Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-06-04
FUN VICE PRESIDENT
RICHARD RUSH.
EXECUTION OF JOHN WOODS.

1
EXECUTION OF JOHN WOODS.
Our readers will recollect that we published
an account some weeks since, of the execution
Of JOHN WooDs, a youth of eighteen years
of age, by order of General Jackson. The
charge was brought against the General by
DR.. ARMSTRONG;, a resident Of Tennessee,
| through the columns of the Kentucky Report
err, under the signature of " A Tennesseean. -
Immediately after DR.. A 's communication was
published, the Whte-W Washng Committee of
| Nashville. attempted an answer, and avowed
that the author dare not give his name to the
public. But contrary to the expectation of the
gentlemen composing that committee, DR..
| Armstrong Immediately avowed himself the
writer, and gave notice, that he should SUBJ
| stantiate the assertions he had made by the
most undoub,ed proof The article which fol-
lows is the reply:
To General .4ndre,o Jackson.
Sir: Your promised defence in the case of
John Woods has ut length reached the public
eye, in the columns of the " Nashville Repub-
lean Of the 18th inst; and what is it! Poor,
| barren, and neagre indeed. did think from
the frequent closetings and conversations |
heard had taken place between your talented
friend, Mr.. Lee, from Virginia, (of steady
habits,) and Colonel Parrish, that l might
probably have some trouble to reply; in that
however, | was mistaken. 1t is true, your de-
tenders have said Something against the char
acier Of the writer; but even if that was cor
rect. would 1t be an answer to a statement Of
facts in the case Of Woods' Surely not.
Before proceeding to answer your defence, |
again reiterate, that l am the sole author of
The several numbers which have lately appear
ed in the "Keniucky Reporter" over the sig.
nature of A Tennessrean. and there ore
the assumption in The Unred States Telegraph
that Andrew Erwin, or any other person, is the
writer, is entirely gratuons and |aise. new
er consulted with Colonel Erwin, eiib her direct.
Iy or indirectly, touching these communica-
tons, until after The second number was prin-
ted and had ONE TO hand, nor until after
had sent tho third number to the press. AT.
ter had seen the publication of"John G. An
derson. of .hashpiiie, addressed Col. Err
win a letter. dated 18th March, 1928. reques-
ting the loan ofrer, ain documents and title pa
pers, 10 establish the allegations in my I'd No.
and this did because I disIiked the trouble
and expense OF procuring copies of the records
from Clerks ices. | was moved 10 make
those publications by the cogltations and re-
lectons of my own mind, unaIded and unassis-
ted by the council or advice Of any other per-
son, with the design to help my countrymen to
form proper est'nnte Of your pretentions; and
now fearlessly challenge a re.u'atlon, by the
united aid of all your followers. Let the pub
lie not be deceived there are many thousands
of the citizens of Tennessee who have never
yet consented to make a military conquerer
a ti,..- ID.
attribute TO recommend him, and many thous-
ands more would think the same way, if they
had iOrtitude to stem the torrent.
The first thing worthy of notice in the de-
fence, is the ins nuafion against the veracity
Of my witnesses, where il is asserted, that 10
color this charge, ho adduces the certificate Of
four persons pur Jorting to state the impress
ions of their memories as to the transa action,
AT the distance Of fourteen years. | shall not
enlarge on the falthlessness of long memory,
or the looseness Of exprrte testimony, SC"
Let me ask every man of reflection in my
country, if he had friend or comrade torn
from his side BY modern R0bespierre, and
sho, to death before his eyes, would he soon
forget the transa ction! Or would it not al
ways be engraved in living characters on the
tablets OF his memory, as long IA reason held
its empire, or, until death shook the fabric
into rnin! And in the case of Brock il was re-
duceI 10 writing at the time.
Again: II is said that "John Woods having
been once pardoncd for the crime Of mutiny
and desertion, was found guilty on the llth
March, 1914, OF the charges Of dsobedicnce
Of orders, disrespcct Of his commanding oili-
GERS and mutiny." Why was the word 'again'
or a second tine,' left out in your defence!
They stand conspicuous in the statements Of
Samuel II. Miller, tn which we are not refer
red nor have the editors OF the Nashville Re-
publican given il place in their paper. Now,
do charge and positively state, that there is
not one word OF truth in the first member OF
this quotat John Woods never did desert
from the army either by Implication or other
wise. He was not with the detachment that
turned back from near Fort S'rother under
Gen. Roberts; and to whom the epit-e's Of
''mu,iny and desertion" have been % literally
applied. The boy joined the company at
Fayetteville, where those troops re-organned
and was Indeed but "A few weeks in camp"
before he was arrested and shot. See the an
nexed proof.
Bat perhaps it will be said, you did not knpw
this act, and ars therefore ercusable. Good