Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-06-04

unteer Light Infantry rendezvoused at Fayette
vile, Lincoln County, on the l7th inst. (De
cetnber 1879" in order to be mustered int
service against the Creek Indians. That
accordingly notified the men attached 4
my command OF this order. and the Com
pany did on the 18th Of December, 1918, rem
devious at Fayetteville, 81 strong. At th
| time rumor was among the soldiers that some
difficulty Or misunderstanding had occurred
| with those then in service as TO the time fo'
which they could be legally detained. Tt
| prevent like occurrence with the soldiers o.
my company, called upon General Robert,
| to ascertain of him the time Of service te bt
required ofthem, and after some converse tior
upon the subject, to fores'al every difficulty,
had drawn up in the handwriting Of the pres
ent Col. VIM. Burnet, Of the county, roll OF
| list Of the names OF every man then present
superscribed with the following condition upon
which my company entered the service, to wit:
ave. the undersigned Volunteers oftbe Light
Infantry of the 2Sih Regiment, do agree TO
serve a tour Of duty of three months against
the Creek Indians, if not sooner Discharged
= and upon which John Woods name is not
to be found and that upon said paper or roll
and between two columns in which the names
OF the men stood, General Roberts wrote with
his own hand as follows: Received Captain
Harris company agreeably to the above con.
ditIons.
ISAAC ROBERTS, b. Gn
General Roberts assured the troops that they
should be received by Gencral Jackson for the
term of service for which they considered
themselves volunteering. TO wit-three months
and we in short time took up the line of
march, to enter the service and perform every
requisition that could be legally required of a
soldier. When we had arrived within a few
miles OF the ten Islands, General Roberts halt
ed his troops, and went to General Jacksons
camp 10 acquaint him of the arrival of the
troops, and OF the terms upon which they had
entered the service. The next morning, Rob.
ers' Brigade, or the troops taken out by him,
received i communication from Gen. jackson
through Col. Sitter, that they could not, or
would not be received by him for less term
than six months. General Roberts then told
his troops they were discharged and at liberty
to 60 home or join the commanding General
as they pleased, to which, as well as l recol-
lecf, Col. Sttler said TO the troops that if they
attempted to go home they would be stopped
The soldiers, or most of those alta ched to nv
company, did go home, myself with the rest,
and with them William Rager. in whose place
John Woods did afterwards, upon the second
return Of the company to Fayetteville, on their
way to the Creek Nation, substitute ,as know
OF my own knowledge, and which is further
shown by the company roll made out at that
place, as the second rendezvous, upon which
ms name appears as substitute. This roll is
now IN my possession. Woods was not quite
eighteen years old,and not yet subject TO mhr-
IN duty according TO the information | then re-
ce,ved; but having a brother, william Woods,
gong Out in the company, he spoke Of volun.
teering, but while at Fayetteville, during the
second rendezvous of this company, he substi-
tu'ed, ms have before said, and went on in
That character; and until the Goth of February.
1914, when lcf Fort Strother for Huntsville,
by order OF the commanding General, Woods
conducted himself as orderly as any other SOL
dier belonging TO the company. so far us came
to my knowledge, and was not, during that
period, guilty or tried Of any offence, so far as
knew. These troops were aferwards dis
missed and received their discharge for three
months.
JAMES HARRIS.
The undersigned certify, that we belonged
to the company commanded by Captain James
Harris of a detachment commanded by Gen
Roberts, and were out when the dcta chment
first went and progressed, near 10 the Ten is-
lands, from which place we returned VIM.
Rager went with us-and afterwards re-as-
u
Woods joined the company, ms n substitute in
the place Of William Ragcr. and went on and
joined the army at Fort Strotber, during which
time we were all in The habit Of seeing Woods
every day, and during that time know Of no act
OF dlsebcdence on the part Of Woods, or in
subordinatIon, until the affair for which he was
executed Woods hat deporied himself. so far
as we know, as well as the soldiers commonly
OF that company, or any other; and we all
know, and positively certify, that he never, be-
fore that time, either deserted or had been
guilty Of mutny. And I, William Stewart,
further certify, that had known Woods from
a small boy, and knOp he had never served any
other tour Of duty than the one in which he was
engaged at the time he was shot. We have
also heard tho statement of Captain Harris,
grea, part Of which we know to be CORE Ct, and
have entire confidence in the truth Of the
whole.
WILLIAM STEWART
JOSEPH ALEXANDER
ISAAC ANDERSON.
was also in the company commanded by
Captain Harris, and was with his company
when they first went out near TO the Ten Is.
lands, and returned with them. John Woods
was not then along. When the company re-
assembled at Fayetteville, understood Woods
substituted in the place Of William Rager, and
from that time went on with the company 10
Fort Stoiher. lf he was guilty OF disobedi-
ence Of orders, insubordnation, utiny or des-
erton, previous TO the affair for which he was
executed, l never heard of it.
ABM. WINERY,
State Of Tennessee, bedford County, March 0, 1923.
Being requested to state what I remember
Of the crime and circumsi ances which led 10
the execution of John Woods, at Fort Siroibcr
a soldier under the comma nd of General Jack
son do hereby certify and seclare, that be-
longed TO The same company with Woods, and
was leaning on pole thavng beon sick for
one or two weeks previous) within eight or
ten steps Of Woods. who was seated on the
ground eating his breakfast. having just come
from his guard-6re. when a man by the name
of Camp, who was said TO hold some commits
sion i'm The Staff IDapartm, nj was pa ssinp