The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-03-19

this State, whose Republicanism re-
ceived the endorsement Of the party
In this District IN 1866. as their can
didate for Congress:
My DEAR SIR: The fol owing statement
in reference to Cap. n. Willard, late IAN
Ind. Vols, is forwarded, to be used on Inc
hea ring of his application to be re leVeu
from an order of the War Depai tmenL.
dismissing him from the service Military
OF the United States.
Captain Willard entered the 18th In
diana Volunteers, as a Lieutenant, AT ne
organization of the regiment IN April or
May, 1851, and served as such until MS
regiment was mustered out, d the end OF
a three-ySars term. During the time l
held the offices of Major, Lieutenant Colo
mel, and Colonel, and IN the several ca
pacities was compelled 70 know what was
the conduct of the Captain
Ist II he ever failed 10 discharge his
several duties, or any ecial duty, II
never came TO my knowledge.
2d. [ had opportunities, while with The
regiment, 10 know what his coud uct was
IN front u the enemy and elsewhere. II
always commanded my approval and APP
Sd. Capt. Wizards moral conduct is as
sailed, upon what grounds know not.
think conduct would compare frvOr-
ably with "a great majority of the officers.
by which ] mean, have no knowledge Of
any immortality on the part of Captain
Willard that tends to di- grace him with
his comrades in the service.
4Jh. He is charged with drum kenne
for duty. either on duly or OF duty, IL new
eT came 10 my kRowIed2e.
After leaving the regiment. met capt.
Willard while COuul>sstf ;. IN when ca
pacity / heard HIM frequently COM
While saw have no knowledge Of any
such derelic. ions from duty as charged, /
mean TO he understood that SUch doingS
could not have well existed during my
connection with the regiment, without
9TH. nndfrstand one charze is disloyal-
ty. Cap. WiilaId's m tiItary record, and
his present disabled condition from
WOUNDS, should be sufficient evidence. If
] had ever heard from Capt. Willard any
reasonable language. or known OF any
cor duct OF the Kind, while in com mand,
i would have promptly dealt with linn.
To have failed 10 DO 50 would have been a
violation of duty on my own part Col
Cavlns is more competent 10 speak of
Capt. Willard than any officer now living,
and also any one connected with the l4th
i diana Volunteers.
think simple justice to an officer. who
served for a long perioi, curing the en-
tire war; in a subordinate position, de-
mands a revocal OF the order and an hon
No doubt the War Department acted
upon what was regarded as sufficient evil
dence at the time, but without such
hearing as enabled capt. Willard 10 meet
and refute the charges, as thev will, no
doubt. cheerfully do upon further hearing.
Yours truly, w HARROW,
Late Brig. Gen. Vols.
To Hon. II. d. Washburn, Washington,
subscribed and sworn to before me this
Jo%ArHAN H. BURIIs3N,
Mayor of the city of Mt Vernon, indiana.
next submit the afidavits Of Col.
Franklin Sawyer and Capt. John +.
Douglass, both Republicans.
81 hereby certify that 1 was acquainted
wits capt. Nathan Willard, OF the 18th
Indiana Volunteers. very intimately from
some time Ia the FAN OF 1861, until June,
1864. During this time, was Lieut.. Col-
Onel of the Sth Ohio Volunteers, a..d from
May, 1852 until May, 1854 was Ia COM
mHud of my regiment. During this time
from about January, 1862. mis- and my regi-
mentS served IN the same brigade, in
Western Virginia, and in the Valley, I'M
der Lander ana Shleids, ana IN the Second
corps, after its formation. under sumner,
on the Peninsula. This includes Antie-
tam, fredericksburg, Chancellorville.
Mine Run, Gett, sburg, and the
Wilderness campat2ns. Capt. Willard was
always REGARDED As ftn efficient and brave
officer. He was particularly devu ed to the
cause OF his country, a AL wa In the err
vice as was ALWAYS understood from a
sense of duty. He took the greatest in er
est in the good name ana achievements
of his own regiment, and pa t1cu.nrly of
his own company. / always regA ded MIN
As very worthy aud good man, aud can
speak adVisedly of his being neid in high
esteem BY officers aud men. 4 was vety
intimate with the officers of the brigade,
and sometimes in command of 1t, and
never heard any charge OF misconduct APP
piled him, and should regard any such
some other unmanly motive.
believe our Brig de was engaged in
about forty battles and skirtniSheS. in
many Of which can personally testify to
Capt. Wizards good conduct, especially
Gettysburg and the battle OF the Wilder
ness aud 5pcttsylvania, in which last bat
tie he received "a dangerous wound in the
LEFT arm, and having heen wounded my
sell through the abdomen. we were carried
back to Fredericksburg In the same ambU-
lance, and from there TO WaShi q gtOn City.
The term OF service of our regiments ex-
mir
sworn to, Sc.I F. SAWYER,
Late 1t. Col Sth o. v, and Bvt Brig. Gen.
JANUARY 18th. 1868.
Having been calIed upon to maze
statement in regard to Capt. Nathan VIII
lard, OF the Nth Indiana Volunteers, as to
charges against him Tor bad character,
disloyalty, cowardice. &c. I make the fol-
lowing statement: l was Captain Of Com
pany K, of said regiment, having been
promoted from the ranks, and serving ne
whole term OF the regiment. l was well
acquainted with Captain Willard, ana
never heard his good character as sOl-
der, his loyalty 10 the government, or his
courage questioned. During his term of
service he was often complimented by the
superior officers for his gallantry.
Ia Western Virginia he was especially
noted Tor his efficiency In command of
scouts. At the battle of Spo tsylvania
Court II use, he was wounded in the en-
gagement. 1 never heard his honesty
questioned.
Tsworn to, &c Il JOHN + DOUGLASS,
Late Captain Co. X, 18th Ind. Vol.
l could fill every page Of the
JOURNAL with similar statements
from the regiment, but these will suf-
fee to convince am reasonable, fair
minded man, that the charges made
against me were utterly false and IN
true, and prompted by personal and
political malice-and that [ was con
victed on &c pdrte statements, without
n hoo rintr xvithOut trial and UitbOut