The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1862-10-09
The geEson-Davfs Difficulty

The difficulty between Major General
Nelson and Brigadier General Davis, re-
sulting in the death of the former, origi-
mated some time since, and during the
first preparations for the defence of Louis
vile serious quarrel took place between
them They we've thus prepared for hos
tilities of a still uglier character at any
moment
On meeting in the large bar room of
the Louisville Hotel, an alteration lmme
diately took place | recei< ed the follow
ing account from ,aptain Hoblentzell, of
General M'Coo&s staff, who did not hear
the first words which were uttered They
must have been few in number. however,
and probably were Of a very provoking
character, as General Nelson seemed at
once much enraged, called Davis an inso-
lent, cowardly puppy, and slapped him in
the face Governor Morton and many
others were in the room at the time, and
the Governor stepped up as soon as the
alteration commenced. No good feeling
existed between the Governor and General
Nelson, and Immediately after the latter
had struck Davis he turned to the Cover
nor and said, sharply y and tartly, "Did you
come to see that insult, sir?' 'No,' re-
piled the Governor, mildly, Il merely
came to see what was going en-" or, as
others report, Il merely came up to hear
what was said.
Nelson then turned away and walked
from the bar room into another room upon
the left, from which a flight of stairs as
cends and a hall leads to tie back portions
of the house below He did not 90 up the
stairs toward his room, but walked in the
direction of the hall In the meantime,
Davis had procured pistol from the
hands of "a man by the name of Gibson, a
gentleman of Indiana, who is reported to
have taken care of Davis in his boyhood.
He then started after Gen. Nelson upon
the run. Capt. lIoblentzell ran after and
endeavored to arrest his steps, bat Davis
succeeded in entering the apartment on
the left of the bar room just as Gen. Mel
son, returning from the othc, end OF the
room. had neared the front Of the stairs.
These stairs commence near the entrance
from the bar room, and just to the right
of the door Davis, therefore, was but a
few feet from Nelson, when he fired.
Just as he presented the pistol and
pUliSu 'he trigger, NdpI' liooIeHtHdii
grasped his arm, but it was too late The
weapon was discharged and the ball entered
the breast Of Gen. Nelson, passing through
his lungs lie threw up his hand to his
head, exclaiming, God, | am shot," and
then, without even staggering, Slow ana
deliberately walked up stairs to his Office.
II was then laid upon . mat:rass, and at
once requested the presence OF DIR. Talbot,
Chaplain of the 9TH Kentucky regiment.
that he might be baptized DIR. Talbot
after cuneersihg with him few minutes,
aud satisfying himself that the dying
General was IN Il proper condition to re-
ceive the solemn sacrament of baptism.
complied with his request. Five minutes
after, Gen. Nelson's spirit had departed
From the moment he was shot he uttered
not one word concerning his adversary, or
the difficulty between them. He was
sensible until the last moment, aud talkt;i
until the last only of religion and OF his