The Enquirer

TO THE EDITOR.

SIR—My great indisposition contracted, I am apprehensive at the time of the fire of the 16th inst. prevented the customary perusal of your paper:—Nevertheless, I have accidentally seen a communication from one of your correspondents of the 23d current, throwing out an imputation upon the Officers & some of the Centinels of the 19th Regiment, which when seen by the world, seems well calculated to impress upon the mind, that the officers of this Reg't. were undeserving the confidence reposed in them. If, Sir, a consciousness of my own exertions and a knowledge of the exertions of others, did not justify my meeting your correspondent upon the ground he has stated, prepared with evidence more than sufficient to prove the incorrectness of his assertion, I might suffer his attempt to calumniate the officers and centinels of Richmond, with all that silence which guilt and submission inculcates.—

But, Sir, I feel alive with all the sensibilities of humanity. I have felt at all times the highest pride and particularly at a crisis like this, to execute with firmness and vigilance all the duties required of me in my military capacity.

I have ever endeavored to sustain unsullied, the character of a soldier, and the dignity of an officer, and I should feel as if I had derogated from my duty as an officer and pride as a soldier, if I were to remain silent, and see a charge so serious in its nature levelled at the officers of the 19th Reg't.—

Your correspondent has asserted to the world that "sometimes the officers are incapable of doing their duty, and the centinel is obliged to stand at his post until nearly exhausted with cold and fatigue," and by the sentence before advises that "attention should be paid to the centinels over the saved furniture and property; who are too apt to desert their posts and leave their arms." Now, Sir, who are to attend the centinels but the officers, and if according to his account they are sometimes incapable of doing their duty, it will be a cross and pile chance whether duty of that kind can be done or not. Why should the phraseology of his communication be so general as to include the officers? Why had he not come forward with his accusation in form? If any or the whole have become incapable sometimes, from what cause does it proceed? Is it inebriation, or is it from a palpable intention of the officers to betray the confidence reposed in them by their Government? If either Case the hand of justice may be made to reach them. The Gentleman will certainly see himself mistaken when he reflects upon the expression used. If he can adduce evidence in support of such a charge against either an officer or soldier, he withholds from the community, that justice which I feel a solicitation to see imparted; and which his duty as a citizen requires him to do.

HUGH DAVIS.

Richmond, 29th Jan. 1812.