expected to reach Richmond by the Fredericksburg route. 
 He arrived before this city, but found his pontoons were not on 
 hand, and the delays here were fatal to his plan. Before he 
 crossed, the enemy had time to throw up fortifications, and his 
 Army was defeated with terrible loss, without gaining a single 
 advantage to console us for the misfortune. Croaking and 
 jealousies, the bane of an Army, could now be recognized, and 
 Gen. Burnside's usefulness was destroyed. Gen. Hooker suc- 
 ceeded to the command, but before he was prepared to cross 
 the Rappahannock, I had left the field on account of my health. 
 The failure at Chancellorsville enabled Gen. Lee to invade 
 Maryland and Pennsylvania the second time. 
 
 THE SECOND INVASION OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
 
 I was in York, Pa., when the advance of the Confederate 
 Army entered Chambersburg, and a telegram from Governor 
 Curtin informed the Citizens that the Enemy were expected to 
 advance on Harrisburg on the next day. Next morning I has- 
 tened to that place and reported to Major Gen. Couch, Com- 
 manding the Department, in hopes that I might be able to as- 
 sist him in organizing for the defence of that Capital. The 
 General immediately placed me on duty as an Extra Aid-de- 
 Camp on his Staff, and sent me into York and Adams Counties 
 to direct military operations in that District. 
 
 I hastened to York, where a Committee of Safety had been 
 organized, and proposed that all the people be aroused and 
 called upon to defend their firesides. — To get as many persons 
 to enlist in the " six months' service," or " for the emergency" 
 as would repair to Harrisburg, and class the rest into Compa- 
 nies of " Home Guards," having men from sixty to forty-five 
 
61 
 
 in first class ; from forty-five to thirty in second class ; and 
 from, thirty to fifteen in the third class, so that age might ex- 
 clude none. Each one to report Avhat fowling piece or other 
 arms he might have, and have his name registered with descrip- 
 tion of the arms. Thus to have the actual force that could be 
 relied upon organized, and to have the arms and ammunition 
 ready. But I was particularly urgent upon the Committee to 
 organize a command of efficient Scouts and also of Pioneer*. 
 The former to go to the front and keep advised of the enemy's 
 movements and communicate them to the Headquarters, and 
 the latter to obstruct the roads, especially the mountain roads. 
 I directed that trees should be felled into the roads from the 
 one side, so as to allow a wagon barely room to pass along on 
 the other side of the way, then hack the trees on this side until 
 nearly ready to fall over the road, so that in a few minutes 
 they might be felled and the road be made impassable to the 
 enemy's Cavalry and Artillery. 
 
 This latter party had not been organized, when I endeavored 
 to get the members of the 87th Penn. Vols., who, having es- 
 caped from the disastrous affair at Winchester, Va., by various 
 routes, had returned to their homes in York and Adams Coun- 
 ties, and were ordered by me to rendezvous in York, and were 
 in charge of their Lieut. Colonel. On the 23d June, I tele- 
 graphed the Committee of Safety to explain my plan to Lieut. 
 Col. Stahle and say he was authorized to obstruct the roads 
 towards Carlisle, particularly the Conewago mountain roads, 
 but received the following telegram : 
 
 "York, June 25th, 18G3. 
 " Major Holler, Gettysburg : 
 
 "Lieut. Col. Stahle has received orders from Gen. Milkoy. We requested 
 "Gen. Schenk that he and his men be retained here. The reply was Mai. Gen. 
 " Mileoy has orders to report with all his command at Baltimore, and the troops 
 '• at York must join him. 
 
 [Signed] "JOHN GIBSON, 
 
 "Sec'y. of Safety Committee." 
 
 The object here was to prevent the enemy from invading 
 York from the direction of Carlisle, but in like manner, it would 
 
62 
 
 prevent the enemy reaching Carlisle from York. This work 
 was not attended to, and the failure is of importance, inasmuch, 
 as Maj. Gen. Early marched his Confederate Division, when he 
 evacuated York, by this very route to Dillsburg. It is a matter 
 of History that the arrival of this Division on the battle ground 
 at Gettysburg, during "Wednesday's fighting, to the right but 
 considerably in rear of Gen. Howaed's line, obliged him to 
 change his line and fall back to Cemetery hill, which resulted 
 in the enemy capturing about 3,000 of our men. Had the 
 obstructions been attended to, the command of Gen. Early 
 would have been delayed for hours, perhaps lost all of Wednes- 
 day, and these barriers would have made an important deten- 
 tion in favor of the Army of the Potomac. 
 
 Having made preliminary arrangements in York, and studied 
 the grounds about Wrightsville with a view to defend the Co- 
 lumbia bridge, I hastened to Gettysburg to make some neces- 
 sary arrangements there. I arrived just in time. The next 
 morning, June 20th, many droves of horses came into Gettys- 
 burg from the neighborhood of Waynesboro, and the Eiders 
 gave out exaggerated statements of the enemy's numbers and 
 their movements. I was induced to ride out to the Monterey 
 House, on the mountain top, to get accurate information. I as- 
 certained there that a force of about one hundred Eebel 
 Cavalry were then at the foot of the West slope of South Moun- 
 tain, searching for horses. I called upon the farmers around to 
 turn out and block up the roads by felling trees, which they 
 did in good earnest. However next day, before a party of 
 armed Citizens sent from Gettysburg had reached the Monte- 
 rey House, a small party- of the enemy's mounted Infantry on 
 foot, leading their horses, worked their way up to that place 
 through the woods, driving in our pickets, avIio had pistols only, 
 while the mass of them passed northward and crossed the 
 mountain at Cold Springs, which had not been obstructed, and 
 swept through the Western end of Adams County, by the 
 " Tract" road. They observed Captain Bell's troops advanc- 
 
 *Mr. Phillips of Waynesboro, reported to me that this body of the enemy was at least three 
 thousand strong, for he had seen them with his glass. Showing how liable respectable witnesses 
 are to deceive themselves. 
 
63 
 
 ing, but part of his force was concealed, so they could not tell 
 his number — he having then the available force I could collect 
 at the moment, (about twenty-five City Troop, and fifteen Ad- 
 ams County Cavalry,) with which he was sent to reconnoitre. 
 The enemy was taken by surprise and recrossed the mountain, 
 taking those at Monterey with them, and without pausing a mo- 
 ment at Fairfield, notwithstanding Professor Jacobs of Gettys- 
 burg gives them a two hours' stop at that village, in his little 
 book entitled " Notes of the Rebel Invasion." 
 
 From this time until June 26th, Captain Bell's available 
 force, including the City Troop, were kept in constant motion, 
 and all performed their duty with commendable zeal and abil- 
 ity, and kept me, and therefore Maj. Gen. Couch, fully advised 
 of the movements of the enemy. These troops were all that 
 rendered me any assistance. The 26th Reg. Penn. Vol. Militia. 
 was, indeed, sent to my aid, but I would gladly have passed over 
 their misfortunes, but for the remarkable statements made by 
 the Rev. M. Jacobs, Professor of Mathematics and Chemistry 
 in Pennsylvania College, at Gettysburg, who has assumed to 
 give the Reader of his " Notes" a true account of the great bat- 
 tle fought there and of my preliminary efforts to arrest the 
 march of the Confederate Troops. 
 
 THE TWENTY-SIXTH PENNSYLVANIA MILITIA. 
 
 A young gentleman, connected with the Christian Associa- 
 tion, who professed to have been with this Regiment, and who 
 was represented to me as a Clergyman, very coolly informed a 
 near relative of mine, that Major Haller had laid a trap by 
 which this Regiment would have fallen, as Prisoners, into the 
 hands of the Rebels, or have been cut to pieces, but for the 
 Colonel's assuming responsibility and leading the Regiment out 
 of the trap. And Professor Jacobs has suggested that my con- 
 duct was owing to incapacity for the position I then held, or to 
 the indifference I felt for the result of our arms. He then in- 
 forms his Readers that soon after uttering the remark that 
 " He (I) would first fight the Rebels, hut after the war, the Admin- 
 istration." I was dismissed for " disloyal conduct and the ut- 
 
64 
 
 terance of disloyal sentiments," and " the golden opportunity 
 for efficient preparation" to resist the enemy was allowed to 
 pass away. 
 
 Now as I had proposed to arm the people and oppose the 
 Enemy with deadly weapons, the logical deduction, from his 
 quotation, is, that after the war I intended to fight the adminis- 
 tration with deadly weapons, for which I was dismissed by the 
 War Department. And the Reader's mind now being poisoned 
 against Major HALLERhe tells how I ordered the 26th Regiment 
 " although contrary to the earnest remonstrance of Jennings, 
 Colonel, &c." to the front and how the Colonel "seeing the trap 
 into which he had been led" extricated his men, after having 
 nearly all of his pickets captured, forty in number, first, and 
 then losing one hundred and twenty more of the regiment near 
 Hunterstown on his retreat. In this statement, I have en- 
 deavored to present fairly the substance of two Professing 
 Christians' statements, especially the substance of Professor Ja- 
 cobs' language in his book. 
 
 I will therefore give a few points to aid the Reader's judg- 
 ment : 
 
 1st. Gov. Curtin and Gen. Couch fully believed that Ewell's 
 Corps of Confederate troops, was advancing on Harrisburg to 
 capture the Capital of Pennsylvania, and very few people, if any, 
 in the State, doubted this. 
 
 2d. No one would have supposed that Gen. Ewell would, 
 while threatening Harrisburg, send off a single Division to spend 
 the 4th day of July in the City of Philadelphia. 
 
 3d. It was to be expected that the Enemy would send out 
 small parties to collect Provisions and Forage from our Citi- 
 zens' granaries, gather up Horses and Cattle, and obtain infor- 
 mation of the movements of our Porces. 
 
 4th. It was my duty to protect, as far as the means at my 
 hand would permit, the Counties of Adams and York'from these 
 little incursions. 
 
 5th. The only means at my hand on which I could rely, was 
 Captain Robert Bell's enlisted men, then forming a Company, 
 having about thirty-three private horses, owned by the soldiers, 
 
65 
 
 and about, seven horses taken by the Deputy Provost Marshal 
 from Deserters or Stragglers from the U. 8. Army, found at 
 Gettysburg — say forty in all ; and Ensign Samuel J. Randall's 
 Detachment of about forty-five young gentlemen from Philadel- 
 phia, of the 1st City Troop, well mounted, who paid their per- 
 sonal expenses, and served without being mustered into the Mil- 
 itary Service. 
 
 Besides these, Major Charles McL. Knox, of the 9th N. Y. 
 Vol. Cavalry, an experienced and valuable officer, who was an 
 invalid, and on sick furlough, but hearing that his native hills 
 (he was born near Gettysburg) were invaded, and knowing ev- 
 ery spot of ground about those hills, hastened to Gettysburg and 
 offered me his services. Also Captain Samuel L. Young, an 
 Attorney-at-Law, of Reading, Pa., who had acquired experience 
 on the Staff of Maj. Gen. Keim, and whose assistance was also 
 valuable. 
 
 The 26th Penn. Militia came and went attended with misfor- 
 tunes. I will now give the official history as far as I have it, of 
 this regiment. 
 
 General Couch's written instructions were as follows : 
 
 " Colonel Jennings will use his best efforts to hold the country, harrass the 
 "enemy,— attacking him at exposed points or falling back in order — and ad- 
 vancing his force or part'of it, making flank attacks etc., doing everything in 
 ' ' his power to weaken, mislead the enemy and protect the country. ,; 
 
 I did not ask for a Regiment, for I believed all General Couch's 
 troops would be required for the defence of Harrisburg. But 
 he telegraphed : " Would it do to send a Regiment of Infantry 
 " to Gettysburg ?" To which I answered ; " Please send a 
 " Regiment, it will restore confidence and rally the people to 
 "take arms." The third day after, I received the following 
 note : 
 
 "Swift Bun Hill, June 24th 1863. 
 " Major G. 0. Hatter, 
 
 "Dear Sib : We have met with an accident at this point ; the cars hvaing 
 
 " run off the track. We sustained no injury further than damage having been 
 
 " done the track and several cars, I shall camp here and await your orders." 
 
 Yours Respectfully, 
 
 (Signed) "W. W. JENNINGS, 
 
 " Colonel Commanding 26th Regiment Pa., Militia." 
 
 5 
 
66 
 
 I authorized him to impress teams to bring up his baggage, 
 and march to Gettysburg, if the railroad was not repaired when 
 he would be ready to move, next morning. 
 
 At this time, Captain Young had voluntarily posted himself 
 at Cashtown to collect information and superintend the scouting 
 on the mountain. At 8h o'clock P. M. June 24th, he dispatched 
 a note saying : " I advanced two miles — saw rebel Cavalry." 
 He gives a report that there are Infantry, Artillery, and Cavalry 
 on the top of the mountain and adds : " the report seems to be 
 reliable." 
 
 This note arrived about 11 o'clock at night, when I telegraphed 
 General Couch, and arranged with Major Knox, to reconnoiter 
 in force, and communicated the necessary orders to secure an 
 early start in the morning. This done, I then dispatched the 
 following note to Col. Jennings, Commanding 26th Pa. Militia. 
 
 Gettysbekg, Pa., June 26th 1863. ) 
 (2 o'clock A. M.) \ 
 
 Colonel : Get the cars ready to return to Hanover if possible on receipt of this : 
 
 if not, impress wagons and be ready to fall back in a moment's notice. 
 
 • The enemy in force, Artillery, Infantry, and Cavalry have already possession of 
 
 the mountain pass and no doubt intend marching here, perhaps to day. 
 
 By Command of MAJOR GEN. COUCH. 
 
 June 25th. During this morning, General Couch telegraphed 
 me, " Let me hear the result of your reconnoissance of this A. 
 M." To this I answered, as follows : " Rebels hold the moun- 
 tain but have not advanced. Our Cavalry, under Major Knox, 
 are cautiously advancing and observing. No other official 
 report. Unreliable report says they are fortifying." 
 
 Major Knox, it seems, approached within two hundred 
 yards of the top of the mountain, when he was fired on by 
 Infantry. In his report he says : "I think it very suspicious 
 " that I have not found their Cavalry, and my opinion is that 
 "the rebels will move by another road than the turnpike 
 " and that their Cavalry will precede them, hence I will scout all 
 " the roads etc." Major Knox not finding any Rebel troops else- 
 where, inferred that this party was a " Planking Brigade." 
 
 This was important news. It indicated that the rebel forces 
 were securing the mountain passes in the direction of the Army 
 
67 
 
 of the Potomac, to prevent their line of retreat as well as commu- 
 nication being cut off, by our crossing the mountains. All the 
 information gathered this day only confirmed this hypothesis. 
 I telegraphed to General Couch this day ; " Our information indi- 
 " cates that rebels have evacuated Hagerstown, even Waynes- 
 " boro', going North. Suppose our opponents to be a flanking 
 " brigade." As soon as General Couch, on the night of the 24th, 
 received my telegram that the enemy was on the top of the 
 mountain, he telegraphed back as follows : " It would be well if 
 " you could find out what the Kebels are doing. Can't you get 
 <' some Eiflemen on their flanks in the mountain '?" 
 
 On the afternoon of the 25th of June, believing the Enemy 
 would not advance, I endeavored to conform to the General's 
 suggestion. Accordingly I wrote as follows : 
 
 Department of the Susquehanna, | 
 Gettysburg, Pa., June 25th, 1863. j 
 Vol. W. W. Jennings, Commanding 26th Perm. Militia : 
 
 Colonel : Can you raise a party of reliable riflemen who dare go into the moun- 
 tain, on the flank of the rebels, to discover what they are doing and harrass 
 them V Please report craickly how many can be raised. 
 
 By command of MAJOR GEN. COUCH. 
 
 Colonel Jennings promptly replied as follows : 
 
 " Swift Run Hill, June 25th, 1863. 
 "To Major G. 0. Hollers 
 
 " Dear Sir : I will send one hundred (100) men in charge of Capt. Lemuel 
 " Moyer — who will march directly and report to you for further orders." 
 
 Believing that Colonel Jennings had more than one hundred 
 
 old soldiers — two years' men and nine months' men in his 
 
 Kegiment, I congratulated myself on having their assistance, 
 taking it for granted he would send no other troops for the im- 
 portant service proposed. I also wrote to the Colonel to " come 
 "up. The cars have been ordered to your camp, at 5.30 
 " o'clock, A. M., to bring your command to this place (Gettys- 
 " burg). Please be ready and hasten the loading, so as to b e 
 " here before the hour for the passenger cars to depart. The 
 " Eegiment will encamp about three miles from town, towards 
 " the mountain, in supporting distance of the Sharp Shooters. 
 " By command of Maj. Gen. Couch." 
 
68 
 
 The Colonel had due notice of the destination of his Regi- 
 ment in writing thus early, but he did not remonstrate in writ- 
 ing or otherwise to my knowledge. Strange to say the provi- 
 sions for this Regiment were not, for some reason, brought on 
 with the men, and they were without rations. The one hun- 
 dred men had no suppers, nor anything to subsist upon in the 
 mountains. Late as the hour was (near midnight) through the 
 assistance of members of the Committee of Safety, some rations 
 were procured. Captain Moyer having now his Command pro- 
 vided for the march, called for instructions. Our guides were 
 there, who knew a by-path to the hill, at Moonshour's house. 
 This hill is precipitous towards the Chambersburg pike and be- 
 comes a formidable position to the enemy on the turnpike road, 
 who, being in a gorge between the mountains, would suffer heav- 
 ily, if not be thrown into confusion, by a handful of determined 
 men. I soon indicated to Captain Moyer, on the map, the 
 route, and position to be in before daylight, and what was ex- 
 pected of his men. 
 
 I was distressed to learn from Capt. Moyer, after all the pains 
 taken to get the right kind of men, that the Old Soldiers had 
 been left in Camp : that a simple detail had been ordered from 
 each company of " ten men for detached service :" that the men 
 he had brought knew nothing of deploying or acting as skir- 
 mishers : that some did not even know how to load, for the 
 officers had not yet had a chance to drill them. Of course the 
 expedition was deferred. But these were the " Picked men " of 
 Professor Jacobs — the reliable riflemen who dare go into the 
 mountain on the flanks of the Rebels, to discover what they are 
 doing and harass them, of the Colonel Commanding the Regi- 
 ment. 
 
 On the 26th June, the Regiment arrived and Capt. Bell con- 
 ducted it to the Camping ground on Marsh Creek. Before 
 Capt. Bell left the Colonel, in his Camp, he received the first 
 news of a Rebel advance, which he communicated to the 
 Colonel, saying he would go forward and see what it might be. 
 Having seen a party of Rebels advancing very slowly, he re- 
 turned to the Infantry Camp, from whence he wrote me as fol- 
 
69 
 
 lows : " To Major Haller. Camp of Regiment. I have seen the 
 " advance of the Eebs just beyond New Salem— probably 50 or 
 " 100. (Signed) R. Bell, Captain." This hundred of the enemy 
 was all that we knew then to be advancing. But the Colonel 
 expressed a want of confidence in his men, saying if he only had 
 his old regiment he would feel safe : then asked how he could 
 get away from his position. Captain Bell replied that the road 
 to Gettysburg was open : the Colonel answered that the enemy 
 would overtake him before he got there. Captain Bell then 
 inquired which way he wanted to go : the Colonel answered 
 Harrisburg or York, when Captain Bell pointed out the way. 
 
 Capt. Bell again rode to the front, perhaps too miles, to get 
 another look at the party of rebels advancing. Having again 
 seen them, he came back, but Col. Jennings and his Regiment 
 were retreating by the road he had pointed out, and were half 
 a mile off already. On the way to town, Capt. Bell met my or- 
 derly going out with a message to Col. Jennings to come in, 
 when the Captain informed him that the Regiment had left. 
 
 Now we had reason to believe that, while the main body of 
 Rebel troops would hold the mountain pass, they would send 
 into the valleys just such parties to gather horses, etc., and if I 
 had been in Command of that Regiment, I should have consid- 
 ered it my first duty to ride to the front with Captain Bell, and 
 see that the scouts took positions to ascertain the possible num- 
 ber approaching, with a view to make proper disposition of my 
 Regiment, to meet them, or retire, as the case required. But 
 the Colonel, without attempting to look after the fifty or one 
 hundred Rebels, hurried off without informing me of his unex- 
 pected movement, and without giving any orders to his detach- 
 ment which he had left in Gettysburg to guard the cars, which 
 had by this time been forwarded by the Railroad Company, 
 with his provisions. The slow and cautious advance of the 
 Enemy, would have allowed the Regiment ample time to reach 
 Gettysburg unmolested, and as his guard to the subsistence 
 stores — about 40 men — who did not leave until after I did, came 
 away without loss, I have no reason to believe that his Regiment 
 would have lost a single man. 
 
70 
 
 Now, the facts in the case show that Col. Jennings chose his 
 own line of retreat, moved off entirely upon his own responsi- 
 bility, and that he had marched a half mile from the position in 
 which I placed him, while the enemy were yet a few miles off, 
 without the loss of a single man. As a matter of course, then, 
 what happened after this time is due entirely to Col. Jennings' 
 management, who took upon himself the responsibility. 
 
 This Regiment marched several miles unmolested, but then 
 came upon a marauding party of fifty or sixty Rebels that were 
 gathering horses between Mummasburg and Hunterstown, and 
 here it was that the Regiment met the Rebels first and last, and 
 Professor Jacobs says they lost 120 men, but none I believe 
 killed or wounded. The suppers which the Regiment missed 
 the night before, and which they much needed on this evening, 
 refreshed the hungry soldiers of Major Gen. Eaely's Rebel 
 Division. 
 
 Having gathered up the Public Arms, and accoutrements, 
 Brass Gun, etc. at Gettysburg, and sent them to Hanover, 
 where the public property in my charge was held ready for 
 removal, I retreated to that place and had the stores promptly 
 removed, then ordered the troops to proceed to York. 
 
 The citizens of Gettysburg, at my request, had organized a Com- 
 mittee of Safety, and some of the members feeling great interest 
 in the Military proceedings, spent much of their time at my 
 quarters. These gentlemen were made acquainted with the 
 information I had obtained from time to time, and the object of 
 my several movements, and consequently, are at this date im- 
 portant witnesses as to my loyalty and my zeal for the service. 
 It happens that the writers of the several letters, which I sub- 
 join, are well known for their Republican Sentiments, and their 
 opinions must be conclusive to all who know them. It is but 
 justice to Professor Jacobs to say that he has retracted all his 
 offensive remarks as to my conduct, loyalty and zeal. 
 
 Mr. McConaughy's zeal for the success of the Union cause 
 has been so strongly marked by his acts, that his testimony, in 
 my favor, is the more strong as he would have been the first to 
 take alarm at any act of disloyalty on my part. He writes : 
 
71 
 
 Gettysburg, October 29th, 1863. 
 
 Sir : Having been constantly in intercourse and actively co-operating with 
 Major G. 0. Haller, while on duty here in June last, as aid to Major Genl. D. N. 
 Couch, Commanding theDept. of the Susquehanna — I cheerfully state, that, Maj. 
 Haller was constant and earnest in the discharge of his duties, at this post. 
 
 Not only was there neither act nor expression proceeding from him, in any 
 manner suggestive of disloyalty, but on the contrary his whole bearing and 
 conduct here was characterized by zeal and activity as an officer. From niy in- 
 timate knowledge of all that was transpiring, and the facts which furnished the 
 basis for his action, I was strongly persuaded, that, his proceedings in advancing 
 the 26th Regiment, (Col. Jennings'), were justified by the information derived 
 from Cavalry reconnoissances, and furnished him by the officers in charge of the 
 scouting operations. 
 
 With the limited forces at his command, Major Haller's whole actions im- 
 pressed me with the conviction, that, he was seeking earnestly to do, all that he 
 could, for the public service and the defeat of the enemy, and thwarting its 
 movements. 
 
 As a citizen who felt a very intense interest for the success of the Arms of 
 the Union and the rout of the Rebel forces ; and, keenly alive to any thing, 
 however slight, which might betray a want of loyalty in any one with whom I 
 might be thrown in contact, I have no hesitation in thus strongly giving expres- 
 sion to the impressions made upon me in my intercourse with Major Haller. 
 Most respectfully and truly, 
 
 D. McCONAUGHY. 
 
 R G. McCbeary and David Wills, Esquires, write : 
 
 Gettysburg, Pa., Oct. 28, 1863. 
 Maj. G. 0. Haller : 
 
 Sir : It affords me pleasure to state that as a member of the Committee of 
 Safety, appointed at a public meeting of the citizens of this town, in Jime last, 
 I was frequently at your quarters, and had knowledge of the efforts made by you 
 to arrest or retard the progress of the rebel army on the borders of our county, 
 by organizing the citizens as " Home Guards" and otherwise, and to testify to 
 the zeal and earnestness manifested by you on the occasion, and that, so far as 
 my observation extended, your conduct and con . ersation were uniformly such 
 as became a loyal citizen and an officer of the United States Army. 
 
 Very respectfully yours, 
 
 R. G. McCREARY. 
 
 Gettysburg, Pa., Oct. 29, 1863. 
 Major G. 0. Haller: 
 
 Dear Sir : I fully concur with Mr. McCreary in the substance of the fore- 
 going letter. In addition I take the liberty to add that I told you I was sorry to 
 see that the Democrats of our town did not attend the meeting called by our 
 
72 
 
 Committee of Safety, which meeting was held at your solicitation for the purpose 
 of making arrangements for the organization of Home Guards for border defence. 
 You suggested that you were of that political pursuasion and wished to meet some 
 of the prominent men of that party to endeavor to pursuade them to unite in 
 the efforts making to repel the invaders, and that they should fight the rebels 
 first and after that they could attack the administration in a legitimate and con- 
 stitutional way. I know that you made every effort to bring about a concert of 
 action here for the purpose of organizing the Towisand County for border defence. 
 
 I remain yours truly, 
 
 DAVID WILLS. 
 
 Captain Eobebt Bell, of Gettysburg, also writes : 
 
 Gettysburg, Pa., Oct. 29, 18G3. 
 Major G. 0. Holler : 
 
 Majok : It affords me great pleasure to be able to testify to the earnestness 
 and zeal you displayed in June last, during the Kebel invasion. Having access 
 to your room at all hours day and night, and in frequent confidential conversa- 
 tions with you, I have no hesitancy in saying you did every thing you could do 
 as a loyal officer of the Government with the small and inaffective force you had 
 at your disposal to retard the advance of the Rebels east of the South Mountain, 
 and that I had no reason to doubt your loyalty whatever, and was very much 
 surprised to hear of your being dismissed from the service. If I can be of any 
 further service to you it will afford me great pleasure. 
 
 I am yours most obediently, 
 
 ROBERT BELL, 
 
 Capt. Adams County Scouts, 
 (now Co. B, 21st P. V. Cav. ) 
 
 On the afternoon of the 27th of June, the scout on the Ab- 
 bottstown road came in, reporting about 100 Eebel Cavalry 
 advancing rapidly towards York, and no other troops could be 
 seen approaching by that road. As the Adams County Cavalry, 
 by purchases, and by impressing horses, had become mounted, 
 this troop now numbered over 60 men, which with the " City 
 Troop " exceeded 100 men. Through the foresight and system 
 of discipline, adopted by Surgeon Palmer, U. S. Yols. in charge 
 of the U. S. Hospital in York, I found about 225 Convalescent 
 Soldiers armed and equipped for service ; besides a company of 
 volunteers ("Patapsco Guards ") in charge of the public build- 
 ings and property ; and a few of the 87th Penn. Volunteers. 
 With this force, I marched to the West end of York to keep off 
 mere marauding parties, until the hospital stores (in very, large 
 
73 
 
 quantities,) might be removed, and the rolling stock, at the 
 Depot, could be sent away. This movement was not apprecia- 
 ted by the Citizens, who, apprehensive that a collision might 
 subject the town to 'the vengeance of the enemy, believed it 
 would do the inhabitants much injury. However, information 
 soon came that the whole force, which invaded Gettysburg, was 
 marching to York, and would be there that night. This scout 
 had even been in General Gordon's presence, and had, in wri- 
 ting, his assurance that if there was no resistance offered at 
 York, all the private property would be respected. He assured 
 the scout that he, himself, had over 3,000 men — and the scout 
 thought Gordon's Brigade was by that time only three miles 
 from town. This scout, Mr. Fauquier, was vouched for, by Mr. 
 Samuel Small, as an honest man, and what he stated should be 
 believed. On this state of facts, I withdrew the troops to 
 Wrightsville, leaving only a few Cavalry men in front of York, 
 to observe the approach of the enemy, and report the time of 
 their occupation. They remained until 8.30 o'clock, P. M., but 
 no enemy appeared. Next morning, at 10 o'clock, the Division 
 of Major Gen. Early entered, and quietly took possession, 
 drawing his supplies through the civil authorities of York, and, 
 during his stay, preserved most perfect order, strictly prohibi- 
 ting his men from molesting the inhabitants or committing dep- 
 redations. 
 
 Wrightsville presented a melancholy spectacle. Hundreds of 
 loaded wagons were awaiting their turn to , cross the Columbia 
 Bridge. The rolling stock of several of the Railroad Companies 
 was crowded together. The Locomotives and cars had to be 
 hauled by horse power across the bridge, and the means to 
 transport these were only those animals used for the ordinary 
 demands of trade at that place. I called on Dr. Evans, Presi- 
 dent of the Bridge Company, who, at my request, dispensed 
 with tolls, and the wagons then crossed lively, and once in Co- 
 lumbia, their horses were impressed to haul over the rolling 
 stock, and thus property of immense value was promply 
 secured. . 
 
 Colonel J. G. Frick, Commanding the 27th Penn., Volunteer 
 
74 
 
 Militia, was posted in front of Wrightsville with bis Eegiment, to 
 whom I turned over the troops from York. Tools were pro- 
 cured that night, and early next morning rifle pits were thrown 
 up, and the approaches carefully examined, to station troops in 
 effective positions to defend the bridge from any raid sent to 
 destroy it. But our evil genius, Gordon's Brigade, with Cavalry, 
 and Artillery, again presented itself, and while getting into its 
 position and reconnoitering our lines, quite a number of shots 
 were exchanged, and sufficient numbers of their force were dis- 
 played to show the hopelessness of a defence of Wrightsville, 
 wherefore the troops were withdrawn, and the span of the 
 bridge, (which had been carefully sawed apart, excepting the 
 arches, which were charged with powder, to blow them to peices 
 and let the span fall into the river) was ordered to be destroyed. 
 The powder failed to do its work, and the enemy was seen ap- 
 proaching the bridge when Colonel Frick, ordered it to be set 
 on fire. General Early said in York, that, if the bridge had not 
 been set on fire, he would have been in Lancaster the next 
 (Monday) morning. Colonel Frick's opinion of my conduct and 
 loyalty on this occasion is expressed as follows : 
 
 Pottsville, Pa., Oct. 23d, 1863. 
 
 Major G-rrnv'Ue 0. Hatter: 
 
 Deak Sir : It affords me great pleasure to say that during the time we were 
 associated together in the military service of the country at Columbia and 
 Wrightsville, you manifested great zeal in behalf of the best interests of the 
 country, and was indefatigable in your efforts while aiding me to make such dis- 
 positions of my small force as would enable us to repel an attack of the rebel 
 horde that marched against us from York. At no time did I hear you utter a dis- 
 loyal word or sentiment. I believed then as I believe now, that your activity and 
 anxiety to thwart the enemy was prompted by the purest and most patriotic mo- 
 tives. Certainly no one of my command questioned for a moment your patriot- 
 ism or your sincerity. 
 
 My orders were to prevent the enemy from crossing the Susquehanna at or 
 near Columbia at all hazards ; and when the propriety of destroying the Colum- 
 bia Bridge was being discussed, you joined with me that the best interests of the 
 service — the safety of the Capital of the State, as well as the preservation of 
 Railroad communication between that point and Lancaster and Philadelphia, de- 
 manded its destruction. 
 
 lu conclusion I have only to say that yoixr conduct met. as it deserved, my 
 
75 
 
 approbation, and I have yet to hear n word of disparagement from those with 
 whom yon were associated. 
 
 Very respectfully, your Ob't. Serv't., 
 
 JACOB G. FEICK, 
 
 Late Col. 129th Pa. Vols., 
 
 and Col. 27th Pa. 'Vol. Militia. 
 
 Gen. Couch then directed me to give my attention to the 
 defences of the Susquehanna, to visit the several fords and see 
 that proper defences, (rifle-pits and abattis,) were constructed to 
 harass the enemy, if not defeat them, in any attempt to cross 
 the river. When this danger had passed, he relieved me, and 
 while in York writing out reports of my proceedings at the 
 several towns, and my reconnoissances at the several fords of the 
 Susquehanna, I received on the 28th of July, in reply to my en- 
 quiry of the Adjutant General, whe ther I should repair to my 
 regiment ? a telegram from Major Eobt. Williams saying, that, 
 " By Special Orders No. 331, of July 25th, 1863, you are dis- 
 missed the service, by order of the Secretary of War." 
 
 OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 The principal object, in the foregoing pages, has been to 
 present the evidences of my Loyalty to the Constitution and tl/e 
 Union and to vindicate my conduct and sentiments to my Country- 
 men. But these pages will do more : they will furnish materials 
 for serious consideration for the Thinking portion of the com- 
 munity. 
 
 My dismissal, from the U. S. Army, would be of little conse- 
 quence, if it were not for the -principles involved— principles 
 which have been established and respected by every Adminis- 
 tration from the organization of this Federal Government, 
 except the present one. My dismissal is a part of the history 
 of the times, and every Patriot may read and consider its ten- 
 dency, with profit. 
 
 The facts presented in these pages contain internal evidences 
 of the destruction of those fundamental principles which have 
 
76 
 
 heretofore regulated at least the administration of the. War 
 Department. It will be difficult to shut out from one's mind 
 the evidence that we are now governed on the principle that 
 " Might makes Right " to the exclusion of those principles 
 which relied on their inherent wisdom and justice for the sup- 
 port and approbation of the American People. It will be diffi- 
 cult to believe otherwise than that the Secretary of War is con- 
 scious that his charges of " disloyal conduct and the utter- 
 ance op disloyal sentiments " cannot be sustained, and will hot 
 bear a moment's investigation ; else why does he mutely refuse 
 me an investigation of his direct charges against me ? It seems 
 equally clear, that the Secretary of War has dismissed me for a 
 reason, or reasons, which he is unwilling to announce to a 
 Thinking Community, and therefore takes pains not to write 
 and not to grant anything touching my case — not even to allow 
 me to get a copy of the report, or more properly speaking, the 
 proceedings of Colonel Holt, the Judge Advocate General U. S. 
 Army, whose examination of the " Informer " in private, and 
 remarks on the statements, caused my dismissal. And here I 
 will cite the act of Congress, approved April 10th, 1806, com- 
 monly called the " Rules and Articles of War" which, so far as 
 the authority of Congress goes, is " the Law of the Land " to- 
 day. It reads : 
 
 Art. 90. Every Judge Advocate, or person officiating as such, at any General 
 Court-Martial, shall transmit, with as much expedition as the opportunity of 
 time and distance of place can admit, the original proceedings and sentence of 
 such Court-Martial to the Secretary of War ; which said original proceedings 
 and sentence shall be carefully kept and preserved in the office of said Secretary, 
 to Hi/ 1 end thai the persons entitled thereto may be enabled, upon application to the said 
 office, to obtain copies thereof." 
 
 It is manifestly the spirit and the letter of the Law that an 
 officer should have a fair trial, and be furnished with a copy of 
 the proceedings. If the Department were honorably adminis- 
 tered there would be no occasion for concealment, and the re- 
 fusal to investigate creates a suspicion that there is something 
 radical] y wrong in the action of the Department. 
 
 The Reader may consider whether the War is any longer Na- 
 
77 
 
 tional? The whole country was aroused and united by the 
 Resolutions offered by Mr. Crittenden, and adopted by Con- 
 gress, that the existing war was to restore the Federal Author- 
 ity in the States now in rebellion, and, when this is accom- 
 plished, the war is to cease. It was not to interfere with any of 
 the rights inherent in those States. In this the Northern 
 States were as one. But are they one now? Are we not now 
 subject to the dictation of a party occupying a section only of 
 the whole Union ? Is that party trying to preserve the Union 
 as it was, or going to reconstruct it ? Is the administration 
 trying to preserve the Union as it was, or using all its energies, 
 its power, patronage, and its reputation, to keep alive this sec- 
 tional party ? Let the Patriot ponder on these things well ! 
 Is, or is not this a partisan War ? What officers in the Army 
 are tabooed ? Have any officers in the military service been 
 dismissed for taking the stump in favor of the Administration, 
 or the party which supports it : or for exerting themselves at 
 elections in behalf of the Party which elected Mr. Lincoln to 
 power ? Have, or have not, officers, with the highest grade in 
 our army, set an example of stumping a State ? 
 
 But the most remarkable thing which is connected with my 
 dismissal, is, the tribunal which has brought it about. The In- 
 former is one Clark H. Wells, a Lieut. Commander of the 
 U. S. Navy : the Prosecutor is Colonel Joseph Holt, who had 
 the case all to himself : and the Judge and Executive is Ed- 
 win M. Stanton. And, these were devoted friends (?) of the 
 Democratic Administration while Mr. Buchanan dispensed the 
 public patronage. But they are now devoted friends of the Ad- 
 ministration, or " the Government." 
 
 Of the latter two, it is generally understood, they were com- 
 petitors for the office vacated by Mr. Cameron, Ex-Secretary of 
 War, and the influence of Gen. McClellan at that time, with 
 the President, obtained for Mr. Stanton the Port-folio. Such 
 partiality and kindness, with most gentlemen, would have cre- 
 ated a feeling of indebtedness, and a disposition to support to 
 the utmost such a benefactor. We might naturally expect cor- 
 diality and harmony in the councils of the Secretary of War and 
 
78 
 
 General-in-Chief. But public sentiment had recognized in Gen- 
 eeal McClellan a Military Genius — the military operations in 
 all quarters were prosperous, and victories marked our path — 
 and all successes were ascribed to him. The power and abili- 
 ties of the Secretary of War seemed lost to public view. This 
 did not suit Me. Stanton. He soon took upon himself the Com- 
 mand-in-Chief of the Army — he soon took away from McClel- 
 lan a part of his Army, and he saved Richmond from McClel- 
 lan's grasp ! Yes ! and if McClellan's generalship had not 
 saved his Army on the Chickahominy Creek, Me. Stanton's 
 Generalship would have given the Southern Confederation such 
 a victory as would have secured the recognition of their In- 
 dependence in Europe. 
 
 As for Colonel Holt, we find a still less amiable disposi- 
 tion. As the blood hound follows the track of his victim and 
 never lets up until he is destroyed — it may be said of him, he 
 never lets up until he has accomplished the ruin of him he 
 wishes to destroy. It is not likely that he will forget or forgive 
 Geneeal McClellan for using his influence to his [Col. Holt's] 
 prejudice, when seeking Me. Cameeon's place — nor will he for- 
 get any of that General's particular admirers. 
 
 I have before me a letter written by Col. Holt dated " Wash- 
 ington, Nov. 30th, 1860," which pleads so strongly for the. 
 South, that 'no political views of mine should be offensive to 
 him. The Colonel writes : 
 
 " We shall soon grow up a race of Chieftains who will rival the political 
 bandits of South America and Mexico, and who will carve out to us our misera- 
 ble heritage with their bloody swords. The masses of the people dream not of 
 these things. They suppose the Eepublic can be destroyed to-day and peace 
 mil smile over its ruins to-morrow. They know nothing of civil war. This 
 marah in the desert of the pilgrimage of nations has happily been for them a 
 sealed fountain. They know not as others 'do of its bitterness, and that civil war 
 is a scourge that darkens every fireside and wrings every heart with anguish. 
 They are to be commiserated, for they know not what they do. Whence is all 
 this ? It has come because the pulpit and the press, and the cowering, unscrupu- 
 lous politicians of the North have taught the people that they are responsible for 
 the domestic institutions of the South, and that they can be faithful to God only 
 by being unfaithful to the compact which they made with their fellow men. 
 Hence those Liberty bills which degrade the statute books of some ten of the 
 
79 
 
 Free States, and are confessedly a shameless violation of the Federal Constitution 
 in a point vital to her honor. We have here presented from year to year, the 
 humiliating spectacle of free and sovereign States, by a solemn act of legislation, 
 / yaliting the theft of their neighbors' property. I say theft, since it is not the less 
 so because the subject of the despicable crime chances to be a slave, instead of a 
 horse or a bale of goods. 
 
 From this same teaching has come the perpetual agitation of the slavery 
 question which has reached the minds of the slave population of the South, and has 
 rendered every home in that distracted land insecure. This is the feature of the 
 irrepressible conflict with which the Northern people are not familiar. In almost 
 every part of the South, miscreant fanatics have been found, and poisonings and 
 conflagrations have mai«ked their footsteps. Mothers there lay down at night 
 trembling beside their children, and wives cling to their husbands as they leave 
 their homes in the morning. I have a brother residing in Mississippi, etc., etc. 
 He has replied to me at much length, and after depicting the machinations- of the 
 wretches to whom I have alluded, and the consternation which reigns in the 
 homes of the South, he says it is the unalterable determination of the Southern 
 people to overthrow the Government, as the only refuge which is left to them 
 from these insupportable wrongs, and he adds : ' ' On the success of this move- 
 ment depends my every earthly interest — the safety of my roof from the fire- 
 brand, and of my wife and children from the poison and the dagger. " 
 
 I give you his language because it truthfully expresses the Southern mind, 
 which, at this moment, glows as a furnace in its hatred to the North because of these 
 itifemal agitations. Think you that any people can endure this condition of 
 things? When the Northern preacher infuses into his audience the spirit of 
 assassins and incendiaries in his crusade against slavery, does he think, as he 
 lies down quietly at night, of the Southern homes he has robbed of sleep and the 
 helpless women and children he has exposed to all the nameless horrors of servile 
 insurrection ? 
 
 I am still for the Union, because I have yet a faint hesitating hope that the 
 North will do justice to the South, and save the Eepublic before the wreck is 
 complete. But action to be available must be prompt. If the free States will 
 sweep the Liberty bills from their codes, propose a convention of the States, and 
 offer guaranties which will afford the same repose and safety to Southern homes 
 and property enjoyed by those in the North, the impending tragedy may yet be 
 averted, but not otherwise. I feel a positive personal humiliation as a member 
 of the human family in the events now preparing. If the Eepublic is to be 
 offered as a sacrifice upon the altar of African servitude, then the question of 
 man's capacity for self-government is forever settled. The derision of the world 
 will henceforth justly treat the pretension as a farce, and the blessed hope 
 which, for five thousand years, our race, amid storms and battles, has been 
 hugging to its bosom, will be demonstrated to be a phantom and a dream." 
 ## # # ##** #*# 
 
 [Signed,] J. HOLT. 
 
 As for Lieut. Commander Wells, he can produce evidence to 
 
80 
 
 prove himself a Secession Sympathiser — a Democrat — a Repub- 
 lican and exquisitely loyal to the present Administration, as it 
 may suit his interests. 
 
 Notwithstanding he reported me on the 3d of March, 1863, to 
 the Secretary of "War, for uttering in his presence, on or about 
 the 15th of December, 1862, such " disloyal sentiments" as to 
 " call forth a severe rebuke" from him and to cause him to leave 
 my tent, — all of which he assures the Secretary ; yet in January 
 and February, between these dates, he kept up quite a pleasant 
 correspondence with me, from the Philadelphia Navy Yard, assur- 
 ing me that " no one can doubt his loyalty"—" when we are en- 
 gaged in a deadly struggle to sustain our Government, I would 
 sacrifice my son." [The poor little boy ! Harry, his only son, 
 was only seven years old ! and thinks of sacrificing him, while 
 he is safe at the Navy Yard at Philadelphia !] " I regard slavery 
 as a curse to our country and the cause of this hell-born rebel- 
 lion." — " "Were it not that I had been away a year in the South 
 Atlantic Squadron, and for the sake of my family, I would pre- 
 fer going to sea in these exciting times, although my naval 
 friends tell me that I have done my share. I think not, for I 
 believe that no officer can do too much to assist in crushing out 
 this sinful rebellion." 
 
 But, for this glowing loyalty, he had obtained his price ! For 
 as long as he had been a Democrat, he assured a political 
 acquaintance that " The Democrats have never done anything 
 for me : but see what the Republicans are going to do — why 
 they are going to send me to the Philadelphia Navy Yard." 
 
 Even a solemn oath is no obstacle to this officer, for after he 
 had sworn on the Holy Bible to the new oath of allegiance, he 
 declared to a visitor that he " had just performed the most 
 painful act of his life — that he had been compelled to take the 
 oath of allegiance, or be dismissed from the service, and that 
 his necessities had made him do this violence to his views re- 
 garding the war then commencing." 
 
 And in a letter before me, written with his own hand, he 
 says : " I should not be surprised if I should be obliged ' to 
 turn my sword into a ploughshare.' I would rather do that 
 than be called upon to use it against my countrymen." 
 
81 
 
 And while with the South Atlantic Squadron, he there solic- 
 ited the command of a leaking vessel knowing that it must soon 
 be sent home for repairs ; and soon after landing in the North, 
 he solicited and obtained the command of the Navy Yard at 
 Philadelphia ; and has ever since escaped active service against 
 the Southern Confederacy. 
 
 These are not my assertions, they are the statements of diffe r- 
 ent gentlemen, whose veracity will not be questioned, and who 
 can make oath to their declarations. Yet this Me. Wells is 
 the Informer in my case : all three, in tlfis tribunal, are known 
 to have entertained sentiments at variance with those they now 
 profess, yet make no allowance for a difference of opinion in 
 others. 
 
 In the foregoing pages I have given a synopsis of my military 
 service for nearly twenty-four years, with a few extracts from 
 official reports as to my conduct. I have been in a great many 
 important engagements with Civilized, and with Savage foes, 
 and have been honored with strong expressions of commenda- 
 tion from my Superior officers. I have seen the printed list of 
 the officers recommended for Brevets, for services in 1862, and 
 found my name had been submitted to the Senate, for the 
 Brevet Commission of Lieutenant Colonel. I believe my ser- 
 vices have uniformly been satisfactory. Notwithstanding I 
 have been on many well-fought battle fields, and have on all oc- 
 casions faithfully discharged my duties ;— notwithstanding I 
 have endured great privations, hardships, and dangers : — not- 
 withstanding I have aided as far as laid in my power, to restore 
 the Federal authority in the States now in rebellion : — I have 
 been expelled from the Army overwhelmed with whatever of 
 infamy it is possible for Mr. Stanton to heap upon me, and 
 he has exchanged my knowledge and experience in War, for a 
 person who must enter the Regular Ariny at the bottom of Sec- 
 ond Lieutenants, and then learn his profession. It is true Mr. 
 Stanton can appoint one, whose friends may bring him more 
 influence to support his designs, but this cannot make the Army 
 more efficient. And, in this way a designing man, with an 
 Army so immense as ours now is, may prostitute the office of 
 
82 
 
 Secretary of War to procure influence, until his power is suffi- 
 cient to trample the Constitution under his feet. 
 
 Is it then disloyal to examine into, and speak of the conduct 
 of members of the Administration ? On this point, I will quote 
 Judge Peakson of the Dauphin District of Pennsylvania, who 
 is well known for his Administration sentiments, or to use the 
 language of the newspaper before me " a double-dyed Republi- 
 can." In a charge to his Grand Jury on the subject of disloy- 
 alty, he says : " Do not misunderstand me on this point : men 
 " have the most unlimited right to condemn, and if you please, 
 "to rail at the National Administration, and to object to the 
 " manner in which it conducts public affairs. * * f * 
 
 " Parties will always exist in every free country, and wheth- 
 "er men will sustain or oppose a particular Administration 
 " is one in which there should ever be the most perfect freedom 
 "of opinion. ******** 
 
 " There certainly can be no diffiulty with persons of ordi- 
 " nary intelligence in drawing the distinction between sustain- 
 " ing the Government itself, and sustaining or opposing those 
 " who temporarily administer its affairs [i. e. the Adminis- 
 "tration]. The latter is a question of party, the former of 
 " patriotism." 
 
 Again, Me. Seward, Secretary oft State, in his letter of 
 November 10th, 1862, to Me. xAdams, our Minister in England, 
 says : 
 
 " It is a habit, not only entirely consistent with the Constitu- 
 " tion, but even essential to its stability, to regard the Adminis- 
 " tration, at any time existing, as distinct and separable from 
 "the Government itself, and to canvass the proceedings of the 
 " one without the thought of disloyalty to the other." 
 
 I have sometimes canvassed the proceedings of the Adminis- 
 tration, but always without one thought of disloyalty to the Consti- 
 tution, and Me. Sewaed expressly says this canvassing is "even 
 essential to its stability." "We find above that the Government 
 is one thing and the Administration is quite another, — that our 
 loyalty is entirely due to the Constitution, and it is our duty to 
 maintain it in its integrity. From the commencement of the 
 
83 
 
 Secession agitation, my only desire has been to see the question 
 settled, so that Union and Fraternity would still exist ! All my 
 conversations and writings aimed at this one object. I have 
 endeavored to be purely Patriotic. The Constitution knows no 
 North and no South, and I have thought only of the benefits 
 which will flow from A preserved, not a reconstructed Union. 
 Even if I had done a wrong, my offence must be slight, for I 
 had never voted nor circulated tickets against the Administra- 
 tion : I had neither written for newspapers nor spoken at 
 public meetings : my duties prevented my interfering in any way 
 with elections, and yet my conduct is denounced by Mr. Stan- 
 ton as disloyal, and it is extraordinary, that he will not allow 
 me to see or get a copy of the secret proceedings upon which he 
 charges me with disloyalty — the Articles of War to the contrary 
 notwithstanding. 
 
 I speak of Mr. Stanton," because I believe the President has 
 too much business of more importance to engage his attention, 
 than will permit him personally to investigate the allegations 
 against Officers of the Army, except those high in rank, there- 
 fore, if ht knows any thing whatever of my case he has obtained 
 it through Mr. Stanton, and of course, is the ex parte informa- 
 tion, which Mr. Stanton is unwilling to give me, as if ashamed 
 of it. 
 
 The President, indeed, is authorized by act of Congress to 
 dismiss officers, when in his opinion the good of the service 
 may require it, but special orders No. 331 of July 25th 1863, 
 says, I am dismissed for " disloyal conduct and the utterance of 
 disloyal sentiments," and the evidence I have presented in this 
 pamphlet will prove that this reason is incorrect and cannot be 
 sustained. Then it is but right — it is a privilege clearly mine — 
 to know exactly what this language means upon which I have 
 been dismissed. And after I have assured Mr. Stanton that I 
 have not been disloyal in conduct nor sentiments, and asked 
 for an investigation — asked to be sent before the Commission 
 which daily investigated the cases of dismissed officers, to ascertain 
 whether the reports against them tvere false as the Accused had 
 alleged — it was my right — the Constitution guarantees a. speedy 
 
84 
 
 trial ; the Articles of War provides for trial — it was a privilege 
 of mine to have a hearing. 
 
 And I will venture to say that my dismissal rests upon the 
 special pleadings of Col. Holt, the Judge Advocate General, 
 whose implacable malignity, towards Gen. McClellan, extends 
 to those subordinate officers, who have a high regard for him. 
 In my position, I had peculiar opportunities to observe the 
 General's private character and worth, as well as military abili- 
 ties. I have often made "grand rounds" of the Headquarters' 
 Guards, at two o'clock in the morning and even later, and found 
 the lights still burning in his tent, and the General engaged in 
 his studies and duties of the field. I have seen and felt the en- 
 thusiasm which his presence among the soldiers has inspired, 
 and heard their loud and heart-felt "huzzas!" I have fre- 
 quently spoken of his merits, but even if he had lacked ability, 
 I have thought the devotion to him, of the Army of the Poto- 
 mac, was sufficient reason to retain him in the field, for it was 
 worth thousands of soldiers. This, in the eyes of Col. Holt, is 
 no doubt a crime, and when the proceedings of his secret inqui- 
 sition is dragged to light, and placed before the Public, it will 
 be found that my greatest crime is, that I have been the Com- 
 mandant of General McClellan' s Headquarters during his 
 campaigns in Eastern Virginia and in Maryland. 
 
 I have presented the charges against me, and the testimony 
 of many witnesses, and my services for nearly twenty four years, 
 as overwhelming proof to rebut them. I now respectfully 
 submit the case to the Public and ask them to judge between us. 
 I have thought it but right to show that the trio, who have in- 
 formed on me, prosecuted me, and condemned me, have by no 
 means clean hands. And I respectfully, but most earnestly, 
 protest against this mode of proceeding with the characters and 
 honor of officers who have spent almost a quarter of a century 
 in the U. S. Army.