1861 July 8 Centreville [Virgnia]

W L Fretwell Esq

Dear Sir

When I returned
from Charlottesville on Friday
last I was informed that I had
been removed from the Office
of Commissary, and that you
had been appointed in my place
I was really astounded at the
intelligence as I could not call
to mind any action of mine
to justify such a course
particularly during my absence
and without a word of explanation
from me. I felt that some
great misapprehension as to me
or my conduct existed--
I found that you left for
Charlottesville very early on
Saturday morning which
prevented any possibility of my

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seeing you. I immediately
sought an interview with Gen
Cocke. he saw my papers wherein
I was exonerated from all blame
and expressed himself as sorry
that he had acted in so hasty
a manner; he said that the
papers threw an entirely different
light upon the subject, but
stated that as he has made
the appointment he could not
go behind his word---some
of the officers of the regiment
intend signing a petition to
reinstate me. as I was removed
without cause, I have thought
fit to write to you to let you
know how the matter stands
and also what steps I am
taking to set myself fight
Major Skinner Major Fowle and
Major Smoot voluntarily

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exonerate me from all
responsibility about the non-
arrival of the Beeves, it being
Major Fowle's fault, he not being
able to forward them from
Manassas. The way in which
I was cut down being without
cause or reason, and that too
when I was absent on Gen
Cocke's leave on regimental
business principally, seems to
imply some disgrace, which I
shall certainly make some effort
to remove--understanding from
Lieut Colier[?] that if my
removal was not fair and
square ^'that you would not accept the office I thought that a
statement of the cercumstances
was dut to you before coming to my
final decision I have been
put to great expense - (for me)
in preparing myself for the
discharge of the duties of the

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office, and now think it had
to be able to get no return
I hope either to hear from you
or to see you at an early
day when I can make a
fuller explanation to you

I am Dear Sir Yours very truly

R G Baily

for a previous account of this contretemps see the July 5 letter of J. Richard Smoot, beef contactor, and order of July 3 concerning Rice G. Bailey

MSS 640