The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-12-01

ing my Statement of Kentucky Mill
tary Affairs. reiterates what. 1t claims
are the charges made against srneiH
my administration in that section
during the war. / have no Gisposi-
ton to prolong the controversy, but
recognizing that paper as, the organ
Of those who disapprove of MY mili-
tary acts, I republish the charges as
made by the Courier, and very briefly
notice them. They are as folIowss 4
)Colonel Foster has been charged
with having taken advantage OF his
military position to oppress the citi-
zens OF Southwestern Kentucky, a
State always in the Union.
e. } 1t is charged that he and the
officers of his command, without any
authority from his superior officers,
made large levies upon the pedcedbEe
citizens of that section. TO reimburse
Union men who had suffered from
armed predatory bands. ~ - .a@s
(3) It is charged that no account
of the disbursem ment of these monies
SO taken from said citizens was ever
rendered by him to his superior Off
GERS.
(4) 1t Is charged that citizens were
arrested, and held in close con6ne-
ment, in filthy prisons, and were not
allowed TO regain their liberty until
they had paid sums Of money, in pros
portion 70 their means. @ ~ -
(5) 1t is charged that he demanded
citizens to give him their horses, or
pay TO his order sums of from one to
two hundred dollars
These are the charges. in brief,
which have already been published.
In answer to. charge CD i can only
refer TO the orders and dispatches
published BY me. My administration
of affairs shows that | very. generally
fell short OF, and never exceeded in
severity the orders given me.
In answer to- charge 90 I'Hareply
that it was upon the urgent request
and recommendation Of the loyal
men Of Kentucky that made the
levies | did upon the secession citi-
zons. Every soldier who served in
Western Kentucky knows that the
most turbulent and bitter rebel
claimed to be peaceable citizen,
and it was the rarest exception when
any prisoner ever acknowledged that
he had done anything against the
Government. - ~ ''if
(3) My Statement shows that I ful-
ly reported to General BOYLE aud
the War Department the special
legies-Hopkins and Union Coun-
ties-made by me. The Post Quar-
termasters, who had charge of the
Post Funds, were sworn oficerse of
the Government, and made. regular
monthly reports of all their disburse-
mehts. GA .s8aHl
In answer to charges (4l and 90
| would state that the only way
ia which / could enforce the levies
was either by the arrest Of the
parties themselves or the seizure of
their property, and holding them in
custody until the assessments or fines
were satisfied. Ia the exercise of this
authority used no more restraint or
severity than was necessary TO the ac-
complishment of the purpose.
lit was hardly necessary, after the
full Statement which have made. to
allude to the Courter's criticism, and
would not have done so but for the
reason that my silence heretofore had
been misconstrued. I made the Pub
lication which did chiefly to vindi-
cate my personal integrity. am
willing to be judged on that question
by the Exhibit which has been made.
I have abstained from publishing the
complimentary notices of my State
ment from the press or received by
me through numerous private letters
leave the whole question to the
Judgment of the public upon the facts
presented. JoHN W. FOSTER.