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

God! and Is the life of an ignorant boy to be
taken because he did not know how to make
his defence! Yea, if he had been ever SO wise
how could he have anticipated that you, hi
General, would, Of your own accord, and ir
the absence Of all proof, have brought charge
against hin; or why did YOU not assign the
prisoner counsel! Ensign Holt, one of the
members of the Court Martial, has informed
mo that no person appeared for Woods-anc
that he does not recoliect that any question.
were asked, or any thing said in his behalf ex
cept by himself. Mr.. Holt Stso informed me
tina. he signed the petition for Woods pardon
and was under the impression that all the
members of the Court had donathe same, al
though not certain. But we are referred to
the "festmohy of Lieut.. Barrett, Ensign Hol'
and private Westmoreland." Where is this
testimony cannot see il; and do you expect
the public will take assertion without proof
as a refuation of the body of evidence | ha We
adduccd! Vain presumption! and venture to
affirm that not one Of those witnesses referred
ton & this boy; nor can any record be pro-
duced. showing that at any former time he
had bsen guilty Of these crimes.
Here let me stop for moment to analyze
the offence, for which the unfortunate youth
suffered death. First, " disobedience Of or
ders' because he refused to do fatigue duty
when he was on guard. Could any order 10
Woods have been legal, or such as he ought to
have obeyed, unless given through the officer
OF the guatd! l think every military man in
the Union will say not Then was Woods
shot for disobeyng an order, which, if obeyed
would have subjected him to be shot; because
IN obeying this order he would have ne ecessa ri
Iy have been missing from his post, and this
would have been a serious crime. The next
IS "disrespect of his commanding officer" To
what officer does this allude? TO Barrett, the
ottcer OF his guard? 1t does not so appear; for
Woods gave up his gnn and surrendered al
soon as this officer told him. To General
Jackson! presume not, unless because he
did not fall down dead, when bis General COM
manded ten balls to be blown through the
Id rascal. Then suppose it must have
been to AdJutant Camp, Truly, if every man
among ra,c militia, Just mustered into SER
vice, was to be shot because they did not
k2ow when, how, where or whom 10 obey,
among their equally rdio officers, there might
soon be but few left. Shot to death for 'dsre-
spec' 10 a man who at that time had no legal
right 10 command him! Farewell liberty, if
such is the feeble tenure upon which we hold
>ur lives. The third charge is 'mutiny.' What
ire the facts' Why in refusing to give up his
gun or be taken prisoner by man who at that
line could have had no legal command over
him; and then walking straight to the officer
IF his guard, who alone had the right to COM
nand him, and TO whom he Immediately gave
" his gun and surrendered. will venture to
'ssert, that this officer, when he 6rst mustered
liz guard for duty, cautioned each and every
'ne of them not to give up their guns TO any
person, under any pretence whatever; and yet
his boy must be shot to death for keeping his,
md going TO his own. officer when il was de-
handed by another. There is hardly a doubt
'ut you"g Woods expected 10 be appl,uded BY
lieut. B,rre,t for his conduct, and probably
would, If he had rot witnessed the fury of his
General But it may be said, Woods was at
lis tent, and not in his proper place. l have
proved BY Mr., Hanna that he had obtained
cave of absence from his officer ; and by
sessrs. Couch, Ferguson and Stewart, that
Vonds told Camp he was on guard, and had
obtained leave of absence. | acknowledge,
Woods had told lie, and was not on guard,
le ought to have been punished for his conduct;
'ut as it was, he might have received praise
instead Of death, without iniuring the SER
ice.
1t is also stated in the defence, that "the
IS are TOO numerous TO be noticed, and their
estnnouy altogether 100 vague and nnsu5stan-
ial 10 be resirJed." Very sagacious and
prudent course indeed, and for the simple rea-
ION, because they cannot be refuted; like
John G. Anderson, of Nashville" you con-
ider l. highly unnecessary TO adver; to fa cts
heated partizan may consider this sound
ogic, but the sober part olthe community will
lot
You charge poor Woods in the General Or
Ter for his execution. with the crimes of' mu-
my and deserfion," at a previous time. The
,rder says" you, John Woods, in violation Of
,our engagement, of all the principles of hon
,r, and Of The order Of your commanding gen.
,ral, rose in mutiny and deserted. You were
arrested and brought back, and with your
comrades, the General thought proper to gran,
'ou III a parGon." A man i'm the command
# an army may what language he pIeascs
o poor, fallen, PROSTATE acretch, and that
Dretch canrot resent it. What then, must
lave been the feelings of this unfortunate
'oung man, when kneelipg by the side Of his
,oiiin, about to be launched nio an awful
ternty, to hear himself charged by his hu-
name General with crimes he never did COM
MT; and to hear it stated that these alleged
riines constituted the burden Of the order, why
mercy could not be extended to him. None Of
he witnesses with whom | have conversed,
we're nigh enough to have heard the general
rider read. and now express great asionsh-
nent at its contents, as published in the de-
ence.
In proof Of my positions and statements,
cbmii to a candid public the following testi-
nony. The Hon. Mr.. Isacks is acquainted
With Mr.. Brock, and the gentleman who has
'iyen his characteristic him refer for their
tandns; and the Hon. Mr. Polk is in some
egree acquainted with Mcssrs Couch. Fergu-
on and Hanna, and those gentlemen who
ave signed their character - to him also re-
Or. Mr.. Brock did not state with certainty
hat Col. Williams was Judge Adyocate-and
I'LL less so, as to the members Of the Court
10 save, Think Leuts. Parrish aud Davis and
,nsgn Holt were the Court"-the name of
iall was misprint.