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Letter to Editor
June 15, 1796
Gazette Of The United States
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
What is this article about?
Lt. Benjamin Strother defends General Wayne's military reputation against anonymous falsehoods published in the Aurora, asserting he witnessed Wayne's conduct in the western army and denouncing the critic as a poltroon.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
From the Aurora
WORD TO TRUTH.
To war with it has never been my pursuit ; but when malevolent falsehood assumes the garb, 'tis an act of justice to detect the counterfeit. Comments on the measures of government by an anonymous writer who declares himself unknown to all, and probably might have added unnoticed, until he is used as an instrument in the Aurora, would be dignified by remark and lifted above that insignificance which the good sense of even Mr. Bache's admirers would otherwise condemn it to. But the moment he abandons his theory and touches the reputation of a veteran whose life has been spent in his country's service, and whose military name stands as high on the roll of well earned reputation as most who have lived before him, the weak attempt, like the distant murmurs of unpleasant sound is lost in idle air. His laurels breathe a higher freshness when assailed by the glimmerings of timid calumny. I was a witness on the spot of General Wayne's conduct, whilst he commanded the western army, and pronounce the representation published by this counterfeit truth, to be a set of abominable falsehoods and the author a poltroon.
BENJ. STROTHER.
Lieut. of the 4th Sub Legion.
WORD TO TRUTH.
To war with it has never been my pursuit ; but when malevolent falsehood assumes the garb, 'tis an act of justice to detect the counterfeit. Comments on the measures of government by an anonymous writer who declares himself unknown to all, and probably might have added unnoticed, until he is used as an instrument in the Aurora, would be dignified by remark and lifted above that insignificance which the good sense of even Mr. Bache's admirers would otherwise condemn it to. But the moment he abandons his theory and touches the reputation of a veteran whose life has been spent in his country's service, and whose military name stands as high on the roll of well earned reputation as most who have lived before him, the weak attempt, like the distant murmurs of unpleasant sound is lost in idle air. His laurels breathe a higher freshness when assailed by the glimmerings of timid calumny. I was a witness on the spot of General Wayne's conduct, whilst he commanded the western army, and pronounce the representation published by this counterfeit truth, to be a set of abominable falsehoods and the author a poltroon.
BENJ. STROTHER.
Lieut. of the 4th Sub Legion.
What sub-type of article is it?
Persuasive
Investigative
What themes does it cover?
Military War
Politics
What keywords are associated?
General Wayne
Military Reputation
Anonymous Writer
Aurora
Falsehoods
Western Army
Poltroon
What entities or persons were involved?
Benj. Strother. Lieut. Of The 4th Sub Legion.
Letter to Editor Details
Author
Benj. Strother. Lieut. Of The 4th Sub Legion.
Main Argument
the anonymous writer's attacks on general wayne's reputation are weak and false; as a witness to wayne's conduct in the western army, the author denounces the claims as abominable falsehoods and the writer as a poltroon.
Notable Details
Witness To General Wayne's Conduct In The Western Army
Refers To The Critic As 'Counterfeit Truth' And 'Poltroon'
Mentions Mr. Bache And The Aurora