| From the Richmond Examiner |
| |
| May 17, 1861 |
| |
| A Card |
| To the Editor of the Examiner: |
| A communication on which
appeared in the Richmond Examiner of the 8th instant, giving, or
assuming to give, an account of a recent occurrence at Weldon, requires
that I publish the following card: |
| On Monday morning last, by
order of Maj. Whiting Acting Inspector General of North Carolina, our
passenger train was ordered not to make a connection at Weldon -- a
telegram to this effect was sent to Capt Fremont, Superintendent of the
road {Wilmington & Weldon RR}, who was on
the train. By an order sent to Weldon, the baggage or passengers was to
be examined for dispatches to the Federal Government relative to the
movements of the African Squadron. This order was sent to two gentlemen
at Weldon, and was entirely unknown to any railroad officer or passenger
on the train. |
| The train was accordingly
stopped at Halifax, eight miles from Weldon. Capt. S. L. Fremont,
Superintendent of the road being entirely ignorant of the reasons for
detaining the rain, and having an appointment with Col. C. O. Sanford,
Superintendent P. R. R. then a Weldon, directed the engine to proceed
with him to Weldon, leaving the train and passengers at Halifax, and as
a personal favour, took with him three friends who were very anxious to
go on. |
| On arriving at Weldon, they
were informed of the character of the order. One of the gentlemen on
being examined, did not hesitate to admit that he was in possession of
dispatches from the Africa Squadron to the Federal Government, but
refused to give them up unless an official demand was made of him. This
was done, and he surrendered them to the high sheriff of Halifax county,
and here the matter should have ended. |
| Capt. Fremont finding that
Col. Sanford had gone to Garsyburg, (three miles from Weldon,)
determined to go on and have an interview with him at that place and as
there no longer existed any reason for detaining the passengers he
determined to take them along with him. This determination excited the
feelings of a volunteer command stationed there, who, in order to
prevent a departure, put the whole party in arrest. |
| This statement of facts, given
to me by Mr. John Campbell and Col. N. M. Long, fully explains the gross
injustice done to Capt. Fremont and the rest of the party by the article
referred to. |
| Under the great excitement
that existed at Weldon, doubtless many things were said and done which
were improper, but nothing to justify the making of such an unjust
communication. |
| Capt. Fremont, though by birth
a Northern man from early manhood to the present time has been in
feeling and interest with the South. Formerly an officer of the army, he
has resided with and near us for about 20 year. Months ago he offered to
relinquish his position on the road and give his services to the State. |
| In the above statement I have
not mentioned the name of the gentleman who had the despatches, and who
is referred to as a "suspicious character" by the article. |
| I will only say of him he is a
son of Virginia, and no one ranks above him as a patriot or soldier. His
devotion to the South is fully evinced by the fact of his resignation in
the Federal Navy the moment he heard of the secession of the Southern
States, and tendering his services to the Confederate States. His name
and that of his family is highly appreciated throughout Virginia, and is
a tower of strength against the malice of slanderers. |
| Respectfully, |
| Wm. S. Ashe
{President, Wilmington & Weldon RR} |
|