The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-06-08
HzApoUAsTEEs UxrTED srkTEs FoscFs,
ALEXANDRA. TRNN.. June 5. 1855.


/ ALEAASDEfAg AAah-s June ., Acea. J
Msj. Gen. Ro asseaafs eaE
Dear sir-I have this day received from
your Headquarters, tOficially) letter sa
dressed 80. you rem Jordsa Stokes; also, a
position from Mrs. Mary Fakes, praying
you 10 return certain horses captured sy
me willis ospsa m Of Company A. 5th Tea
nesseo eava'cy. have acted upon fhote
! papers. referred to me, and forward to you
/ In justice 10 myself and men, you viii besr
With me uufii I explain TO you thecircHm
stances under which those horses we're
taken, as tssure you that Jordan Stokes Is
la5ariug under great mistake, in endors-
ing Mrs. Farkcs petition, as he does, Or he
wishes 70 prosecute and persecuts me- per
hops for money, as he is a gentleman Of
that profsssion.) acknowledge that the
horses spoken OF in th . petition were taken
by men Of my company, but NOS under the
circumstances "a sisted in the petition. I
was not Colonel Of 3 regiment, but setting
under orders from ColOnsi ". B. Stokes, h
whose regiment belonged, and l think
thst Jordan Stokes has but little oonfdepee
in his brothers management Of q regiuent,
when he as q business man ought 70 know,
snd perheps does know, that when horses
were seized by me or my oommsnd I a.
ways took pains in giving to the loyal the
proper papers to ensure the psy for their
damages. After doing so contend thst Il
any one of a regiment Is in fault it IL the
commander and qusrtermaster IL the paw
for damages srs not received By the spplt
cant. But TO my explanation. While
passing through the neiQbborhood in which
Fakes resided. I learned that at bis house
were three horses, that he had captured on
bush ahackiug expedition. and that Fakes
himself was a regular bushwhaoker. As
soon as saw the horses that nv command
had taken from your petitioner found that
two Of them ware government property.
which were accordingly turned over. The
mare in foal, spoken of, was kept by zoe
and I turned smother horse over in her
place to the government. Yet upon the
application of lady deemed it proper 70
receipt her for the horse thus turned over
byme to the government sothe two horses
that say were government property are
beyond dispute, and will not be accounted
for by me willingly. The mare in fosl can
be delivered to Mrs. Fakes BY me. if you
think it necessary, and il shall be my loss.
At the time those horses we're taken, from
what had heard of Fakes, as before stated,
Cspt. Yanalta saw him in a field and ar
rested him, as citizens hsd told US that ne
had stolen two mules and had them hidden
in q swamp. He, after being arrested, de-
MED having any horses or arms, but The
citizens with US contended thst he had the
three horses, one double barrel shot gun
and some nsvies. Capt. Yanatta placed a
guard around him and approached the
house, stating to Mrs. Fakes that her hus-
baud had been arrested by him and desired
her TO give up his weapons, which she did,
producing the shot gun that was concealed
in the house and the pistol that was hid
den in hen-house under a nest Ono Of
the horses was in the stable and two IN q
dense thickst. The saddles taken that the
petitioner reports to be boys ssddies were
mems saddles, as I can prove. and when
Capt. vauatts ssked your petitioner why
Fakes stole the mules, and why he hept
arms concealed, her reply was that he was
drunk when be stole the mules, and nee5sd
his wesrons whom he was drunk. Immedi-
ately after this conversation we learned that
Col. withers was in the neighborhood, and
myself and Capt. vanatts started in pursuit
Of him, and while absent from the com
msud Fakes made his escape, leaving bis
horse and saddle, and that was a portion Of
the property that your petitioner. wished
you 10 return as her individual property
am charged in the petition aud endorsed
BY Jordsn Stokes ss hlving committed
something prodigious, after ell oaths bad
been administered that constitutes loyalty,
snd row ask you the question, why ia It
that, if Mr. Fakes and Mrs. Fakes had be
come so devoted TO our cause after tukine
the oath, did he stesl mules ard have
weapons concealed. and after being arrested,
as have before stated, by Capt vsnat,e,
make his escape, leaving his horse, saddle,
&c Did it not show guilt think it GER
tsinly did, if there was no other proof.
can produce suy sort Of proof 70 you
showing that was justifable in doing as !
did, when it Il necessary, and therefore
think that citizens who wish 70 prosecute,
ought to have grounds, indisPutsble, be
fore making or endorsing charges. have
for three years, been engaged, constantly,
in defending my country, while others have
been followings more lucrative business
and know but little about the duties devolv
ing upon soldier. have said nothing
in my own behalf in this ease, compared
to proof that Ican bring before you if nee
essary, snd therefore wish JOrdoD Stokes or
any other man to be satisfied Of my guilt
before bringing suit.
have expected to hear charges brought
against men of standing, as the war was
near 9 close, but little expected that I
would be one Of that class, ss am no aspi
/ rant, and now desire, as my time will soon
expire in the service of my country, to re-
turn 20 my home peaeeably, and enjoy the
comforts of my family with = good moral
character. Yours very Respectfully.
~ J. H. BLkcKBURv,
Col. Commanding 4th Militia Iuf., 7thT. V