Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-12-01

NEW HAVEN. Cosk;. November 8. 1853.

NEW HAVEN, OONN.s AOFeubtI y, lcOc.
Gen. Y, W. Whitaker, President OF the Gen.
trail Grant Club, Hartford, Conn:
GENERAL: Your note of the I'd inst,
in which you say, in behalf Of General
Fitzpatrick, that since officers Of the
United States army, who were present at
the investigation into the charges against
Forrest, have not only confirmed Gen.
Kilpatrick's statement on that subject,
but have given additional and more
shocking details" etc., is before me;
and in reply / will state what every in
telligent man in this country knows to
be true, that the so-called investigation"
to which you allsde was one-sided
Radical affair, intended to intensity the
bitter feeling then existing both North
and South, and to make capital in the
then approaching election.
The few soldiers, black and white, who
gave evidence in that farce, misusmed
investigation" had not recovered in
the Fort Pillow fight, and knew nothing
of the fate of the missing men who we're
then prisoners and tfterward exchanged.
Hence the willy aud INSCRIPTIONS chair
mar of that so-aalled Investigation
Committee easily filled the vacuum in
their distorted imaginations by sugges.
tons, which any shrewd lawyer can make
10 asking leading questions, that those
missing men were " slaughtered, nailed
to fences, and burned TO death, etc.
The exercise of a little common sense,
sir, would teach any man that were
there the least vestige of truth in any of
these infamous and slsnderous charges
against General Forrest, no power on
earth could have saved him from the fate
of Captain Henry Wirz, and none should
know this fact better than General Kill
patrick himself
1t is well known fact that General
Forrest has repeatedly demanded court
of inquiry into those charges, to which
demand the powers that be" have
made no response.
Since the smoke Of battle has cleared
away, the excitement allayed, and COM
batauts again in friendly communication
with each other, the truth could be more
readily and more accurately arrived at
than when the confusion incident to war
was at its zenith. Then why has be been
refused this inquiry Are the Radical
| tuiuOIlllte dlEdlu Vi TUG urNCiubtHcnt VI
such an inquiry fairly conducted? Gen.
Forrest aud his friends deny the truth OF
those charges, and all law and equity
concede men innocent until proved
guilty.
You say General Fitzpatrick hss moth
iRg TO do with either Forrest or Basil
Duke, except to reiterate his denuncis-
tons Of Forests unparalleled atrocities"
II Gen. Fitzpatrick is not utterly lost to
all sesse of honor, sir, he will bold you
responsible for placing him in such an
equivocAl position. A distance Of five
hundred miles from GeB. Forrest evil
IDENTIFY makes the valiant Fitzpatrick feel
very brave. / believe, sir, that distance
has that influence with all towards and
braggarts; hence be reiteratss his de-
nsDciaiions," etc, and seems to forget
tina, he has been publicly denounced as
q backyard, liar, a scoundrel, and a
poliroon," by this gentleman, with whom
you say be has nothing to do" he
= evidently psn Of easy courage and
finty cheek"
II you are the champion Of General
Fitzpatrick. aud authorized to act for him
in this affair with General Forrest
would very respectfully suggest that
General Basil W. Duke, Of Louisville,
Kentucky, Is The proper party 10 address,
and not myself ] AN, very respectfully,
n. n. SHAcKELTORD.