Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-07-05
311ltt.cal.
'UE ak MILITIA MEN.

tensiye oil tne agency Whtth uS ~"
the execution of the six militia men, IN
the year 1915. The letter bears date
the ith of September last, and is as iol-
lows: Nat Int.
GENERAL JACKSON'S STAIEhbNi.
"rruth IS mighty aud shall prevail. In
trigue AID management, tnoapaole on oHhu
folding the vttuDus yeomanFy OF my country
will fs,l of their ends; nor can they impose
any other task on me than that OF defending
myself against their imputaIi0ns. whenever 'he
authors choose TO unmask themseives--a 'ssh
which am always ready 10 perform.
"The case you sIlude to, might as wen be
ascr,bed TO the President Of the United states,
"a eommsnder.,n.c chief OF the land and naval
forces, as to me, bat az you ak lot
statement OF facts, l Sc d them IN concise
form.
''In the year 1914 Col PIpkn AZ the head
IF his dr.fted n,l,tia. was charged with The de-
fence of Fort Jackson, IN the heart OF The Creek
nation, and within 10Y Military District WINS.
thus IN com nand. part OF his regiment mu'inled
---4t the head Of this mu,ny, wasa Mr. Harm,
Preacher and, as my memory now serves me,
of the Babhst profession. tie broke open tht
eomnissary stores. knocked out The heads Of
the Hour barrels taking Tha' he wanted, and
degroying what he plessed-proceedtd then
10 the bake house, and Sc, il or fire. and march
c. oil in open defiance Of the Colonel, leaving
tn garrison without provisions, aud 81 weak
encd BY desertion, that II might have fallen
scslfice TO the Indians was then at Mobile.
Informed of This mutiny and outrage b, express
i ordered the mutlneeTs and deserters 10 DC
pursued. sppFehended and brought back tor
trial. The ring leaders, HaFri, At their head,
after some time, were Appreciated, and brot
to Noodle IN IRONS after had lett there for N
Orleans, and had chstged General Winchester
with the command Of that section ct the coun
try. They were tried by court martial, and
condemned TO die--fye were shot, and the ba
lance partloned The others who had deserted.
before they reached home became alarmed a,
their situation, returned before Harris and his
party were arrested joined me, and Were ior
giveu-were with me when marched 10 Pen
sacoa, in 1914, followed me thence to New.
Orleans where they regained their former good
character by their vaorous and sodiery con
duct, and we're honorsbly discharged These
proceedings are on file in the Department of
War, where, those who wish for truth, can be
informed by spplyug TO the record.
alt is for the public TO Judge, whether this
protested ambassador OF Chris, did not well de.
serve death for the crimes of robbery and ar
son; and this outrageous mutiny, which Jeo
pardsed not only the remainder of the garrison
from its exposed situation, but the safety OF
our countr, and whether this wolf in sleeps
clothing was not fit sub lect of example. Har-
ris. when condemned To die, acknowledged the
justice Of his cond 'mnation; and stated, he had
no hope OF pardon here; but that he had OF
forgiveness hereafter-whch trust he obtain
ed. through the medium OF our blessed Saviour
and a sincere repentance OF bis crimes that
brought on him this condemnation.
'Let it be recollected, that tins mutlny &C.
countty was strained 10 protec, it from tie IN
vason of an overwhelming British force, whose
agents were then engaged in STIRRING up the
Cree Ks to the ind scrminate murder OF our de
fenceless border citizens These are tie facts
Of the case for your infoI nation"
We publish this explanation Of Gen.
jackson. because we are anxious to
render to him entire Justice in every
thing touching his character; and be
cause we wish to lay before our read
ers every authentic fact respecting
mater which has deeply shocked the
public feeling, and reused It's attention.
We will accompany this publication with
but a word or two of remark.
General Jackson defends himself
from blame in tins sangunary business,
By the double plea OF not gully, ana
Just fcation These, we believe, are
not admissible in court of justice, in
the same defence; but far be it from us
to take exception to any informally in
the pleas, if his country acquit him on
either of them. Gen. j. asserts that
"blame might as well be ascribed to
s'the President Of the United States, as
"Commander-in Chief of the land and
"naval forces, as to him." but we fear
that the public verdict will not sustain
him here, as we find by the orders is,
sued BY General jackson on the 22d of
January, 1915, after the sentences OF
the Court Martial had been submitted to
him for bis approval or rejection, that
he announces, "the Major General dp
"prorss the proceedings and sentences of
s'the Court, and orders them to be earri-
"ed into effect. With respect to those
Sentenced to the punishment OF death,
stheir sentence will be carried into ex-
secution four days after the promul ga
'.tion of this order at Mobile"
With great Difference, therefore, we
think that the plea OF justification must
be better made out than that of nom
participation, or the defence will not
be sustained, but on this point we shall
not now again enter The question is
fairly before the tribunal Of public o.
piniop. and its judgment will be render
ed with out p' ejud,ce at least To@Gen.
Jackson's iraukness we are indebted