The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1868-11-20
Forrest and Kilnatrick.

In answer to Gen Forests wi.hering
denunciation of Fitzpatrick, published in
our issue Of the 9th inst, the latter individ-
ual authorized his friend Gen. Whitaker, Of
Hartford. Conn, to write a whining letter
to Gen. Shackleford, in which that gentle
nan was informed that "Gen. Fitzpatrick
has nothing to communicate either to Gen.
Forrest or Gen. Duke. except to reiterate
his denuncialion of Forests unparalleled
atrocities" Inreply to Whitaker's note,
Gen. Shackleford pillories Fitzpatrick as
follows:
NEW HAVEN. CoNE., Nov 6, 1868.
General E. w Whitaker, President OF
Central Grant Club, Hartford, Connection.
General: Your note of the Cd inst, in
which you say lin behalf of General Kill
patrick, that since officers of the United
States army, who were present at the inves-
tigaton into the charges against Forrest,
have not only confirmed Gen. Kilpatrick's
statements on that subject, but have given
! additional and more shocking Ietails,'' ETC.,
is before me; and in reply, 14lI state what
every intelligent man in this country knows
to be true, that the so-called 'investiga-
ton" to Ahich you allude, was one-8ided
Radical affair, intended to intensity the Bit
ter feeling then existing both North and
South, aad to make capita! in the then ap-
preaching elections.
The few soldiers, black and white, who
gave evidence 10 that farce, misnamed ''in-
vestigation,' had not recovered from the
fright they received 10 the Fort Pillow fight
and knew nothing of the fate OF the missing
men, who were taken prisoners and after
wards exGhanged--hence the willy and un-
scrupuous Chairman of that so-called SIN
vestigaung Committee" easily filed the
vacuum in their distorted imaginations, by
suggestions which any shrewd lawyer can
make in asking "Ieadjng questions, - that
those missing men were ''slaug htered. nail
ed to fences and burned to death ," etc.
The exercise of little common sense,
sir, would teach any man that were there
tie least veslige of truth in any of these in-
famous and slanderous charges against Gen.
Forrest, n power on earth could have saw
ed him from the fate of Capt. Henry Wirz,
and none should know this better than Gen
Fitzpatrick himself.
It's we.l-known fact tina. Gen. Forrest
has frequently demanded a court of inquiry
into those charges. to which demand tie
"powers that be- have made no response.
Since the smoke Of battle has cleared
away, the excitement allayed, and the COM
batants again in friendly communication
wiki each other, the truth could be more
! readily and more accurately arrived at than
wh,n the confusion incident to war was at
its zenith. Then why has he been refused
! this inquiry? Are the Radical authorities
afraid of the development of such an inqaj
ry, fairly conducted? Gen. Forrest and his
friends deny the truth Of those charges, aud
all law and equity comedies men innocent
until proved guilty.
You say "Gen. Fitzpatrick has nothing to
do with either Forrest or Basil Duke, except
to reiterate his denuncialiong of Forests
unparalleled atrocities" If Gen. Krlpat-
rick is not utterly lost to all sense of honor,
sir, he will hold you responsible for placing
him in such an equiYocal position. l be-
lieve, sir, that distance hes that influence
with 0H towards and ggarts-hence be
''reiterates his denuncia.ons." ETC., and
seems to forget that he has been publicly
denounced as "a Uackguard, scoundrel
and a poltrOon," by this gentleman, with
whom you say lie ''bas nothing to To-
He is evidently man OF ''easy courage and
finty cheek"
Ifyou are the champion of Gen. Klpat-
rick and authorized to act for him in this
affair with Gen. Forrest, would very res
peotfully suggest that Gen. Basil w Duke,
of Louisville, KY, is the proper party to
address aud not myself
am, very resPe' fully,
H. K. SHACKLEFoRD.