Arkansas intelligencer., 1843-09-30

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of War aga -; ~ = lBs cp as an immo-
ral ana worthless Character, unworthy of credit,
,wlose statements respecting Col. Mason, and the
manner In which the court conducted its proceed
uss' 10 screen this officer, would be made imme-
dotely after the close eff This vexatious and noor
/. - quar-. ~, Of;the object and aim of this order,
t;a.,;o aware as my efforts to have IN inves-
Vi Inc affair to which it relates, and the
ordan I OF such an unfair, partial and unjust
o'uer' nave been Intellectual.
~ D''"Panylng. also send YOU my letter to
~, @ davenport, and his answer, which will at
,ho s.o" you that he is determined TO persist in
docs ,o'cement ~ OF this illegal order; and where he
i,s erf' sen pretend 10 disguise his partiality in
of wh;,t eIt'eht. He saysthat he made the order
"'i'ch l complain, "upon full consideration
"'u c khowedge of so much of the case 10 which !,
t'iat Is SO far as would be effected. Is
no. pam to be seen that he sought for NV co,v;.
F',oh and when he obtained, as he thonoh, ~;
uence sufhcent to attain his object he prfsecn,ed
inc Investigation no further, hAd immodatelv 10
sued 'his UNJUST and illegal order and to save mn.
Pearahces, without respect 10 the individual. bal
dragged in DR.. Baylor, as ~eli as nivself haca .e
the public, and then denounced us as m;lt y :.
complces to murder. When asked for n f,I,
ana falr investigation of the. mntter, he sbrant
from it, because he was fearful that it would de-.
velope the fact that ,cas the pictim of an un,or.
thy prejuhice; and dishonorable hostility, in
which he lowered himself so much to allow him.
self to be made facile instrument of malign in.
6Acnce. Because fair investigation Of the mat.
ter would eventuate in his conviction of improper
and unofhcerIike conduct therefore his reasons
for not investigating the matter-for not rescinI.
ing the d" ORDER"
You will sec by his reply to my letter how ir.
revocably fixed and fastened upon me is this act
OF persecution, so long as it rests in the power Of
this otilcer TO perpetuate it upon me and TO show
how fruess and vain will be my efforts to gain
redress in this quarter.
Upon perusing this /" order,' without an expla.
nation, vague idea is conveyed to the reader.
that some Infamous crime was attempted to b..
porpetraed at that Post, and that | was a guilty
accessory, by aiding, abettng. and advising in the
affair. But, upon explanation it will be seen that
no such infamous crime 1cas dticmpted--ua nfa.
nous enough, at least for "the Comma ndng Officer
10 feel himself called upon" TO mention, even, the
name of principal in his order" And upon
investigation, 1t will be that neither ided.
a0et'ed or advised the principal, in tine flair, but
'ha1 merely knew the probability Of the affair
coming Off; and happened accidentally to be
witness to part of it. But still the principal Is
eacused, and an condemned.
he facts Of the affair are. as far as | know
ana am concerned with them, as follows:
In the first place, must refer to an affair that
occurred at Fort Gibson last August, which is
immediately connected with, and brought about
the affair now before YOU. Lieut. Ridsely of the
4th Infantry, conceiving himself 10 be aggrevcd
oy Capt. Dawson, Creek gent, decoyed Capt D..
by sending him polite request to come and see
hm at the AdJutants Office, inside of the chain
OF senlneis, and then and there, in tho pre- sence
OF Col Mason the Commanding Officer, Lieut..
i1Iggins, OF the 4th Infantry, Lieut.. West, LIST
bfaSoons, and other officers, assaulted Capt. D..
with a cowhde, and si- barreled pistol, whilst
capt. u. proclaimed himself innocent and uslarm.
ea' whereuPon, Lieut.. r. struck Capt. ID. in the
iace with the pistol and told him that it was well
ne was unarnaed, for if he was not ho would shoot
MN ao~n. All this took place inside of the chain
OF sentinels, to where he was decoyed alone, and
unarned, without single friend to interpose, to
prevent the outrage whilst Lieut.. II. had the
c"untenance and sanction of his Commanding OF.
hcer, who rebuked Capt. D.. by heaping upon him
harsn' insulting and profane language. As might
be expected, this affair produced challenge from
capt. u. to Lieut.. r. to fight him upon equal
grounds although Lieut.. RS conduct did not de-
serve such mngnanlmous treatment from Capt. D.
Lieut.. X. destitute of that chivaric feeling that
ought to be tho principal attribute of his profession
refused to meet Capt. d. and departed from the
Post, leaving Capt. d., wronged and unredressed
Upon the llth ultimo, Lieut. Ridgey was at
Fort Gibson, who was a witness, as well as Capt
Dawson before the Court Of Inquiry. then setting
at that Post. On that day, Capt. ID. told me that
he did not fell disposed to appear before the court
until he had settled his difficulty between Lieut.. r.
and himself.
Upon coming from the court that day, wen,
mo Gov. Buffers Agency office, Ia common re.
SORT Tor visitors at the Post,) and a few minutes
afterwards saw Capt. ID. run out of the house
with gun, and challenge Lieut.. Ridgely 10 Stand
ana detend himself. Immediately followed Capt.
u. as far as the porch. and saw Lieut.. r.. aitho'
nc was armed with this noted six barreled pistol,
run 0ea.md house. This much, did know, and
see' and was implicated in the affair. 1t termi-
mated pretty much as expected. knowing the par
lies as well as | did. No blood was spilled not
a pruning OF powder was d-no insubordi.
nation was produced about the garrison. Tho
peace and good order of the Post was not disturb
ed. The principal was not arrested, but upon the
contrary, he dincd that day, with the Command.
ing Officer; BUTIwas denounced as an accesso-
ry to some Infamous attempt at bloody murder
IN so vague and indefinite manner, that you arc
not enabled TO judge of the nature of the crime,
fAat hare committed, but yet you are positively
assured that have been guilty of sometAing in.
In mn h., r