Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-07-31
COM.VUNICdTED.
NAsHvILLE, (renn. 24,h June, 1897.

ject, these doubts win be removed:
COMMUNICATES
NASHVILLE, (renn.) 24,h June 1927.
Gen!lemen-l have just seen, in the Nashville
Republican of The 23d, your very jrdicous remarks
on Binns' Erged letter, from Harris to Gen. Jack
son; aud in order to confirm your sagscious scep-
ticism in relation 10. IL, l send you the following
extracts from General Winche.ter's letters of the
18Th and 22I of January to General Jackson -
They were written from Mobile, where Harris
condemned and executed. In the 6rs,, written the
very day which Binns dates Harrs's Il: ter,
Gen. Winchester says
4" Sir-Your communications OF the 2Sl ult. and
3 II inst. have had the honor TO rcceive.-
My spies from Pasc'gouls and Mavloues' Island,
both agree in hearing Tremendous cannoDading in
the direction of New Orleans on the 18th inst
from early in the morning until late at night.
consider il the last effort of the enemy ia your quar-
ter, and that yourself and army are enveloped in
glory, in this world, deyoutly pray, and If not
better"
In the second. after acknowledging the receipt of
Gen. Jackson's order of the 10Th, he says:-
Your gallant repulse OF the enemy, on the
morning of the Sth inst. fills every breast here with
martial ardor; all anxious TO emulate our brothers
in arms the banks of The Mississippi
From these letters, it is evident, that the 18th,
the very day Bnns dates his pathetic letter from
Harris General Winchester had not heard of The
battle of the Slh; although, according 10 Binns
Harris had, and reminded General Jackson Of the
glorious battle he had just gained.' L; is unne-
cessary 10 comment on the improbsby of the
commanding General, who couesponded regularly
with General Jackson, being Ignorant of a great
military event, at time when Harris, private
soldier, under sentence of death, and in strict con.
hnement, had been acquainted with il long enough
to compose an appea! for mercy. But further
Gen. Jackson approved The sentence of The Cour,
the 22d--and the proceedings of Courts
Martial secret, until they ale confirmed and or.
efe,l n he pd int IL
strange that Harris should have discovered that he
was found guilty, and that his punishment yvas
death. Ii he was as innocent, as Gales represents
him TO have been, he must have expected an &C
quitta, and could moi have c0njectured his SEN
ience.
The letter of The 3d. is the first in which Gen
Winchester mentions having heard of the victory OF
the Ssh and II is not probable intelligence was
then received at Mobile, from New Orleans, in less
than 10 or IL days, the route was very cir
curious one, around by jacksonville and ST. Ste.
phens. Accordingly Gen. w. acknowledges the
order Of the Sd the 10 & that of the 10Th on the
23d. The cannonading heard by Winchester
spies the 18th the bombardnent of Fort
S.. Philip BY British Squadron, the report of
whose heavy ordnance could doubt be heard on the
Pascaeoula and at Mortories Island. AcaiL-If
Harriss had really written the letter published by
Binns, it could not have been received by General
Jackson before he confI med the sentence of the
court--there not being sufficient time between the
10Th and 22i,S so that upon that hypothesis, il
would not appear that Tbs application for mercy
was refused. The fact is. that Harriss neither ap-
piled for pardon to Gen. Jack on. nor deserved it,
lie was guilty OF the most violent and outrsgeou.
mutiny, and richly deserved the punishment which
he suffered. Gen. Winchester, as comma nder OF
the Eastern section of the 9th military District had
full power to confirm the sentence of the court
without reference to General Jackson and II is be-
eved that he declined doing only because he die,
approved the policy of pardonng those OF The GRIM
inals wis were recommended mercy by the
court, and who were actually pardoned by Gen
jackson
AS 10 the prospect of peace, there was nothing
Ike it on the 22i January, the day Gen. Jackson
confirmed the sentence. Fort Boyer, instead of
Mobile, was taken by Gen. Lambert on the I2,b
February, and Admiral Cochrane's letter commu-
nicang the first HetOS of peace, is dated the 18Th
February. The necessity of preserving strict mil
i,ary discipline in the army at Mobile was at no
time greater than the 22d January, when the
British had retired from before New Orleans and
expected at Mobile.
As to the execution Of militia men for violating
the rules and articles of war, at which that tender
patriot Gales is electrified, it may be observed that
discipline and subordinaiIon are as necessary in
army as another, and must be preserved whether
the army consist of militia or regulars Militia
men were shot for deseItion and other crimes by
order ofGenera Washington during the Revolas
tonary War, as they by Gen. Greene
Indeed, you VIII hnd by TeierenCefO JohisOn's life
Of Greene, (vol. 2, r. $50 that the General, who
was educated Quaker had militia soldier execui-
ed for leaving camp, and going home tOfthout
fedUe, simply, although he returned Voluntarily
and joined his regiment. For this act Of ricour,
there was good reason. The army had been
weakened by the practice, which It was found
could no, be restrained by mder punisbments. In
tie Tennessee militia muiiny had occurred 9 or 3
times before, and the leniiy which Gen jackson
exercised in p'rdonins those had hot answ cred
good purpose.
a YIRGINIAN.
*Note. These letters of Winchester axe elyel-
oped in the hand writing OF his secreiary thus --
80 Gen. Winchester, dated 10Th January 1915,
received 3lst 1915, aud Gen. Winchester dated
22d January 1915, received Dist January 1915"
FOR THE E.VQ UIRER
A. meeting Of the Agricultural Society Of
Lower Virginia, held, pursuant 20 adjournment al
che Courthouse in the city of Williamsburg, on The
9TH Of July 1927 present, HUI Garter, President
aud thirty members James Semple Chairman OF
she Committee appointed to prepare list OF pre-
miums, made the following Report, which was a.
greed 10 by the Society:
The Committee Of Correspondence, to The reso-
luton Of the Society, referring Tie subject Of
show and prizes to be had snd awarded or fhs Isl
Monday Of November next, have, according 10
order, had that subject under conslis. alton, and
have agreed upon report which they beg leave 10
submit 10 the Society.
Your COMMITTEES, 10 proceeding 10 discharge their
duties, ind u necessary 20 take view Of the stale
81 the Society 90 the extent, value and character
% the prizes TO be awarded in November next,
must depend chiefly thereon. They congratulate
the Society on tbs addition TO their numbers since