The Arkansas banner., 1847-06-21
LETTER FROM CAPTAIN HUNTER.
 aARKsc NOI iIN1-EERA


 contained remarks of personal character While our columns will sustain us in this assertion. oui neighbors have pursued diferen, course, and we have been charged by our friends with InkewHm- ness in defending that portion cf our regiment sd frequently and npjus,ly assaiied
 Therefore eIdcr the authority with which this al. dress is given 10 the people, howevermHeh we may regret the sioleni language used hy Capt Hunter ic correct islander, do no. deem it's publication improper, or uncalled for. The killing of the Peons was circulated by the press throughout the United States, until It became a stigma upon the State and from those who have aided in deccising the public, a representation of facts is especially due.
 CAMr EscANTApA, MEXteo, May Iijh, lst7.
 To Me People ef .f,3lssas:
 When leit my hctne, in obedience 10 my coun. trys caIl and agreed 10 sbare the dangers and pri- vatons incident 10 soldiers liio, was influenced by but one prompting motive, and that was to con tribute what might bc within my power 10 the sue cess of our arms and the triumph ot ny cOintrys banner, little thinking that il would, laS the fusi lime in inv fife, become necessary for me to en- gage in defence alike of myself the character oi the company which command, and Inc reputation Of the State Of which am proud to owu yself a native. fei the happeniag of events, and the con duet of certain men, ias made this duty npcra. tive
 The Arkansas Democrat of End of April con tans letter written by Capt Pike, in which letter aside from other base iaIsshOus. tuattIsUme sr-if, comtnendatioG, and aspersions of ilit whole Rcgi. ment. ls contained false libel upon the two com panies. commanded by Capt C. (. Dauiey (now a prisoneF,i aid ny self
 Capt Pike states in substance tllat the men from these two companies went forth. almost without T pretext. and slaughtered twenty innocent, unoilendihg, and harmless Mexicah laboreTs, and tn connection with this statement he parades before the world the unjust and harsh order Of Gen. Fay tor, which was provoked by the misrepfesentations and fasehoods of Capt. Pike and othei kindred spi- rits But which was promptly rescindes. when the true state of the facts laid before him. ir plain and unRarhished style, by Col Koane through Gen. Wool.
 As this affair has gone to the world in the light t has deem it duty 10 myselfas well as to those who have kindly selected me to command them, and more than all to the State, wose reputation IS as dear 10 me fife, to set the pnbc right iouc- ing the premises Al the time mentioned the reg- neBt was all absent except my company ani Capt. Danleys There was a man by the name of Col quit caught few hunred yards from our chain of sentiaels and most inhuinany mufttred ,natiIa ted, and tied ID to bush, so that we might not mistake the death by which lie died. Jhe perpe- tiators of this brutal deed were traced 10 the nloun- tsns, and there found to be concealed rI a to- gether with some hundreds o others--some dressed n the clothing of our men-the Iaan murdered not being the hrst by some twenty who have shared the same iate-not all from onr regiment. Others having their arms, and other things, which left no doubt as to thcr belng the InuTdereTs of our men, whilst at the time they made their living upon the highway The murlcrefs of Colquitt were demanded and refused. They were fired upon anal some killed.
 The court of enquiry, convened to investigate the affair, stated fourCapt Pike says twenty y-sev- et--as near the trath as he ever gets. Then there was foul killed instead of twenty seven and they were robbers, thieves, mnfdeTers, who had taken shelter in the mountains u the vicinity of camp to steal, rob, and murder, and no the nRoceEt un- offending creatures-honest hard working men, the Captain would have inc world believe.
 IR proof Of the fact that the order was issued under false representation of the facts, when Gen. Taylor fully advised of the pre- mises and had got without the reach of such men as Pike, he stnded the order and restored the two companies to their honorable staLding in the Regiment. Why does not Capt. Pike meaton tbiss IL would be the truth, commodity he never deals iR. Capt. Pike proesses 10 have given this affair to the world, in order that they as he say. wlo de eFve the shame may bcarit. If this was his motive wty did he not tell the iu,h? Because he thought 1t wouid afford him
 pretext to libel, and blacken the reputation in the estimation Of the world, of Regiment that would not disgrace itself by selecting him to command it.
 Cant Pike--the knight of the quill, thus leads oil in his iavorite strain oi self tommendaton.-- My Squadron was thirty miles oil" This is lrue and it is alike true that the disanceWas considera- be between it and tlIe Yexicans on the day oi the battle-without the range of gun shot The Cant. states that his never modest the property or persons of the Mexicans. Perhaps this may ac- count for the great distance al all times during the fight preserved by the squadron and also furnishes the reason why noi man in the squadron fired gun during the whole battle.
 Yet this maa has attempted to cast stigma upon the regiment, and has actually written letters stating that his was the only squadron that did the fighting for Arkansas IL such is the fact produce yonr list ol killed and wounded, where are they
 am done with Capt. Pike. 1 trust that have shown tha, the men killed were moi unaried, un- offending iaborefs. but band of robbers who had for months been hanging round our camp. killing the men and stealing our horses-fhat Gen. Fay Tor was deceived by the laisehoods oi Capt. Pike and others, when he issued the order, and that be rescinded il immediately on being put a possession of the true state of ihe facts.
 If Il Is askedfhow il Is possible that man who has been taken from the veivdowest depths of deg radiation by people of any Stale and made him all he may be in the eyes of the world can turn and basey stab al the reputation of tha, people and the good name of that State--For answer, 1 ask why Is 1t that the viper will turn and sting the hand that l has warmed it into life.
 EDWARD HUNTER. Capt.
 Com. Co. TG. Il M r