Readers of the NEWS will remember a paragraph in Wednesday's paper under the caption of "A Sell," referring somewhat facetiously to a sensation story in the Commonwealth of the preceding day respecting a reported revolt at Fort Garland. Our cotemporary responded the next day in a tone which revealed its temper as not being the most amiable upon the subject. In consequence we said nothing more, having no desire to provoke ill feelings. Not satisfied with the last word at that time, it came out again yesterday morning in a half column of reflection, direct and by inuendo, against the NEWS and Major Wynkoop, copying first our paragraph of Wednesday and using it as a text. For its imputations against the NEWS, we care nothing. The public has seen what both have said, and we are content to abide its verdict without another word. But Major Wynkoop has been placed in a most unenviable light, and as a friend we deem it a duty to set the matter of his responsibilty right so far as we can do it.
    The Commonwealth people have sought to throw the blame, to a certain extent upon us, for the publication of the item referred to, but the pretense is too preposterous for notice. The fact of the Commonwealth falling as easily into a trap, gave us a good opportunity for "a little joke." We used it without mentioning any name, or a thought of reflecting upon any one.
    The fact of the whole matter is about this: Lieut. Col. Tappan dispatched a messenger from Fort Garland with dispatches to Col. Chivington respecting the enlistment of Veteran Volunteers. As the time is limited, the messenger was instructed to make all possible haste. In crossing the Sangre-de-Christo, he was badly fozen. Reaching the Mexican settlement on the Purgatoire, he prevailed upon another Mexican to take the dispatches and hasten through with them, which he did, making the journey in the remarkably short time of two days. He arrived in the night, suffering with cold, and by accident reached the house of a friend before proceeding to headquarters. There, while he was warming, the subject of his message came up and he stated that he knew nothing about it--the dispatches were sealed--except that the first messenger had told him that there was trouble below and he must make all possible haste.
    A few persons who were present when the story was told, repeated it, with the usual additions and embellishments, and so it reached Major Wynkoop, who was at the theatre. He hurried to headquarters and soon learned the true character of the dispatches. Before leaving the theatre, however, the matter was the subject of conversation in the ante-room, in the presence of the local editor of the Commonwealth, which accounts for its finding its way into the columns of that paper. Caution and a careful regard for public feeling, would have dictated to the editor to go to headquarters before publishing such a story. We do not believe that Major Wynkoop ever declared "upon his honor as a gentleman," that there was no "sell" about it; that is, we do not believe he personally vouched for the truth of the story. He told it as he heard it, and so did others. We heard all about it, form a gentleman who was present at the first conversation held with the messenger after his arrival, but we never would have been so incautious as to publish it upon such authority.
    Now, in regard to the Commonwealth's plea that Major Wynkoop did not avail himself of its columns, over his own signature, to correct its foolish error; its editor, perhaps, has yet to learn that it is not his province to dictate who shallcontribute to its columns, nor when and how it shall be done. We are informed that Major Wynkoop did explain to one of its editors the nature and origin of the story, and requested him to correct it, which he failed to do.
    For the sake of Major Wynkoop we regret that the Commonwealth has had even the slightest cause for charging us with the responsibility of fixing upon him the authorship of the "sell." Nothing was further from our thought, and only a consciousness of its own error could have prompted so contemptable a subterfuge. With this explanation, we are content to have the public say whose is the "attempted outrage upon the public." Our cotemporary may talk about the matter as long as it pleases.
    P.S. Since writing the above yesterday, the following card has been handed us for publication. It speaks for itself.

                                                  DENVER, JANUARY, 1st 1864.
    FRIEND NEWS:--The "Fort Garland ?" having greatly exercised "The ab?" of ye Commonwealth, I make use of your columns to refute as far as Major Wynkoop is concerned their wholesale allegations ? m aware that Major Wynkoop was ? in his assertion with regard to dispatches from below, as I was with him at the time he was informed of the arrival of said dispatches, one nearly ignore the ? of the attempting to foist a "sell" on the citizens of Denver.                    Truly Yours,
                                                              SAM D. HUNTER.

Source:

Unknown, "The 'Commonwealth' Indulges In An Angry Growl," Daily Rocky Mountain News, Denver, Colorado, Saturday, 2 January, 1864, Page 2.