Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-07-16
News from The lih Regiment. Col Paine under Arrest

ter with the following paragraph, which IS
all 81 the letter we have time to get in tyne
for our paper to-day. Our correspondents
is justly indignant if this news Is correct
but he is no more SO than will be all the
people of Wisconsin who know Col Paine.
He is one OF the very best officers that
has been sent from the State. But let
our correspondent tell the story:
l heard, to-day, news from the Wiscon-
sin 4tb, which makes me cry out, show
long shall such things be?' Col. Paine
was placed under arrest recently. by Gen.
Williams, for refusal to carry orders on
the "nigger question: Two colored men
came within his lines, bringing valuable in
formation On being ordeled to exclude
them Col. Paine complied. Soon after
they made their appearance with backs
gashed by the masters lash, and wearing
The horrid three pronged iron collar, pic
tured some months ago in Harpers Week
", and sought protection. When again
ordered to turn over these loyalists TO the
tender mercies Of traitors, Col. Paine de-
cliued to execute the barbarous order and
was deprived Of his sword and placed nm
der arrest When he appeared on parade
without his side-arms, the regiment gave
three cheers and as many groans for Viii
Hams, and were as near mutiny as posi-
BE. Shall Wisconsin soldiers lie put to
such base uses without word of remon-
STRANGE? Yours, p.
In the correspondence Col. Paine adds
at is true that the orders Of Gen. Viii
ianls does lot az terms require regimental
commanders, ito employ their guards or
sentines for tie purpose OF returning fugi-
tives,' Tut it is equally true that the order
an effect requires nothing else. For it is
notorious that the reginental camps are
watched, not only by pretended owners,
but also by men who hunt for pay, into
whose grasp the fugitiyes will certainly fall
the instant the guard thrnsts them over the
lines. Within my own personal knogl +
edge, many fugitiyes have been received
aboard our trar sports at different places in
this State, by Gen. Williams, and have
upon close interrogation, given him inrOr-
tant formation. Such OF these as have
not already been returned to their owners
may still be in the camps of this brigade.
What will be their fate If delivered up to
claimants or hunters, is easy to predict
1t seems to me that while their surrender
would be in palpabla violation OF the law
it would also be subject 10 the grayest OBJ
lection.
The order Of Gen. Williams forces upon
me an alternative which Is peculiarly pain
full; because with me obedience to or
ders," has always been iii practice as well
+ as theory fundamental military maxim.
:, / am compelled either - disoJey him,
: or defy the .oyereign power Of !he Repub-
lic In this matter | cannot hesitate. No
punishment for disobedience to this order
can be so iutolerable as would be the con
sciousness of hayint violated the law, by
compelling my guards to return to yindic-
tive rebels fugiyes whose information has
been sought and used for the benefit of
ID our arms. While command the 4lh reg
imcnt Wisconsin Volunteers they cannot,
!, with my consent, be employed ia the yio-
a lation Of the law for the purpose Of r-turn-
Ing fu9iyes to rebels.
Your obd't seryannt,
! HALBERT T. PANE,
} Col. 18th Wis. Reg.
Headquarters "a Brigade, Baton Rouge
June 10Th, 1862 Colonel, Your let
ter Of the 5th instant, Is not sufficiently
definite. You will state categorically
whether or not you will obey general order
| No. 40.
BY order Of Brig Gen. T. Williams,
II. A. ELLIOTT, A. A. A. e.
To Col. Fl. L. Paine, 4th Wis. Vol.
Headquarters 18th Wis. Regt. Baton
Rouge, June 18th, -Lieutenaat:- -
In obedience to an order Of this date from
Brigade Headquarters, informing me that
my letter Of the 5th inst, is not sufficient
y definite, aud requiring me to state cate
goricaly whether or not | viii obey.gencr-
al order No. 46, have to state that for the
reasons given me 10 detail in that letter, /
cannot obey the order. | supposed the
letter would be so understood.
Your obd't servant,
HALBERT Z. PAlSE,
Col. Alb Wis. Reg.
To Lieut. II. H. Elliott, a. A. A. G.
Headquarters ID Brigade, Baton Rouge,
La, June 18th 1862 Colonel. In CON
sequence Of your refusal to obey General
Order No. 46 from these Headquarters,
June 5th, 1862, you are hereby placed I'M
der--arest. Your limits will be the enclo-
sure oflhis garrison. The command OF
your regiment will devolye upon the next
ranking officer for duty.
Z. WILLIAMS.
Brig. Gen. Vols Com.
To Col. H. E. Paine, 4th Wis. Reg. Vols.
The correspondence was read at The reg
mental dress parade, nearly in front Of the
Generals quarters; the regiment gave
three rousing cheers for Col. Paine. soon
as parade was dismissed. they gathered
around the Colonies quarters aud bega 4
to cheer him. He came out in full view
| from the Generals quarters and nade an
~.