Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-03-09

Editors Lntell,gflcer:
In looking oyer your issue of the 2Tth of
February, 1 nkticed that aayou had men
toned my nam as the murderer of, Lieut..
Zane Watkins. l-beg to inform you that l
never saw such u man, have further to
inform you that there was but one Lieut.. in
the company tlat belonged to, and that
was Wash. Batgs, 4he brother of Captain
Baggs. lam iery well aware that Capt,
Baggs, among the rest of his truisms.
brnited the thhg about to prejudice the
public mind a@iust me, that had shot an
officer of my company, thereby producing
the belief that was an insubordinate man
in order to do ne all the injury in his pow
er. Now, sirs, beg to inform you that
Zane Watkinsl the man shot, was high
private in thelrauks, and had Joined the
company but short time before we left
Wbeeling.
Perhaps, a Eorrect account of the af-
fair has never been published in Wheel.
ing with any stade of truth in it. There
fore will give you q faithful account of
the affair.
On the evening of the death of Watkins,
bad liberty 10 absent myself from the
biviouac untiIfour o'clock in the morning
following, and about nine clock P. NJ.
went into 40 oyster saloon to get some
supper, in company with one of our men and
one of the I'd Virginia cavalry. Watkins,
it appears wal there at the time, although
did not see linn when 1 FIRST went into the
saloon. Afte' we had eaten our supper
THAT is mysef and the other two meu)
Watkins came to me and wanted me to
take drink # whisky with him. refus-
ed, on accou4 of having to march in the
morning. wilkins insisted on my taking
something, atd took half q dozen oysters.
Watkins then requested me to stay with
him that he tas going oclear the house
of the GermH soldiers and citizens that
were there epityiug themselves, aud wanted
me to help Hm, because he wanted the
house for hiuiself and friends l replied
that if he wasiimposed on would stand
by him, but iflhe commenced fuss with
peaeeable men that l would have nothing
to do with it aAd that he need not count
on my assistance. Watkins then took hold
of me and dragged me up the steps, into
the street (theIsaloou being in the base.
meut) and beat my head against the iron
tailings of thetIfea ipttil he broke two of
the Faiiings ieose from their settings.
begged him t4desist, but he still kept on
beating and l.nsiug me, until TWO men, i,
belonging tostle 9Th Va. Infantry, came up
and took him prisoner and was taking him
to the guard house begged them
to release hin and they did SO, and then
returned to tleiE dpty. Watkins had not
left them ten steps before he again seized
hold of me And dragged me across the
street TO the tyioliac and threw me down
again. up aud endeayored to get
away from hha, when he caught me again
and threw 81 down. got up as quick as
possible, win Watkins made at me again
swearing ht would mash me, when 1
drew a pisbI aud fred. and Watkins
took a sfeSf steps forwards fell
This oecnrfed on Sunday night, aud
Watkiqs LIED until Tuesday morning,
declaring tt It was not to blame; that he
aud he eply vas the cause of his getting
hurt. VI then confined to await the
sitting OfstHi court martial, fully expect
ing that IS was soldier should :hayea
soldiers tn aud that shonld stand or
fall by the authority of the only court
that is s'legafy competent to understand the
position thf. any man occupies in military
serVice-I heeu court martial. a court
martial VA ordered to assemble at Kama
Wha Court House, but few days before its
assembling Captain Baggs came to Par
kersburg 'on Wheeling, stating that he
bad orders 20 turu me and one IientenAnt-
OF the 5th 7a. Infantry, and one private of
the lst Val Cavalry, over to the civil Ru-
thority. lessaid civil authority could not
findHhF u 20 try the Lieutenant by and he
was acaor hEiy discharged. but the same
authority eSuld find Law to try me and
the other iEate by, and you are aware of
the result 8 my case. The cavelryman has
e&S,,. fefaF9