23 [ 1 ] 



With tills ;i]i()loo-y, I hn|-)e and believe you will make dtic allowaiiee for 

 tlic liberty which I take in sen<liii<r you the enclosed letter received at a late 

 hour to-nioht, tVoni my hrother-in-hnv- 



('onviiiced as I am, that alter a Ihll investigation of the mattci', you will 

 find gross injustice, indicted hy the order in ciuestion, upon Col. raiuitle- 

 roy. I am e(|u;dly certain that a strict sense of justice will induce you t'_) 

 repair the injury ajs speedily as possible. 



Very respectfully, &.c., &r., &c.. 



Your obedient servant, 



C. M. FAUNTLEllOY. 



Hon. ('. M. Con RAO, 



ScLfc'dri/ of War, M'ashiagton. 



Baltimore, January IGth, I'^-ll. 



Df.au CiiAULKs : — I have your note of last evening, and in reply will give 

 you the opinion of otheis on the subject of that oi'der. 



I was inlbnned of it by a start" ollicer of some rank (himself a brevet,) 

 and much service, who mentioned it as a remarkal)le and irregular paper, 

 0[)posed to precedent, usage, and the known law on the subject, and of very 

 injurious tendency; and one which he sincerely hoped and believed had not 

 the knowh'dge oi' sanction of the Secretary. 



A second oilicer (one of tlie 7th intanti'y) spoke to me of the hardship 

 of Col. Plympton's position as second in command at Jeilerson barracks, 

 while Lt. Col. Sumner was allowed the command at Leavenwoith, (proper- 

 ly the head quarters of the 1st regiment,) but spoke of the assignment ot 

 Col. P. to his brevet rank, as an act of oppression, and that it would be so 

 viewed by every one cognizant of the circumstances. 



Ln my own opinion il is a most unwarranted personal attack under the 

 mask of olliciid aulhoiity upon Col. F. and unequalled in my army expe- 

 rience. 1 1 ])laccs Col. F's. reputation at the mercy of his enemies, and 

 gives authority for asserting that being unfit for command he was super- 

 ceded. 



Under the much arritaled brevet rank system as it is now received and 

 understood, this order is illegal, and at variance with the rules of special 

 assigmneiit to brevet lank by the President alone. It is injurious in its ac- 

 tion, for tlie s.iiue applicallon may ]ilace the captain of a company in com- 

 mand ot liis ('oloiicl, or a lieutenant in command ot" his captain. 



Col. Plympton's family should not be a valid reason for iidlicting a se- 

 vere oificial disgrace and degi'edation upon Col. Fauntleroy, lor ;;s such be 

 will feel it, and as such both his friends and enemies will view it. Finally, 

 this is the first move in a new scheme of annoyance to carry out jjersonal 

 hostility uiuU'i- cover of ollicial ])ower. Colonel Plvni|)fon \s not a favo- 

 rite with the originator of this scheme, but Lt. Col Sumner is. Col. 

 I''aiint lei-ov's p-i-opcr [losition is !''ort Leavenworth, but it is not desirable to 

 n-move Col. Suianei-. To avoid this, an oincial insult is given to Colonel. 

 F;iuntlero\, he will ])i-ot('st and icply to it, in this rejoinder opportunity 

 will be sought and found, to place him in the wrong. His .p(isitinn thus 

 weakened, the next move will be to oidcr him to Santa Fe, New Mexico, 

 or elscwlie;-e, with a Major";": command, leaving Col. Sumner to a!l intents; 



