Camp Pickens — Company "H"--Justice to Capt. Beggs--Miscellaneous News.
A correspondent, writing from Camp Pickens, June 26, makes a statement in reference to Capt. F. J. Boggs, of the First Regiment, which we take pleasure in publishing: In the Dispatch ‘"local,"’ of the 24th inst., several extracts are given from a letter dated at this place. All the statements contained in those extracts were news to nearly every man in this camp, excepting perhaps the correspondent who made them. He may not have designed to misrepresent facts; but, whether willfully made or not, the statements are all misrepresentations. In regard to the assertion that Captain F. J. Boggs is disliked by some of the men under his command, I, as a member of Company H, must say that, to the best of my knowledge and belief — and I have every opportunity of knowing — no officer on the ground is regarded with more respect and esteem, by all with whom he is associated, than our Captain.--In all positions in life a man's conduct is a subject for criticism. Few persons think alike on any subject, and the attempt to please all would simply result in the failure to please anybody. The incumbent of any office should conscientiously discharge the duties pertaining to that office. When in the exercise of those duties the likes and dislikes of perhaps a hundred men are involved and affected, all of which must necessarily be disregarded, is it surprising that some are displeased and give expression to their discontent? There are grumblers in our company, I confess; but it is to the duties — the little minutia of military life-- that they object to, and with which they quarrel — not the Captain. In saying Captain Boggs is a strict disciplinarian, the ‘"correspondent"’ pays him a compliment well deserved, and which I hope he will continue to merit. I would not have alluded to this subject, did it not seem that an underhanded effort was made to disparage a good man by so alluding to him in a sentence just preceding the one in which another is alluded to that an invidious comparison would naturally follow. It does not need the disparagement of Capt. Boggs, late Chaplain of this regiment, or any other man, to elevate Dr. Teeling in the estimation of the public. His many qualities as a man and Christian have already done so, and will ever keep him there. The Washington Volunteers, Company A, Capt. Sherman, have been attached to the First Regiment, and are now in camp with us. They are a gallant company, and will prove a valuable acquisition to our forces. The Howitzer Batteries of Captains Latham and Shields had a target practicing on Saturday evening last. At a distance of 800 yards, the shooting was excellent, a number of balls being put into a space less than the size of a man. Several shells were fired, and exploded with extraordinary precision. One of them did rather more execution than was expected of it, by bursting in the midst of a flock of sheep that chanced to come in range, killing seventeen. The next day we had ‘"sheep meat"’ for dinner. Yesterday Latham's battery was sent to Centerville. Via.
