The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-11-21
Military Affairs Of western
Kentucky in 1923.
A Statement from Colonel
John w. Foster.

During my service in the Federal
army. from July, 1862, to August,
1868, by the orders of my superior
officers and not from my own choice.
was stationed in Western Kentucky,
having command for a greater por-
ton of that time of the territory en-
braced in ten or twelve counties, with
my headquarters usually at Hender-
son. The service required of my com
mand was both of military and civil
character. This territory was por-
ton of the middle ground between
the rebel army under BRAGG and his
subordinates and the loyal North. 1t
was made my duty not only to drive
out the guerrillas and rebel soldiers,
but also to keep the secession
citizens under close surveillance and
subsection, and prevent contraband
trade and Intercourse with the rebel
lious South. My orders were very
strict and severe. The discharge of
my duty created much bitterness of
feeling against me on the part of Sc
cession citizens. Since my return
from the army to private life in my
own home on the border, have been
followed by their covert abuse and
SANDER. 1t has never assumed any
responsible authorship or respectable
authority. have regarded it as the
expiring venom Of rebellion, and had
hoped that ia time it would cease.
But at the recurrence OF an exciting
political campaign the abuse is reviv-
ed, and from my position as an editor
of Union newspaper, / am subject
ed to attacks from the secessionists of
Kentucky and such of their friends in
this vicinity as are unprincipled
enough to resort to such base political
warfare. The charges and viIlifca-
ton relate to both my conduct and
acts as a military officer, and to my
personal integrity
Nearly two years ago resolved to
give an authentic denial to these
rumors and vague charges, and pub
lish my orders, official papers, and
statements of my officers in my vim
dieation; but was induced by promi-
nent Kentuckians to withhold the
intended publication, for fear it might
injure the efforts then being made by
certain gentlemen to revive aud make
successful the Henderson & Nash
vile Railroad, project in which
Evansville was deeply interested
In the Spring of 1867, when GER
tain slanderous innuendoes appeared
in the Evansville Courier, rejecting
upon my military administration Ia
Kentucky, and my personal integ-
rity, l required the author to
retract or make good the charges,
rendering a full examination OF
my orders and official papers. A
full investigation of the matter was
had, and both of the Democratic
papers Of this city made a COM
plete vindication of my conduct
and integrity. The publication made
by them was so complete and sat
isfactory, that / supposed the sub
iect would never again be revived
During the last political canvass, how
ever, a slanderous and unprovoked
personal attack was made upon me
to subserve base partisan purposes,
The authors of it were without re-
sponsibility and had placed them
selves beyond my notice other than
to draw out a fat denial of then
ISLANDERS.
But | resolved to make an effort to
silence, once and forever, the vilifica.
ton which had followed me for nc
other reason. than faithful execution
of the orders of my superior officers
and an earnest and conscientious dis.
charge of duty to my country. I
accordingly wrote to the Mayor OF
Henderson the letter published be.
low, asking for complete and search.
ing investigation of my conduct by :
committee which he might appoint
and pledged myself to abide by THEN
verdict. L had been led to believe
that he would afford me this oppor.
tunity of indicating myself before
the public. But he, as will be seen
declined to take any action in the
matter. Thereupon [ determined to
make my own vindication, but
thought best to postpone it till the
excitement of the political contest
then pending was passed, hoping fol-
more calm and uaprejudiced hear.
ing from my partisan enemies.
The official orders, papers and cor.
respondenoe in my possession are
very yoluminous, and can onlv
publish a small portion of them
which bear most directly upon the
special subjects of attack. l regret
that the publication is necessarily 50