The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-08-04

AMI iOSSlltLT INSANIIl--TuE MILK
TARY COMMISSION LETTER FROM AN
OLD FRIEND OF THE FAMILY. 50 2p%
tupm iat57t.4 "a LII ggy:si ,3E9'l ha-3
Correspondence Cincinnati Commercial.
''..3 i'' VICKsBURG, July IS, 1869.
Ohio and Mississippi are alike inter
ested in the Yerger case, now being
tried before the Military Commission
at the Jackson Barracks. Win you
allow Mississippian, who knows
something of tile facts Of tile case, and
a good deal Of the Yerger family and
the anteccdents Of Edward NJ. Yerger,
to tell you a few things that win go to
show 81 '57 ''1' '".''
First-That tile homicide had not
the slightest political or sectional sig
nificance. ''N.'''n02 ~
i5 secontly -Tl,at it is not crime to
be punished; and '" ~ 5,.,
Lastly That it is d calamity which
ought to have been prevented.
g The Yerger family is a numerous
one, Of the best standing, and more
than usually intelligent. The madness
of Colonel Yerger and this eliminating
trouble will not eclipse it. Edwards
father was, without exception, one of
the best Of men. If he had fault, it
was indulgence Of this youth. The boy
was bright, and in make and deport-
ment such as would delight fathers
heart and crafty his pride.
From twenty to twenty five Edward
Yerger was the Chesterfield of Missis-
sippi, and in dress a Beau Brummell.
Those who remember him will readily
admit, that, if not the handsomest, he
was the best and most exquisitely
dressed man in Mississippi. His fine
person, bearing and style were just
sufficiently tempered with a love of ap-
probation, to tone down the imperious-
ness of an almost overpowcring vanity.
Yet he was not d fair representative OF
our Southern youth !; he had vastly too
much coneeit. It fills me with some
thing akin to scorn for this man, when
I think Of the thousands on thousands
Of our youth, with his graces Of person,
with more than his culture, and a thou
sand fold more honor and courage Gas
after events proved, the pride Of oul
homes, the hope of our hearts, who
were literally swept from the earth in
their devotion to the Southern cause
dnring our calamitous struggle /; but
have promised you facts, not senti
ments. 2 49,,
20 Before the war Col. Yerger conduct
ed things in great state. The turn -on
he provided for Mrs., 'Yerger was finely
appointed. He was never to be seer
in my lady's carriage. He himsel
drove a splendid team, with liveried
servants and appointments to match
His house. still Standing, is fine one
perhaps the largest, excepting tile Elk
ecutive mansion, that Grant and Sher
man left. 1t is sad for ME to yisi
jackson now and behold the wreck
that is of its former self. Before til.
war it was what itnow, Processes to be
but is not, the capital Of the State
Then our richer planters often settled
here for the sake ofisocicty and the ed
ucation of their daughters. jackson
and the neighborhood contained man,
beautiful residences, homes Of wealth
and refinement. with surroundings be
longing to an order of things now past
but that seem from. this distance t
have had q halo of grace and beaut.
peculiarly their own, 4i.,e.n, rti.g
l look in vain for these fine home
steads now, The chimney stacks 0
many IF them still stand, in grim mock
cry, amid the lesolation OF, their ono
charming grounds. So numerous wer
our chimney stacks at one time, that a
Yicksburg we spoke of jackson a
Chimneyville. a.9 81 sa9ainogs s,
Colonel Yergef's family, in 9wealt
and position, was among the frs
How, / know not, whether the war, Q
his newspaper enterprises, or bot
combined, but certain it is that thi
branch of the Yergcr family is no.
poor. Yerger has, till this trouble
lived i'm his fine home, but verify be
lievc that his rcfusalto pay his take
arose from sheer inability. think
may have been said with truth tina
before this unfortunate occurrence
Col. Ycrger's family was the poore'
and proudest in jackson. OF course,
mean relatively. A man who neet
fifteen thousand dollars a year to kee
up his establishment, and who cotil
only, wit the most stingy economy, {
it on ten thousand, but WHO. has to Z
it in some way OF. other on FIVE tho,
sand or less, is poor indeed. This W;
Yerger's condition. S
Now recall the circumstances atten'
4 ing the seizure of the piano. a respe
table and leading family, with the
/ lust pride and associations, owing son
/ three or four hundred dollars deli
qnent taxes, but believing in q count