Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-06-19
From the National MfeiHgencer.
THE. SIX MILITIA MEN.

| We find in the Baltimore Republican, Of
! Monday, extracts Of letter from General JACK
SON himself, 20 gentleman in Baltimore, ex.
planatory and defensive OF the agency which he
| had in the execution Of the six militia men. in
the wear 1915 The letter bears date the 4,h
Of September last, and is as follows:
GENERAL JACKSO:'S STATEMENT.
"rruth is mighty and shall prevail. Intrigue
and management, incapable of blind folding the
virtuous yeomanry Of my country, will fail Of
their ends; nor can they impose any other task
on me than that Of defending myself against
their impulation, whenever the authors choose
10 unmask themselves-a task which am al
ways ready to perform
"The case YOU aude to- might as well be as.
cribed to the President Of the United States, as
commander-in.chiefo Of he land and naval forces,
as to me; but as you ask for statement Of the
facts, | send them in q concise form
"In the year 1914, Col. Pipkin, at the head
of his drafted militia, was charged with the de-
fence Of For, Jackson, in the heart OF the Creek
nation, and within my Military District Whilst
thus in command, part Of his regiment mutt.
ned-at the head Of this mutiry, was Mr..
Harris, Preacher, and, as my memory now
serves me, the Baptist profession He broke
open the commissary stores, knocked out the
heads of the -four barrels, taking what he want
ed, and destroying what he pleased-proceed
ed then to the bakehouse, and set it on fire, and
marched off in open defiance Of the Colonel,
leaving The garrison without provisions, and so
weakened by deserlion, that it might have fall
en- sacrifice 10 the Indians. | was then at
Mobile. Informed Of this mutiny and outrage
by express, ordered the mutneers and desert
ers TO be pursued, apprehenIed, and brought
back for trial. The ring-leaders, Harris at their
head, after some time, were apprehended, and
brought TO Mobile in irons. after had left there
for New Orleans, and had charged General
Winchester with the command Of that section
of the country They were tried by court
martial, and condemned 10 die--fve shot,
and the balance pardoned. The others who
had deserted, before they reached home, became
alarmed at their situation, returned before Har-
ris and his party were arrested, joined me. and
were forgiven-were with me when marched
to Pensacola in 1914 followed me thence to
New Orleans, where they regained their former
good character. by their valorous and soldiery
conduct, and were honoraby disc harged. These
proceedings are Oh file in the Department OF
War, where, those who wish for truth, can be
informed by applying to The record
sit is for the public to Judge, whether this
serve death for the crimes Of robbery and arson;
and this outrageous mutiny, which jeopardised
not only The remainder of the garrison, from its
exposed situation, bu, the safety Of our country
and whether this wolf in sleeps clothing was
not a fl subjec, ofexample. Harris, when con-
demned to die, acknowledged the justice of his
condemnation; and stated, he had no hope Of a
pardon here, butthat he had offorgiveness here
afier-whch ,rus, he obtained, through the
medium ofour blessed Saviour and sincere re.
prntance Of his crimes that brought on him this
condemnation.
LET il be recollected, that this mutiny occur
red al period when every nerve of our coun.
try was strained 10 protect il from the invasion
of an overwhelming British force, whose agents
were then engaged in string up the Greeks 10
The indiscriminate murder Of our defenceless
border citizens. These are the facts Of the case,
for your information
We publish this explanation of General
Jackson, because we are anxious TO render TO
him entire justice in every thing touching his
character; and because wish to lay before
our readers every authentic fact respecting
matter which has deeply shocked the public
feeling, and reused Its attention We will ac-
company this publication with but word or
two of remark.
General Jackson defends himself from blame
in this sangunary business, by the double plea
of mol guilty. and Justification These, we believe.
are not admissible in court OF Justice, in the
same defence; but far be it from US to take ex-
eeption to any informally in the pleas, if his
country aequit him on either Of them Gener-
al Jackson asserts thst blame "might as well
be ascribed to the President of the United
States, as COMMANDMENTS Chief Of the land and
naval forces, as TO him." but we fear that the
public verdict wilInot sustain him here, as we
flnd by th" orders issued by General Jackson on
the 22d OF January, 1915, after the sentences of
the Court Martial had been submitted to him
for his approval or rejection, that he announces
"the MAJOR General approves the proceedings
and sentences Of the Court, and orders them to
be carried into effect With respect to those
senlensed TO the punishment Of death, their SEN
ience will be carried into execution four days
after the PRONUNCIATION Of this order at Mo-
bile"
With great Difference therefore we think that
the plea Of justification must be better made out
than that OF non-par,icipation, or the defence
will not be sustained. but nm this mint we shall