Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-02-19

iushi W give ShtiSiacIiOn W your superior
officer, when the same was demanded p
II have only to say that the charge was
}, made by a coward, and that / refused to
, fight him for the same reason that would
refuse TO get down on all-fours and fight
a dog--the advantages, all his, the shame
mine" ~ ---I --- ~
! Capt. Fritz sprang to his feet and laid
his hand upon the hilt Of his sword whilst
Wilmer gave him look of such whitening
contempt, that he sank, under it, into his
seat without having uttered word. The
President steruly reminded the Lieutenant
thatsuch language, if not punishable as a
contempt, merited severe censurc.
II am here, sir !" he replied, ''to answer
the questions propounded to me, and my
own sense of heAer bids me tell the truth;
and in addition to my last answer, let me
add, that any man, no matter what his
conduct on the field of battle, or the mis-
called field of honor, who will wantonly
traduce lady, is coward. Further it
is known to you all that, during my whole
term of service here, Capt. Fritz has
availed himself of every opportunity to
heap indignities upon me,-keeping how
ever, just within the limits that saved him
from chastisement; and the superior who
thus deports himself towards an inferior
officer-knowing the hands of the latter
to be tied by the rules of discipline-is
coward. You have my answer to the
second charge it is satisfactory,
or not, is immateral to me-"
"What have you to say" continued the
President; 'to the charge of reasonable
conference with stranger, outside of the
| fort p -..at
"At his own request, met the Hermit
of the Washita, whose purpose was to
warn the fort of the approach of Tatunkah
with a small band of warriors, and with
hostile designs. At this moment, perhaps,
the bearer of the white flag is on his way
to the fort, to propose conference with
you, sir, at distant point, under the pre-
text of making permanent peace, but,
in fact, to make you his prisoner. This,
sir, is the reasonable communication I
received from the stranger" asa.e
"And why have you not sooner reported
the important intelligence?" Asked the
| President.
81 called at the quarters of the General
last night, to impart the information but
he refused to see me. l called again this
morning, and was again denied, with the
intimation that if an interview were grant
ed, it should be in public-evidently fore
shadowing this trial, for which he was
then preparing, being kept in ignorance
of any such purpose-another evidence
of the sort of justice l have to expect
But this is not the only evidence Scarce
ly had reached my quarters, when the
Sergeant came to tell me l must appear
before this court, at this hour, and that he
had been ordered to keep guard at my
door until was called for"
"I gave no such order |" Said the
President, with excitement.
"That is matter between you and the
Sergeant, SIR" Wilmer cody replied.
'The order was given, not by Gen.
Holmes, but by Capt. Fritz.' Said the
Sergeant .....
"And Capt. Fritz shall answer for it y
Exclaimed the President "Have you
anything more to say, Lieutenant Will
merp"
'No sir Unless you have more charges
to prefer"
Capt Fritz, the prosecutor, being asked
if he had anything to say, replied in the
negative, and the Court adjourned to the
Presidents room to deliberate, telling
Wilmer that he was at liberty until sent
for to hear their decision. AS they we're
leaving the room, Gen. Holmes said to the
Lieutenant, in low tone, that he would
like to speak with him at his private room,
in few minutes OF course the request
was complied with, and soon the two were
seated together in the Generals room.
81 am aware, sir" said the General;
''that l have not acted fairly towards you,
and the only compensation / can make, is
to use my influence, in your behalf with
the Court; and in order to make it avail
able, wish you tell me the provocation that
induced you to strike Capt Fritz. The
charge of insubordination is the only one
that can be sustained, and the penalty may
be mitigated by knowledge Of the cause"
"As l have already said, sir" Wilmer
replied, "the name Of another is involved
, - 4hnt otbon 90 N laJxy