Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-08-20
From the Renfueky Gazette of .qag. 81.
RoBERTsoN SPRINGS, July 26. I8

ROBERTSON SPRINGS, July e6, 1927.
Dear Sir:-Your letter Of the 22d inst. was
handed to me, late last evening, and hasten to
answer the inquiries, as requested, in regard TO
the case Of Harris and the other five militia
men who were executed at Mobile
The regiment, 10 which these unfortunate
men belonged, was received into the service by
the orders of the general government, was mus
tered for six months tour, and was paid ac-
cordinyly, for said service, as will appear by the
muster and pay rolls, and by Colonel Pipkin's
report to me. These rolls, with Colonel Pip.
kin's report, the proceedings and sentence Of
the court martial detailed for the trial, and all
the circumstances connected with the subject,
| are, or ought 10 be, on record at Washington
| City, where, have no doub,, Mr. Buckner has
lad full opportunity OF examining them.
confidently assert, that they stampihe allega.
tons Of Mr. Buckner with fasehoo1
The letter which MIR. Buckner now makes
use Of, in order to injure my character, is we'll
ascerlained 10 be forgery. Ii was frs, pub
lished by Binns, editor Of the Democratic Press,
purpor,ing TO be letter from the unfortunate
Harris 70 me. Now This man never wrote bu,
one letter 10 me, that ever saw or heard Of be-
fore this publication, and in that he acknow-
lodged himself to be guilty of the enormous
crimes charged against him, and stated his vii.
ingness 10 NEE, the just sentence of the court.
ii Mr. Buckncr was as DESTROYS TO Gull the truth
from the archives OF the nation, rs he is 10
pluck from me my hard earned reputation, he
would have seen that Gen. Winchester, who
commanded at Mobile at the time that this
Binns's letter is dated, made several communi-
cations to me after that date, and before he had
any knowledge that the BATH Of y. Orleans had
been fought Does not this circumstance shew
the impossibility of Mr.. Harris having this
knowledge al the time stated, and still more
that he could have gained il in time to have
made it a ground of application for mercy
The letters of General Winchester to me show
6y a hs q b eof 7 ffee jssssS forged letter
gives the intelligence 10 Mr. Harris two days
before. Strange indeed, tina, Mr. Harris close
ly confined in Jail should be so much earlier in
formed than the commandant Of that posi-.
|, would give me great Measure TO sen2 you
printed copies from the documents in my pos
session, properly certified proving what have
here asserted, but it is impossible that this can
be done within so short period as that reqnes-
ted. .rust, however, that the statement here
made will be sufficient, with all honorable
men, to counterfeit the false impressions sought
TO be forced upon the freemen Of Kentucky, 10y
Mr.. Buckner.
AS public or private man, speaking CT
transactions which concern the reputation and
character of others, every manly feeling should
remind him, that he ought TO be guided by es.
,ablished facts, not Ivy the hear-Say ola party;
and when he thus produces facts, or the least
| plausible ground upon which to bottom such
charges, as those which you have recited,
pledge myself TO be at all times ready to meet
him at the bar of my country.
It may be proper to remark in conclusion,
that the finding Of the court, proves in service
| or otherwise, that they must have been acqult-
| ted. Iapproved of their condemnation, because
they were the promoters and ringleaders Of the
mutiny and deser,ior,, committed al period,
when the safety of our Southern frontiers was
threatened-at period, which called for the
most energetic measures, and when every nerve
of the government was stretched in the defence
of our liberties. When they violated the law
in such atrocous manner; the public good de-
manded their sacrifice Had they done their
duty as faithful soldiers, their country would
have rewarded them with its protection and
gratitude.
| / am Sir. YOUR most obedent servant. q
ANDREW JACKSON:
WILLIAM Owens.
P.S. 1t will be recoected in the Revolution
ary war, at that time OF great trial, General
Washington ordered deserters to be shot with
out t,ial. Captain Reed under this order hav
arrested three had one shot without trial, and
his head brought to the General; but he Gene
raj Washington reprimanded Reed Tor not
shooting the whole three Gen. Green near
Rudelv's mill, South Carolina, says Gordon's
history. had eight men hung, on one pole for
deser,ion. -JoRnson's life Of Green says 1--WE,
without Courtmartial-I only approved OF the
proceedings of a court composed Of men who
were the friends and neighbours of those to be
tried by them.
Respectfully.
NASHVILLE, July II, 1927.
J. Robert w Hart Adjutant General OF the
6ret Rr;pade Of Tennessee Militia, in the late
Southern War, to certify that was at the en-
eampment, within three miles of Mobile II IN
1914. when Court Martial of which Col. Pc
ter pipkin was President, was organized Tor the