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If you read the ‘Southern Historical Papers,’ you must have observed how frequent are the contributions in regard to events of the war, and it has been my ardent wish that all who acted the patriots' part in our conflict, should publish in papers of the Society, a full account of whatever was specially known by them, so that its files should be a reservoir of facts for the use of the future historian.
If I had kown of the success mentioned by you, especially the daring feat of attacking the flagship Minnesota in a steam launch, I should doubtlesa have found space for an act of devotion like that of Glassell, but I should not have given to the narrative the graphic effect, which you, as the actor, can throw into it, nor have shown as you may the efficiency of the spar torpedo.
I hope that many officers that performed good service with torpedoes, may not think themselves treated with injustice because not named by me, but the rather find themselves included in the general notice quoted above, and sympathizing in the desire for a complete record, will do what I could not in contributing full reports of their services.
When I undertook the task of defending our cause, it was with the expectation of hostile criticism from our adversary, and with the readiness to encounter that.
My former letter to you, which you wish me to remember, was written from a desire to serve you and evinced my esteem for you as an officer, and my regard for you as a man.
Regretting the dissatisfied tone of your communication to which this is a reply, I am respectfully,
(Signed.)
Sir—Your letter of the 25th of January is at hand.
It was not my intention to continue this correspondence beyond your answer to my first letter, but that answer is such an aggravated repetition of the injustice you have done me in your book that I cannot refrain from calling your attention to the repeated historical mistakes you make.
You say: ‘On page 102, Vol. 2, you may see to what I attribute the repulse of the enemy's fleet at Drewry's Bluff, and that the enemy, like myself, thought it was our artillerists and riflemen who disabled them and drove off the fleet.’
The attack to which you thus refer occurred in the early part of
