The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1865-10-13

ING btOreS. SOioHoi "VVo' N"o h"S'
voxed by my course, and. during th'
time preferred charges against me fol
disobgdience of orders, ana ordered
mo in arrest, but / disregarded the
order, and he knowing that he wa'
playing a game of bluff, in which
held the trumps, did not bring mo tc
trial. Major General Rousseau not
only sustained me in the course l pur'
sued, but complimented me for it
since that time Col. Patton has beer
my enemy, and has used his position
to iniure me, and since have become
acquainted with the mans true traits
of character, | do not regret that he
is and has been my enemy. He has
cast q blot upon the reputation Of his
regiment-thc men who unlike him,
in times that tr,ca mems souls, left their
homes-their families and friends, and
sealed the Cumberland Mountains to
rally around the flag Of freedom and
liberty-Aa blot that will only grow
darker ~ time. Shall tell the sad
story of Mason I. Gray and his son, of
Robertson county, Tenn. Shall | tell
how tho glay haired man of sixty
winters, and his son of IS Summers
were taken from the jail in Gal
latin, Tennessee, on the same
day in which they were put IN ard
6utchered in the most brutal manner,
By order of Col. Patton. Suffice it to
say that the old man and his son, on
or about the evening Of the 10th day
of August, 1864, were taken out of
the Jail at Gallatin, Tenn, taken two
miles from the town, and shot by non
commissioned officers and private sol
diers; that the young man was shot
first in the presence Of his father, and
then the father was shot; that their
bodies wero left lying 10y the wood.
side, and citizens came in the next
day and asked permission Of Col Pat
ton, who was commanding the post,
to bury them. The men had no OPP.
portunity to assert their innocence,
and in fact at the time they were ia,
ken from the jail did not know their
fate. until they reached the place Of
execution, where they entered their
protest and declared their innocence
with their. dying breath. Whether
they were innocent or guilty Of the
charge alleged against them, which
amounted to nolhing more than q
mere suspicion Of completely with gu
errilas, has never been detcrmin-
ed, but feel safe in asserting that
good proof of their innocence can ca
silly be established. Quito number
Of the officers of the Sth Tennessee
Cavalry rendered their designations
on account of this and other equally
brutal acts. They were men who had
served tHeir country honorable and
honestly, and preferred to quit the
service rather than TO be branded rs
outIacS. Nearly all the officers of the
regiment published their disapprovol
of this monstrous crime in the Nash
vile papers, charging it directly upon
Col. Patton, and he never denied it
publicly, so far as know. These arc
facts for the consideration of an hon
est and lOw.abiding people, and | feel
it to be my duty, as citizen Of Wash
ington county, to lay them before you
at this time, that you may save your
selves and the country the dshonor Of
being represented by an outlaw.
! might tell you Of the disgraceful
conduct Of Col Patton, while in COM
mand of the post Of Franklin, Tenn,
that ho won the disgust and contempt
of all citizens who camo in contact
with him; and, that he attached moro
weight to the uerbaL statement Of Mr.
Samuel House, whose acquaintance, |
suppose, he made whilo in tho Rebel
Legislature of 1862, than he did to
Mr.. Campbell, the agent Of tho Board
Of Trade at Franklin, and one Of the
most staunch and uncompromising
Unionists | ever met. The circnm-
stance | here refer TO, came under my
own personal observation. Mr.. House
was the Representative in the Legis-
laturc Of 1862, from Williamson
county, elected by almost q unanimous
Rebel vote, and of course, must have
been q genuine Rebel at the timc.-
But here, l will state by waylof pa.
renthsis, that Mr.. House is gentle
man too high minded and too honor
able to purjuro himself as COL Patton
has done for the sake of an Office.
might also tell you of the general
abusive and disgracctul conduct Of
Col Patton towards the officers and
men under his command, on account
Of which, tho energies Of his Rcgi.
mcnt were paralizcd, and tho noble
patriots who, unluckIy had fallen un.
der his command, felt that they were
disgracod by being commanded by
such hcartless brute; yet TO their
credit be it said, they did their duty
faithfully.
/ might also tell you Of his profani-
ty-his utter contempt for morality
and religion. But | will not prolong
this article. .
l am responsible for the statements
herein made, and can sustain them by |