Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-09-18

if bailee of the United States had beer
seized by public enemy and the money ant
goods in his possession taken BY force from
his grasp. In this very case, Mr.. Bobo wal
compelled to pay, having resisted the seques'
From the Montgomery Nail
The Attempted Assassination at Mount
Vernon Arsenal.
MOUNT VERNON, ALA, July n, 1867.
Major General Pope:
! .GEyERAL-On the afternoon of July 26, al
Mount Vernon Arsenal, Mobile county, Ala
bama, one of the greatest outrages that ever
blackened the record of history was perpetra,
ted upon grey-headed citizen and defence
less prisoner. Hoping that the vast power
that you WELD will be exerted to punish crime
in every position, and under every phase
Twill lay before you full statement OF the
facts.
A week since, Morris Shaft, Captain Of
Ordnance at Mount Vernon Arsenal, was ap
parenty upon polite terms with Colonel Fred
erick B. Shepard, resident in the neighbor-
hood but he took it upon himself, to animad-
vert very severely in public place upon Col
onel Shepard's conduct, calling him 'scoun-
drel' and Cheat because he presumed to ap
ply at Washington tor payment for bis own
cotton. Col. Shepard wrote Captain Shaft q
polite and gentlemanly note, asking him to
make candid statement of his words on the
occasion alluded to above, declaring that sure
ly no officer wearing the United States uni
r ia tha itar
ity between himself and an antagonist IN
private quarter.
This supposition Captain Shaft seems to
have regarded asa gross insult ut once to his
colors and his own peculiar style of manhood.
He made no reply to Colonel Sbepard's in-
auires, but became cnragcd ct the epithet,
military despotism," contained in the'note
words he had forgotten to resent the even
ing before. when Colonel Shepard had used
them in the course OF a friendly conversation.
He returned Col. Shepard's communication
with an abusive endorsement, inhis owr hand,
using language which no gentleman could
overlook. Colore Shepard then challenged
him. ue received the no,e, said he had ex-
pected it, and would attend to it.
Nearly two days passed without his taking
any notice of it, and Colonel Shepard then
sent aud demanded an answer Captain SHAFT
replied he wished to have nothing more 20 do
with it, and feeling his precious person safe
within the arsenal walls, again abused Colo
mel Shepard grossly. Colonel Shepard then
wrote placard, denonnciug him for his pu
silanimiIy. and styling Linn puppy" and a
"pollroon." Captain Shaf aftcrward proved
that be richly deserved both epthe's. These
placards were posted about in the neghbor'
hood. THIS OCCURRED Friday morning, July
2j, aid Captain Shafts next step was to prove
the faleitys sof ,he charger.aad to -ziadieats hi:
honor and tnan!ines, By arresting Colonel
Shepard at his own residence and carryir2
him prisoner within the walls of the garrl
>on. The arrest was made in the name o
Lieutenant Brown but when the prisoner
arrived at the arsenal, Capt. Morris Shall
glowing with courage, and conscious OF the
p;o:rcion Of loaded pistol and quad o
armpd soldiers, acccstcd him with the bravo
do, /" Get oif that horse. you old scoundrel, OF
| will shoot YOU" am Lieutenant Brown:
prisoner" replied Co'oue! Shepard, "no
yours, you cowardly, contemptible puppy !
" If yuu speak TO Inc in tina. war," replied
CAPTAIN Saalf. valiaatly, will shoot Won"
"Sno.:t on" replied Colonel Shepard =" an
All unarln,d man and prisoner, but am
not afraid of You; shnn', ynu base coward
The brutal tyrant fired, and tho old man, witt
tue weight oi riorr than sixty years on hi;
lead. lei! from his horse 10 the ground
bleeding and wounded, with bullet In nj
neck.
lie was placed in al ambulance and cartict
home attended BY his physician and his ~
s,sants. H. now lies on ois bed, shattered
suffering and dangerously i'll. AT the time
L.eulenaa, Brown expressed great regret a
the daslareiy act, and Colonel Shepard tcs:l
6es that he Brown) told Saati' to tcsist. Ba
he should have done mere; for an olhcer ant
soldier he was bound by every principle o
military honor to protect his prisoner. botl
from insult AID injury. Captain Shalt was
forthwith put under arrest, probably al NJ:
own request. for no o;h"r Reason than 70 al
ford him an excuse ;or refliain;ug within tht
walls safe fiom Il sg''-, :i"n ans # Colo
mel Shepard, s,iIs. lie nlS srce added An
other leaf TO his llu-.'i wrcI by proc aiming
that he only itenLed hayl's { ioncl Snep re
arrested, carried within t.e ga!riS III, co" nj
d.d, and then released o. tna, ii ne iolhd
suitable, that is, perfectly safe opportunity
he. Young man of thirty, would fight it on
hsticlif with an old man OF siXty-thrc''
need not pause, sir, to point out 10 you lh
b,sencss Of such conduct. He first insulte'
y gentleman, and waen called upon to bca
himself like man and suldier, In fair ant
open encounter, lie drew back like whip
ned spaniel; and then, in revenge for bis dis
grace, arrested and shot down with his owl
Aaud his aged antagonist-gue who was gull
ty of no other fault than Of supposing tia
there existed in his degraded aud blarkenet
SOUL one spark of justice or manly decancy
Sir Norris Shaft, in his treachery, cowardlc
and brutality, is shame TO tue human race
blot upon your military rolls, and dis
grace to every gallant officer and soldier VIII
wears the Federal uniform, or stands be
Meath the Federal Gag. He refused to figh
like man. He then fought like murdere
and an assassin. If there is a palliation 70
this, then there is pailiaLion for the blackes
crimes that ever disgraced humanity. Their
is no affinity between courage and cowardlc
no link between the honorable and tn
base and, placing myself between ihem,
appeal to the best and highest dictates OF ou
common nature, and ask for Judgment IN thl
matter. You occupy a lofty position; tn
eyes of civilized world are upon you, an
as.an American demand punishment upo
the assassin of an unoffendiug citizen; an
as a wife claim judgment against my hus
bands murderer. Though Capt Morris Sha
NAV believe that man is justified in tramp
ling upon every natural and social right. be
cause he happens to be powerful as well
contern nptible yet, let me bope, sir, that 10
the glory Of the American name, and tn
honor Of your own manhood, you will CD: =:
so base a thought from your bosom. We Il
powerless in your bands, but secure IN tn
Judgment of the brave and honorable, an
iiiru. in my belief in the infinite justice
heaven. make my appeal to you, and ava