The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-09-04
Letter from Ex-GOVe nor Brown, of
Georgia.
ATLANTA, August %, 1868.

ATLANTA, August %, 1868.
Hon H. II. cglo4ser, Chairman Republican
state Committee, Indianapolis:
DEAR SIR-Some unknown friend
has forwarded me, through the mail,
the enclosed article, headed Gov
ernor Brown - General Forrest"
which purports to be from the H.
dianapolis Sentinel of the 22d of July,
1868, from which / make the follow
ing extract:
We have the evidence to prove that
when Colonel Streight's command-yrhich
was sent to Rome, Georgia. to destroy the
arsenal at that piace-waS captured by the
Confederate force under Forrest. Governor
Brown made a demand upon JEFF. Davis
for their delivery to him, 80 that they
could be tried and hung, under a State
ton
General Forrest, whose forces had
fought Colonel Streight's command for
four or five days, and finally captured
them. protested against the com pliance
with Browns demand, and insisted that
they should be treated as prisoners of war.
His protest was effective, and saved the
officers, at leas' Cf StreIght's command
from the hangman's rope that Governor
Brown had prepared for them.
Another step. Colonel L. N. Walker
was the Lieutenant Colonel of the - IN
diana, Hathaway's Regiment He had
black servant, to whom he entrusted the
carrying of his carbine. a gun of peculiar
pattern, which was fastened to the negro's
saddle. Failing in his design to hang the
officers of Strengths command, Governor
Brown made a special requisltiOn upon
JEDI. Davis for the delivery TO him of COlO-
mel Walker, so he might be tried and
hung. under State law OF Georgia, for
arming negroes.
"Genera1 Forrest again stepped forward,
and saved ColoneI Walker from feion's
DEATH"
Now | pronounce this whole state
ment an unmitigated falsehood, with
out the semblance of truth to sustain
| it. | never demanded Col Streight's
troops, nor Colonel Walker, nor any
other Federal prisoner of Mr.. Davis,
for any such purpose, or for any other
purpose. l never, during the whole
war, had in my possession, nor under
my control, Federal prisoner, of any
name, grade, or rank.
At the time Colonel Streight and
his command were captured, Mr..
Davis was in Richmond, and / in
| Georgia. Either of the demands upon
him for the delivery to me of prison
ers, as charged by the Sentinel, must
have been III writing, and sent by
mail or telegraph, or by a staff officer
or other messenger. | challenge the
author to produce the letter, telegram,
or messenger who carried either. lie
cannot shelter himself under vague
reports or false rumOrs. [ demand
the proof, and pronounce him a ca
lumHiator till he produces it.
L not only had no control over Fed
eral prisoners, but the relations be-
tween Mr.. Davis and myself during
the latter part of the war were suc1
that any request | might have made
in their behalf would, as all who
know his temper and disposition, will
readily admit, much more probably
have resulted in their injury than
their benefit.
| l used all the means at my com
mand, which were justified by the
rules of civilized warfare. to secure
the success of the Confederacy; bat
no one can point to single instance
in which | transcribed those rules
by any Unauthorized act of cruelty to
those then regarded as enemies.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JOSEPH Il. BROWN.