Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 07.djvu/548

540

, October 2d, 1879.

Doctor , Secretary Southern Historical Society:

My Dear Doctor—I have read the correspondence you handed me. It will correct all erroneous statements in General Ewell's report of the 12th October, at Spotsylvania Courthouse—an error made, of course, under a misapprehension of the facts, and calculated to do injustice to a faithful and gallant officer of my command. Moreover, I have just heard from an unimpeachable source that Mr. J. M. Stone, of Hanover, within the last week, has asserted positively, that he himself spent the greater portion of the night of the 12th October, in company with Major Page, searching for these guns. Mr. Stone was a member of Major Page's artillery battalion, which was a part of my artillery division. His statement fully confirms Sergeant Green's recollection of the search, and is conclusive. There was no more fair or ingenuous gentlemen in our army than General Ewell, and it is clear that he was misinformed in this matter.

, Colonel Commanding Artillery Division, A. N. V., in late war.