Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-12-20

The Case of the Confederate Gen. Pickett.
The President yesterday transmitted to
the House of Representatives reply to the
resolution adopted by that honorable BODY
on the Sd instant, requesting 1.-THE infor-
nation asked for in resolution of the
House, dated 23d June last, and which re-
solution he has up to this time failed to an
swer," as to whether any application had
been made for the pardon OF G. T.. Pie
kett, who, during the rebellion, acted as a
Major General of the rebel forces and
whether, since the adjournment at Raleigh,
North Carolina, on the Both of March, 1866,
of the last court of inquiry, convened to
investigate the facts attending the hanging
of number of United States soldiers for
alleged desertion from the rebel army, any
further measures had been taken to bring
to punishment Pickett or other persons i'm
plicated in the transaction.
In communicating the reports made up
on the subject by the Secretary of War and
the Attorney General, the President re-
moves the intimation of delay in furnish
ing the information by simply stating that,
instead of bearing date the Odd of jane
last, the first resolution was dated the ODD
of July, and was received by the Executive
only four days before the termination OF
the session.
The report of the Attorney General states
that no action has as yet been taken upon
General Pickett's application for pardon,
and is accompanied 10y all the papers i'll
hat Office pertaining to that particular
branch of the inquiry. Among the letters
is one from General Pickett, dated Wash
ington. March II, 1866 in which he in
forms General Grant that shortly after the
surrender of General Lee he made an appli-
cation for clemency to the President, ac-
companied by recommendation from Gov
ernor Peirpont, of Virginia. He asks Gen
cral Grants favorable consideration of his
case, and such an endorsement as would
obtain from the President a guaranty that
he might be permitted to live unmolested
in his native State, where h. was then en-
deavoring to make subsistence for his
family, much impoverished by the war.
It has come to my knowledge (he writes
that certain evil disposed persons are at
tempting to reopen the troubles OF the pa8J,
and embroil me for the action taken by me
whilst the commanding officer of the Con
federate forces in North Carolina. ] acted
simply as the General commanding the de
partment Certain men deserters from
North Carolina regiment, were taken with
arms in their hands fighting against the
colors under which they had enlisted
Charges were preferred against them, Il reg
ularly organized court-martial was assem-
bled-composed of officers from North Car
DINA, Georgia and Virginia-before whom
the men were tried. The evidence i'll the
cases being perfectly unmistakable, the
men being identified by Plumbers of their
old regimental comrades, they were found
guilty, and condemned to be hung The
sentences were approved by me, and they
were duly executed, according to the Gus
tom of war in like cases. My action was
sanctioned by the then Confederate Gov
eminent.
If the time has not arrived for the Exc
cutlve clemency to be extended to my case,
land which point l ain not now pressing !
merely wish some assurance that will not
be disturbed in my endeavOr to keep my
family from starvation, and that my parole.
which was given in good faith, may protect
me from the assaults of those persons desi-
rous of still keeping up the war, which has
ended, in my humble opinion, .forerer.
Appealing to you as a soldier, and feel
ing confident you will appreciate my posi-
ton, l sign myself, with much esteem, your
Obedient servant,
GEORGE L. PICKETT.
This letter contains the endorsement
from Gen. Grant, published by us yester
day.
Inc oecfeUhfy Oh war III MS report stil"SS
that all papers in his Department relative
to Gen. Picketts connection with the hang
ing of a number of United States soldiers
for alleged assertions from the insurgcut
forces had been communicated to the
House Ill May last, in answer to rcsolU-
ton adopted in the preceding month. lie
also states that General Holt advised (2lst
July last) General Pickett's arrest and tria
by the military commission then in session
in North Carolina, but in view Of the ac-
ton OF the Supreme Court in the case OF
Miligan and others, suggests that there
should be emo reason to contest the iuris-
diction of the tribunal to whom the trial
may be committed"