The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-02-27
REPLY,
HELENA. Arf

HELENA, Ark. Feb. 10, 1868.
To Brig. Gen. GOIHitta, commanding forces at
Helena -
SIR: Your favor of the 10th inst. calling our
attention to q telegram forwarded to the Saint
Louis, Mo-, Democrat, on the 9TH inst, is at
hand. The following we understand to be
correct copy of said dispatch:
Thomas H. Yeatman, special agent of the
Treasury Department., to-day seized 1OS bales
and thirty-seven bags of cotton, brought up
from below Helena, in violation of special
orders. The cotton is said to be the property
Compton & Ranger, but rumor says that high
military authorities are part owners. General
German is mentioned as one of them.''
In response to your request that we should
state in writing whether or not you were, or
are part owners OF said cotton, or in any way
interested in this or in any other cotton arrang-
ment of ours, we make the following decara-
lions, voluntarily, without hesitation or men,
tai reservations
You were in no way interested in said cotton
or in any other cotton purchased by us or our
agents. Said rumOr is totally false and no
doubt has originated in petty malice and jeal-
Ousy.
Lastly, we think this telegram, duplicating
it does an old and well-tried soldier, is an
outrage upon prOpriety and common honesty,
and we are surprised that respectable journals.
upon the grounds of mere rumor, give place in
their columns to such unprovoked assaults.
(Sgned) B. S. COMPTON,
g. RANGER.
In defense of General GoRMAN, certain
Chaplains write as follows:
TIE CHAPLAINs' STATEMENT.
HELANA. Ark, Feb Il, 1865,
1t having been asserted in some of the papers
of the North, and among them the Chicago
Tribune, that Brigadier General w. A. German,
while in command of the army of the District
of East Arkansas, had returned slaves to their
former masters, in consideration for cotton the
undersigned, superintendent of the contra
bands of Helena, as they are called, having the
requisite knowledge of the facts concerning the
people, take pleasure in indicating General
German from this accusation, and in contradict
ing it as being without the shadow of founda-
ton. Since Gen. German has commanded this
army, no cOlOrcd man. woman or child has
been constrained by his order, or with his
knowledge, or the knowledge of the under
signed, to return to his or her former master.
On the contrary, they have in all respects been
treated as free people, under the PresidentsProc-
lamation, and Gen. German has granted us every
thing we have asked in their behalf, that was
possible for him to do, detailing surgeon and
steward for their hospital, and approving all our
requsitiOns for their benefit. Knowing these
things, we are unwilling to remain silent. and
see our commanding General suffering from
false lmputatlOnS OF this character.
SAMUEL SAWYER
Chaplain 4th Indiana Infantry, and Superintend-
ent of cOntrabands.
j. G. FORMAN,
Chaplain Sd Missouri Infantry, and Associate
Superintendent of contrabands.
FURTHER ENDORSEMENT.
HELENA, Ark, Feb. IA.
Editors Chicago Tribone:
My name has been signed to the foregoing
statement with my full sanction. Having
been brought into intimate relations with Brig
adler General German since he assumed COM
mand at this post, and believing that he has
been grossly wronged by the calumnious
charge referred to-, 1 take pleasure in joining
Chaplain j. G. Forman, in making the above
correction.
SAMUEL SAWYER,
Chaplain of the 47th Regiment Indiana Volun-
teers, and Superintendent of contrabands.