Viewing page 267 of 349

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

35th

much pain. And give our rebel neighbors very great pleasure. I therefore counselled quietness and consideration. Sometimes afterward, or about those days (verbatim) the self same day, I mentioned to Bruce that whatever action was to be taken, it would be well to have something from him in black and white, as to his ideas in the whole matter. About that time I waited on Gen'l Ely as to the case, he informed me that they there (meaning his Hd Qrs) had no fault to find with Mr Bruce (verbatim) that the entire action came from the office Bruce was in. He assured me Bruce was an entire stranger to him, 
whom he did not remember of seeing but once or twice, and had never spoken to at all. Immediately I wrote Maj R a note, I told him I wanted to talk in confidence with him, as a friend and brother. I reported to him the conversation with Gen'l Ely. He gave the direct contradiction to Gen'l Ely's statement. I cautioned him that there was something sadly out of joint and impressed upon him the necessity of being exceedingly careful how he comported himself in this business. I told Maj R I wanted to hear no more statement pro or con, I wanted to be his friend, Bruce's friend, and Gen'l Ely's friend also. And 

[[left margin]] 5 10 15 20 25 28 [[/left margin]]