orable Secretary of War, with such favorable indorsement as you may think the case demands. I would also ask for authority, in any case, to visit Memphis for the purpose of procuring such papers as may be necessary for my defense at this or at any future time.

I am, colonel, very respectfully, &c.,

S. D. STURGIS,

Brigadier-General.

[Indorsements.]

JANUARY 18, 1865.

Respectfully submitted to the Secretary of War.

A court of inquiry could not be assembled at the present time, with the necessary witnesses now scattered on distant expeditions, without manifest injury to the service.

H. W. HALLECK,

Major- General, Chief of Staff.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

January 19, 1865.

File. A. G. O.

By order:

JAS. A. HARDIE,

Colonel, Inspector- General.

[Inclosure.]

COVINGTON, KY., January 12, 1865.

ADJUTANT- GENERAL OF THE ARMY,

Washington, D. C.:

SIR: As a great many malicious misrepresentations have been spread before the county in regard to my conduct of the campaign into Northeast MISSISSIPPI last summer, by which I have been placed in a false and injurious light before the people and the Government, I would respectfully ask that an opportunity be afforded me of defending myself before a court of inquiry composed of intelligent officers of experience. In case it should be deemed impracticable to order such a court at this time, I would respectfully ask that I be ordered to report in person to the honorable Secretary of War in order that I may be enabled to place myself right, at least, before the Government. I have thus far and for a long time borne quietly, and with as much patience as I could command, the thousand calumnies which have been heaped upon my head, and which (unintentionally, I am sure) have received more or less confirmation by the course which the War Department has been pleased to adopt in regard to me, but I have never abandoned the hope that a just Government, and one to whose interests I have devoted over twenty- two of the best years of my life, would, sooner or later, afford me that hearing which is due to my long and faithful service- due to those friends who have stood by me through evil as well as through good report- due to the truth of history, and due in an eminent degree to abstract justice itself.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

S. D. STURGIS,

Brigadier- General, U. S. Volunteers.