fully conscious of my ability to prove by either test my loyalty to my Government, and my devotion to the cause of unity and Freedom. To this no response was given until the 18th June following, when I saw in the Army and Navy Journal the announcement of my dismissal. Stunned and humiliated for the moment by this most summary and unjust proceeding, I again addressed Col. Townsend, as follows: "Col. E. D. TOWNSEND, A. A. G., "COLONEL "82 Wall St., NEW-YORK, 66 Washington, D. C.— I have the honor to state that, in the Army and Navy Journal of this date, I find the following announce ment: "Dismissals, for the week ending June 11, 1864.-Lieut. Col. JAMES M. SANDERSON, Captain Commissary Subsistence, U. S. Vols. to date June 6, 1864.' : "My object in addressing you is, to inquire if this announcement is official; and, if so, whether I have not the right to know the charges on which this action of my Government is based? "I would also respectfully call your attention to the fact that I hold a commission as Major and additional Aid-de-Camp dated July 15, 1862; and would ask if that commission is embraced in the order dismissing me? Awaiting your answer, "I am, very respectfully, &c., 66 "J. M. SANDERSON, After another delay of ten days, a printed order reached me, containing the following: Special Orders, } War Dep't, Adj't Gen'l's Office, } WASHINGTON, June 23, 1864. [EXTRACT.] "7.-Paragraph 32, of Special Orders No. 201, from this Office, dated June 8, 1864, dismissing Lieut. Col. JAMES M. SANDERSON, Captain and Commissary of Subsistence, U. S. Vols., is hereby amended, to read as follows: 666 'By direction of the President, Lieut. Col. JAMES M. SANDERSON, Major, Additional Aid-de-Camp, and Captain Commismissary of Subsistence, U. S. Vols., is hereby dismissed the service of the United States: to take effect from June 6, 1864.' "By order of the Secretary of War, This, although conclusive, was neither satisfactory nor responsive. I determined, therefore, to visit Washington, and ascertain, if possible, the causes of this unmerited disgrace. On my arrival, I called at the office of the Adjutant General, where, after several applications, I received a flat refusal to my request to be furnished with a copy of the charges against me-being referred to a printed order, requiring all such demands to be made direct to the Secretary of War. In obedience to this, I immediately wrote to Mr. Stanton a communication—reciting, in brief, my services, my experiences, and my desires. After a reasonable delay, receiving no reply, I determined to refer the matter to his Excellency, the President of the United States; and, having armed myself with a letter of introduction from the Hon. H. B. Anthony, Senator from Rhode Island, (a copy of which I append,) I called at the White House : "TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES— "SIR: Lt. Col. JAMES M. SANDERSON informs me that he has been summarily dismissed the service, without a trial and without a knowledge of the charges against him. "I have long known Col. SANDERSON and have regarded him as a man of high honor, of unquestionable loyalty, and as having rendered valuable service. I cannot believe, in the absence of evidence, that he has been guilty of any offence, deserving of so harsh punishment; and I hope he will be allowed an opportunity to answer charges against him. "I am confident that your sense of justice will recognize the reasonableness of this request, which is all he asks. The late Gen. Wadsworth, I know, had a high opinion of Col. SANDERSON, and I have heard him express it in emphatic terms. "Very respectfully, "Your obed't serv't, (Signed) "H. B. ANTHONY." Three days I danced attendance in the waiting-hall of the Presidential mansion; but, owing to various circumstances, without obtaining access to His Excellency. Thinking the letter might prove an "open sesame," I sent that in with my card; but, just at that moment, information being brought of the unexpected arrival of Gen. Early, C. S. A., I was obliged to await the movements of this unwelcome visitor-even volunteering to assist in his reception. My services not being needed, and the whole Government being too much occupied in attending to the subject matter in hand, I concluded, by advice of friends, to return home and "bide my time.” the meanwhile, however, I deemed it my duty to keep myself fresh in the memory of the Honorable Secretary of War, by repeating my request for information and trial regularly every month. I also addressed a communication to the Hon. C. A. Dana, Assist't Secretary of War, with whom I had a personal In acquaintance of years; but from neither of these gentlemen could I obtain any reply. One day, in October, walking through Broadway, I accidentally encountered my friend, Senator Anthony, who informed me that he was the recipient of a letter from the War Depart-. ment, referring to my matters. This, on his return home, he sent me and was as follows: "War Department,} "Hon. H. B. ANTHONY, 66 "SIR: I am directed by the Secretary of War to acknow.. ledge receipt of your communication to the President of the United States-asking that JAMES M. SANDERSON, late Lt. Col. and Commissary Subsistence may be permitted to be heard in hisown defence and to inform you that the application has been denied by the President. "Very respectfully, "JAMES A. HARDIE. Undismayed by this refusal, I again visited Washington, and after several days delay, at length succeeded in obtaining an interview with the President, to whom I recited my case in as few words as possible, and showed him the letter sent to. Mr. Anthony. Endorsing it to the Judge-Advocate-General, he requested me to call again. This, after an interview with Judge Holt, I did, and was again referred to him with the promise that if I could get the Judge to advise my being sent before a Military Commission, in writing, it should be done. On stating this to Judge Holt, he positively refused to accede to it, on the ground that "a report had already been made to the President in this case, in which the evident tendency was to such a reference, and the President would so find it if he would take the trouble to read it. This was the extent of his. duty, and he would not go further. It was neither proper nor respectful for him to dictate to the President what course he should pursue," and to all my intreaties he was deaf and unmoved. I again sought the President, and luckily obtained an interview without difficulty. On learning, however, the opinion of the Judge-Advocate-General, he curtly informed me that he could do nothing for me; but finally, after an interview of half an hour, he reluctantly consented, and wrote an order sending me before the Military Commission, then in session at Washington. Obtaining from the Secretary of War his immediate approval, I waited upon the Court thus selected, and found it composed of Brigadier-General John C. Caldwell, U. S. Vols., President, and Lieutenant-Colonel G. W. Patten, U. S. A. (subsequently relieved by Colonel G. A. H. Blake, 1st Cavalry,) his associate, and Captain G. H. Caldwell, Recorder. By these gentlemen I was most courteously received, and most patiently heard, and as soon as they were furnished with the papers in the case, they placed them at my disposal. Then, for the first time, was I made acquainted with the nature of the charges, and the names of my accusers, and I have yet to decide which caused me the greater astonishment. To be blackened by Streight, to be calumniated by Atwood, was bad enough, yet could be borne; but to be dishonored at the fiat of Neal Dow, was a degradation for which I was quite unprepared. Asking from the Commission some authority, whereby to enforce evidence from unwilling witnesses, I was astonished to find no such power was vested in them; in fact, all they could do was to hear such testimony as I could personally obtain, or my friends voluntarily furnish. There being no limit assigned to the time for collecting my testimony, I returned to my home, and immediately set myself to work. Taking the statements of Neal Dow and Corporal Taylor as a basis, and adding thereto all the slanders and calumnious reports that had come to my ears, I addressed to such officers as I could recollect or hear of from others, a series of questions, the replies to which I requested them to embody in form of a consecutive narrative, made on honor, to be returned to me at their earliest convenience. In selecting these parties, I was entirely uninfluenced by fear or favor. Every man capable, in my opinion, of telling the truth was addressed; and, as will be seen, some of them did not hesitate to state that |