Stearns' War Record

The A.lrian Times, Tom Applegate s paper, last week publiuhed a fac timile of a letter from the chief clerk of the war department in Washington whichsays that Willard Stearns "tendered his resignation at the request of the colonel cominandingthe regiment," and it was accepted "for the good of the service " Oct. 29, 1864. The regiment referred to was the llth Michigan cavalry. As Mr. Stearns is now the Democratie candidate for congress in this district, the letter is very disturbing to his peace of mind. The votere are not yet so far removed from war times that they can readily overlook a bad break in the army record of a Union soldier. It ia only fair, however, to give Mr. Stearns' reply to this extremely serious charge. He does not deny that he resigned as statd in the letter, bat does deny that it was beeause of any faultof his. He claims that it was due to a personal quarrel between himself nd Col. Brown. Stearns had been the war correspondent of the Detroit Free Press (not a very patriotic position) and had denounced Col. Brown in the columns of the copperhead sheet. Brown, fore, acconiing to Stearns, was determinedtoinjurehim. Theexplanation ie a long one.bnt the pointe are as follows: Stearns was given a sick furlongh. He came home and epent his time in recruiting for Co. H. which had ben depleted in numbers. He took his recruito to camp and they partidpated in two battles. The new recruita were then summarily assigned to other companies, and brothers and friends were thus separated. They were angry and blamed Stearns, who took them to the colonel and pleaded that they might remain in Co. H. This led to bitter language between the two, Mr. Stearns daring the colonel to a personal encounter. This insubordination was punished by giving Stearns the privilege of reaigning. The Demócrata raised a pole at the Stone school house in Pittsfield. Some wag had tied a beer bottle near the streamer, and because the Democrat raised the pole without noticing it, many facetioua things have been said.