Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-05-13
JOHN HARRIS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE REPORTER.

\ deem
Of the case Of John Harris. one Of :he six mill
,;,r,rn who were shot at Mobile. should not
have troubled the public but for the scommo-
ZION many mis,atemenls have thrown our COM
,rv into. did not know this Was the case un
ali lately and II seems to have been by accident
,b,, heard il. We had declined taking any
newspapers, and were surrounded by Zen. JACK
son,s friends Nv Brother James was enqnired
Of IL he was the sou OF Mr.. Harris that was
execu,ed a, Mobile; and il he had heard what
Jackson and Others were saying about him IN
the public prints.
de,ermined to see what had been said and
was fayoured with newspapers by my friends.
or all statements that have seen, those made
nv Gen. Jackson in a letter TO a gentleman In
B,l,imore, and in a letter 10 MIR. Owens in Ky.
are the most destitute OF truth. The first let
Ter is pack Of infamous lies, that heather
voulc shudder TO tell; and part OF the o'Err
can prove to be false.
The letter bearing date 4th OF September 1870,
was first published in the Baltimore KePuoh>
can. The subioincd extracts are copied from
Niles Register, June a3rd, 1927 p. 2s2.
"Truth is mighty and shall prevail. Intrigue
and management, incapable OF biindioldrng The
virruous 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 imputations, whenever the authors choose
10 unmask tiemselres-a task which am al
ways ready to perform.
"The case that you allude TO might as well be
ascribed 10 The President of the United States,
as commander in chief OF the land and naval
forces as TO me; but as you ask for statement
of facts, | send them in concise form.
sin the year 1914, Col Pipkin al tie head oil
his drafted militia, was charged with the de-
fence of for, Jackson, in the heart oil the Greek
nation, aud within my military district. w mist
thus IN command, part Of his regi ment mu:ini-
ed. Al the head of this mutiny was Mr. Har,
ris, preacher, and, as my memory now serves
me- Of the BAPTIST profession. lie broke open
the commissary stores, knocked out the heads
OF the -four barrels, taking what he wanted *
destroying what he pleased-proceeded then to
the bake-house, ard set il on FIRE, and marched
Fin omen defiance of he Colonel, leaving the
garrison wi,hou, provisions, and so weakened
by descr,ion, that it might have fallen sacri-
Ace 10 the Indians. / was hen al Mobile. In-
formed Of thi, mu'iny and outrage by express,
| ordered the muiinecrs and desrrters 20 be
pursued, apprehsnded, and brought back for
trial. The Iingleaders, Harris al their head,
after some time, were ap?rehended brought
10 Mobile in irons, after had left there for n
Orleans, and had charged Gen. Winchester
with the command OF that section OF the coun-
heV were lfleu Nv q SouIl anu
condemned lo-die-6ve were shot and the ba.
lance oardoned. The Others who had dtst red
before they reached home, became alarmed at
their situation, returned before Harris and his
party were arrested, joined me, and were forgiv-
cn-were with me when marched to Pensacola
in 1914: followed me, thence to n. Orleans,
when they regained their former good cha:ac-
ter by their yalorous and soidlerly conduct, x
were honourably discharged. These prsce ed
ings are on file in the department OF war, where
those who wish for truth, can be informed BY
applying TO the record.
ait is for the public TO Judge, whether this
professed ambassador OF Christ, did not we'll
deserve death for the crimes OF robbery and ar
son; and this outrageous mummy. which Jeopar-
died not only The remainder OF the garrison
from its exposed situation, but The safety OF
our coun,ry-and whe, her this wolf in sleeps
clothing was not fl subject OF example liar
ris when condemned 10 die, acknowledged the
Justice of his condo mnation, and stated he had
no hope Of a pardon here, but that he had oil
forgiveness hereafter-whicn trust he obtain
ed, through the mediation Of our blessed Sa
viour, and sincere repentance Of his crimes
that br ought on him his condemnation.
"Let il be recollected, tina, this mutjny oc-
cured at period when every nerve oil our coun-
try was strained 10 protect IL from the invasion
Of an overwhelming British force whose agents
were then engaged it stirring up the Greeks to
the indiscriminate murder of our defenceless
border citizens. These are The facts OF the case,
for YOUR Information"
I Sc, ouI with Jackson's motto-"Truth is
mighty and shall prevail"
/. Gen. Jackson says, Harris "broke open the
commissary stores, Knocked out the heads Of
the -four Barrels, taking wha. he wanted, and
destroyed what he plessed-proceeded then to
the bakehouse, and set it on Ere and marched
off in open defiance of the Colonel" Now, not
a word of this Is true. See John Mays cerlif-
cate below and the charge for which he was
fried by the Cour, martial. Gen. Jackson ought
70 have recollr cted, AS puoiic or private
man, spe akiog Of transactions which concern
the reputation and characters OF others, every
manly feeling shooid remind MN, 'na' nc ousnl
10 be guided Oy established facts, not by the