Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-07-03
MILITARY RRIGANnAaE.


Innocence and shows Him Up 10 tn,
World.
| The following extracts from denuncia
tory card, published in The Memphis Apa
tdHelse of the 10Th ult., over the signatur,
Of Col. David c. Gross, a prominent either
of Arkansas, relative to the operations O.
Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Thomas G. vii
liams, man whose name is not entirely
unknown to unenviable fame in this com
munity. We give the benefit of re-publica.
ton: ......-
Notwithstanding il has been three years
since the termination Of the war, it seems
lnotfeDsive citizens are still arrested and
dragged about the country like cuiprits. Ii
is known TO the public that a little con-
temptible satrap by the name Of Thomas
| Z. Williams, has a petty command in Ar
kansas, and for four months has been pur.
suing me with all the malignity of his
mean and vindictive nature. / have been
a citizen OF Memphis for thirty years, and
during that time have been 20 fortu-
nate as 10 make many friends, and in view
Va NAS ACaAbJ COBSl dtuldLlOus VI LutSG iEleuu5
on my release, and the many inquiries made
as to the cause of my arrest, deem it pro-
per to make known the facts through
the columns of your paper. As has
already been announced, / was arrested by
order Of this infamous creature, Williams,
on the most frivolous charges-charges
which gentleman and brave man would
have scorned, and which none but towards
would cOodescend to entertain. / had
transactions with a negro named Allen
Freeman. He proved himself a villain.
endeavored to swindle me, and stole nv
property and because / endeavored to
maintain my rights, he made complaints
TO Williams, who had me arrested. / was
sent under guard to Madison, placed in
filthy prison and while prisoner, I'M
able to defend myself, this cowardIy
creature, Williams, insulted and abused
me, and offered every indignily which
tyrants always manifest toward the de-
fenseless. He seemed to gloat over his
victim; sWore he would put me in the
penitentiary; that he would show me his
power that | was the very man he was
looking for; that although / had county /
named after me, and was President of a
railroad company, he would punish me.
This petty tyrant, after abusing and insult
ing me to his cowardly hearts content re-
leased me on a bond of one thousand dol
lars to appear when called for. On my way
home learned that soldiers had gone to
my house on new charged rom
eocted by this man Williams Knowing the
character of the villain, and that 1 could
not secure justice from such a tyrant. / i
came to Memphis, telegraphed to General
Sherman for relief, who replied that il was
not IN his power to aid me, but referred
me to General Gillem, who was lust man,
and would discharge me- visited Vicks-
burg; told Gen. Gillem of Williams in
famous conduct toward me. He seemed
indignant at the conduct of his subordi-
nate, and gave me papers ordering a sus.
pension of proceedings, and that the pa.
pers, charges and specifications be sent to
General Smith at Little Rock. When l |
reached Madison the second time, this lit
tie tyrant, Williams, had me again arrested,
again abused, insulted and slandered me. |
With all the pomposity and selfconceit of |
a despot, he ragged and cavorted, swore he |
would not obey Gen. Gilem's orders; that |
Ben Wade would be President in a /
few days, and that he would have things |
his own way. After remaining under ar
rest for five days, the wrath Of the fero-
cious Williams simmered down, and he
released me without charges or specifca-
lions, with verbal orders to report in three
weeks.
Col. Cross then proceeds to state that he
soon after returned TO General Gillem's
headquarters in company with Hon. NJ.
Perkins, and again informed the COM
handing General Of Williams petty ty-
fanny. He was ordered by that officer to
.eport to Gen. Arnold, who convened
pecial court at Madison, on June 9th, for
hearing the charges. After an investiga-
ion of seven days, Col. Cross was set at
liberty. Up to the very moment of going
o trial new charges and specifications were
,eing fabricated by Williams, says Colonel
ross, but Colonel Cross since the publica-
ion of his letter has been discharged by
he military commission, not one of the
;harges adduced being substanliated
He further says: So
He has had me arrested three times
ince the 4th of February, and made two;
,ther attempts on two other different occa-.
ions. Once he ordered me shot bv his
oldiers. ] 30 charge him. The facts are
hese Two soldiers and one negro came
o my house 10 arrest me. One Of the SOL
Tiers had Spencer rife. The negro and
'ther soldier were armed with navy re-
'eaters. The soldier who had the Spencer
life made two attempts 10 shoot me, and
Ifterward took the other soldiers pistol
md cooked and presented il 10 my breast.
When it was snatched out of his hand.
Nothing saved my life but the fact that
here were some half dozen gentlemen at
ny house The next day when / went into
colonel Williams Office prisoner, he
old me he did not expect TO see me that
he negro he sent with the soldiers told
lim that ] would not be arrested, and he
lad given very rigid instructions, and did
lot expect to see me. OF course he ordered
ne to be shot. Now, all this will be de-
ned, but DR.. G. L. Sullivan happened to
'e in Williams office, and heard what he
aid to me.
The letter then closes with the follow
Dg ..t-a
Thus have 1 given a plain and unvar-
ished statement Of all the facts connected
nth the prosecutions Of this man Williams.
have in my possession proof that he is
OF only petty tyrant but a mercenary
windler.
#.-E+ /
| know that knave and tyrant is in
ariably q coward but il this degraded
FEATURE has that courage which he mani
ssted toward me while he was abusing and
insulting me as a defenseless prisoner, he
nay consider me as denouncing him not
oily as petty tyrant but a thief and poll
room.
The Appeal of the 23rd ultimo, noticing
he release Of Col Gross, in leading edi-
1rial says: /,
There is now infesling the eastern portion
Arkansas, if he has not been grossly
belled, a small satrap who IL doing every
ling ia his power TO demonstrate TO the
eople that there is nothing so criminal in |
egislation as the invesiilure Of underlings
18th arbitrary power. This person is /
'homas Q. Williams, a native, we under
and, of Pennsylvania, CaptSin in the
.rmy Of the United States and Lieutenant
olOhel by brevet, who acts the {
art Of a small Cesar in the conn I
L. l