Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-10-03
The Knnns Of General Nel.on.
The Louisville Journal contains the fol-
lowing account of the shooting of General
Nelson, by General J. C. Davis:

The Louisville Journal contains the fol-
lowing account of the shooting of General
Nelson, by General J. C. Davis:
We have never been called upon to re-
cord more distressing affair than the sad
termination of an unfortunate difficulty
between Major General William Nelson,
and Brigadier General Jefferson c. Davis,
resulting in the death of the former, yes
terday morning, at the Gait House, about
oclock. As the circumstances will un-
dergo legal investigation tomorrow NOR
ming before Judge johnson, we deem it jU-
dicious to make no reference to them, for
it is impossible to reconcile the many con-
| Trajectory versions we have received, un-
til they are sifted by the proper authori-
ties. We may mention, however, that
General Nelson slapped General Davis in
the face, and then walked through the west
door and into the passage leading into the
/ Ladies Reception room, and as he turned
from there with the evident intention of
| going up stairs, he was confronted by
| General Davis, who discharged a pistol
when within eight or ten feet of him, the
shot taking effect in his right breast
| General Nelson reeled little as he was
struck, but walked into the room next to
the parlOr, where he was laid on mattress
on the floor, and assistance sought for
All efforts were unavailing, and he died in
| fifteen minutes after receiving the ball.
General Nelson from the first thought
the wound was a mortal one, and express
ed desire to have the Rev. Mr.. Talbot,
of Calvary Church summoned. This gen
| tleman resides about three miles below the
city, but was unable to get home on Sun
day after service, mad passed the night at
the Gait House. He Immediately obeyed
the summons, as he was well acquainted
with the General. The reverend gentle
man informs US that the dying man spoke
no word concerning the difficulty, and
made no allusion to his temporal affairs,
but was exceedingly solicitOus as to the
salvation Of his soul, and desired Mr.. Tai
bott to perform the rite of baptism, and
receive him into the bosom of the church.
After five minutes conversation to ascer-
tain his state of preparedness, the clergy
man assented to his wish, and the solemn
ordinance was administered with unusual
impressiveness, in the presence of DR..
Murray, the Medical Director, and Major
Gen. Crittenden, and few other personal
friends.
When the service was concluded he was
calm, and sank into his last sleep quietly,
with no apparent physical pain, but with
some mental suffering. The last audible
words that he uttered were a prayer for
the forgiveness of his sins. The appeal
was made to Almighty God. Let, then, his
fellow-mortals be proud of his many vir-
tues, his lofty patriotism and undaunted
courage, while they judge leniently of those
faults, which, had they been curbed, might
have been trained into virtues. Let it not
be said of our friend
The evil that men do lives after them,
The good is often inferred with their bones.
The Journal thus speaks of General
Nelson;
General William Nelson was born and
reared in the county of Mason, in this
Commonwealth. He was at the time Of his
death about forty years of age. With the
particulars Of his career before the dawn
of this rebellion we are not acquainted,
and the particulars of his subsequent ca
reer the whole country knows by heart.
We need not relate them here. General
Nelson was in very many respects an ex-
traordinary man, and, if he lived through
out the stormy period in which his life has
been quenched, he would iave ranked
among the most conspicuous characters of
the time His wide and varied experience
of life, his extensive and exact informa-
tion, his breadth and quickness of under
standing, his uncorruptible patriotism, his
amazing energy, his perfect self-reliance,
and his absolute fearlessness, moral and
81 IL n
sitiOn he had already achieved in the army
to point him out as one to whom in this
era of mighty events destiny had reserved
a great career. We are pesuaded that no
thing but death could have barred him
from such career. He was a strong man
both IN intellect and will.
Nor was General Nelson amidst his Gus
tomary roughness of look and demeanor,
without the softer graces of character or
the gentler tastes of refined life. He was
pre-eminently generous man. His heart
was as open to the appeal of suffering as a
woman's. He loved music passionately,
and comprehended it like a master. Sit
ting with him in his room but the other
night, in q brief interval of business, we
were surprised to hear him whistle with
evident appreciation an air from II TTOUG-
tore, and still more surprised when he pro-
ceeded to recount in a strain Of enthusiasm
the circumstances under which he first
heard that glorious opera at Naples, with
the unutterable delight itafforded him. He
seemed for the moment transformed into
the poet and dilettante. Presently, how
ever, some officer, belted and spurred, rush
ed into the room, and the impassiOned am
ateur of music was again the rough and
stalworth soldier.
We left him then with the reflection that
his daring and impetuous spirit cherished
in its depths riches of which the world
suspected nothing. With this reflection
we leave him now Alas that we leave
him in his coffin instead of his proud place
among men.