[from the Selma (Ala) Reporter, Sept. 24th, 1861.] statement of the ‘"Magnolia Cadets"’ and officers of the Fourth Alabama regiment, Vindicating Capt. Dawson.
Camp Joner, near Bristol. September 3, 1861.
We, the undersigned, members of the Magnolia Cadets, hearing that certain reports have been circulated derogatory to the character of our Captain, N. H. R. Dawson, imputing to him a want of courage on the battle field of Manassas Plains, on the 21st of July last, take this method of publicly denouncing the report as false and slanderous in every particular; and it moreover affords us pleasure to embrace this opportunity of testifying our entire confidence in him, both as a man of courage and a gentleman.
- Lieut. Geo. D. Shortbridge.
- Lieut. S. N. McCraw,
- Lieut. Jno. R. Wilson.
- Ord.Sergt. E. B Waddill,
- Sergt. A.
- Bush W Bell,
- W V May,
- G W Cole,
- J E Densler,
- E W Peoples,
- J W Lamer,
- W C Raiford,
- W L Hodge,
- W L Adams
- E W Baker,
- J W Pryor,
- P L Friday,
- J S Thompson,
- P C Friday,
- H J Friday,
- W H Orear
- H C Bradley,
- Wm H Coursey,
- L Thomas,
- P Cleveland,
- Geo L Reinhardt,
- Sergt. F. Vanghan,
- Sergt. J. W. McKerning,
- Corpl. Frank R. Lamson,
- Corpl. Lewis Cohen,
- Sergt. A. C Price,
- S P Miller,
- G S McNeal,
- J H Ford,
- G W Cleveland,
- R Q Pryor,
- T M May,
- T R Harrell,
- W H Harrison, Sr.,
- D Whallon,
- J G Dunaghey,
- T B Terry,
- Wm C Avery,
- T K Beaty,
- E M Cunningham,
- T M Cook,
- J F Overton,
- S W Cook,
- J W Overton,
- W C Stokes,
- Jake Marshall,
- J R Daniel.
Editor Reporter
Sir:Please find enclosed a card from the members of Capt. Dawson's company, denouncing certain reports derogatory to his character and courage. We presume that every member of the company would have cheerfully signed it too, had they been present. Many of them are absent, sick and wounded. We therefore ask you to publish this card.
W.
Camp Jones, near Bristol, Sept. 3, 1861
We, the undersigned officers of the Fourth regiment of Alabama Volunteers, in view of the many reports now circulating, concerning the conduct of our brother officer, Capt N. H. R. Dawson, of the ‘"Selma Cadets,"’ at the battle of the 21st of July, at Manassas Plains, and reflecting upon the same, take this occasion to express our opinion that the said reports are unjust and untrue, and are vile slanders upon one whom We know and appreciate as an accomplished gentleman, a sincere patriot, and a brave and gallant soldier.
- Porter King, Capt. Co. G, Act'g LtCol.
- Richard Clarke, Capt. Co D. Act'g Maj.
- Jos. Hardie, Adjutant
- T. J. Goldsby, Capt. Co. A.
- P. D. Bowles. Capt. Co. E.
- G. B. Mastin, Capt. Co. F.
- Jas. H. Young, Capt. Co. K.
- E. Jones Glass, Lt. Com'dg Co. B.
- E. C Spragins, Lt. Com'dg Co. J.
- J. J. Kirkman, Lt. Co. H.
We, the undersigned, officers of company C, commanded by Capt. N. H. R. Dawson, cheerfully endorse the foregoing statement as We know, from our own personal knowledge, the charges referred to are base calumnies, and are false from beginning to end.
[Several weeks since we published a card from Col. Byrd, concerning the report alluded to in the above, asking the public to do a soldier the justice to suspend an unfavorable opinion until the facts were known; and we took occasion, at the same time, to remark that after the matter was thoroughly investigated, it would be found that great injustice had been done our gallant fellow citizen, and that the originator would be held up to the public gaze as a sneaking and poisonous reptile in human form. The above documents from Capt. Dawson's fellow comrades will satisfy all of the correctness of our conclusions, and consign to oblivion the work of the villainous traducers. We have received and read letters from Capt. Goldsby, Lieut. S. N. McCraw, Lieut. John Cussons, and others, all corroborating the statements above made, and paying the highest encomiums to the spotless character and soldier-like bearing of Capt. Dawson. The original manuscript of the above statements are in the possession of Col. Byrd, who will cheerfully exhibit them to any-one on application being made.--Editor Reporter.]
