The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1870-01-22

incompetent administration of this
7th military district. In 1909, the
troops that had been cantoned be-
low New Orleans were attacked
with a great deal OF sickness and
many died. They were moved up
to our little town of Washington.
Gen. Wade Hampton was in nom
inal command, while General Will
attending his trial. Wilkinson
was honorably acquitted, but just
at this juncture an incident oe--!
Cured that had a material effect
upon the destiny Of a young man
of mark. Among the troops can
toned there was a young Captain
of Infantry just twenty-three years
of age. Hew giant in stature;
like Saul the son of Kish, he stood
a head and shoulders above his
fellows; he was six feet FIVE inches
in height and splendidly proper
toned. This young Captain was
no friend of Wilkinson. &.
At q public table in the tavern
at Washington, the conversation
happened to turn upon the Burr
conspiracy. The young Captain
was one of the party. The argu-
ment grew exciting; the, young
Captain sprung up and publicly
proclaimed that he never knew
but two traitors, one was Burr
and the other was Gen. James
Wilkinson: he further said, Gen.
Wilkinson was a liar and q scoun-.
drel. Of course this startling de-
nunciation from subordinate of
ficer created an immense sensa-
ton. --. i
Gen. Wilkinson was Immediate,
ly informed of tho matter, and
the young Captain was placed
under arrest and court lnartailed.
The charges against him were for
conduct ungentlemanly and un-t
becoming an officer, in withhold
ing money from his troops and
for speaking disrespectfully of
his superior officer. He was found
guilty of OBTAINING a portion of
the funds from his troops; but
with no criminal intention; and be
was found guilty of the charge on
unoffcer like conduct, in speaking
disrespectfully of bis superiors.
He was suspended from service
for ten months, but with re-
commendation for removal of sus-
pension.
This had a material effect upon
his military career. He left Mis-
-sissippi, went to his friend Wick
ham's, in Virginia, and there de-
voted himself to intense study of
military science. When the war
with Great Britain broke out, his
sword sprung from it's scabbard at
Chippewa, Niagara, and at Lundy's
Lane, he dashed like Murat at theI
head of his squadron, into the
thickest of the fight; everywhere
he appeared, through tho war, he
was one Of our Paladins; the very
embodiment of headlong chivalry.
AS age tempered his enthusiasm
he combined skill with couage.
He was the main instrument in
terminating the Seminole war.
In after time he landed at Vera
Cruz amidst the most magnificent
bombardment that the world ever
saw. With a mere handful OF
men, comparatively, he marched
onward and upward, through Mo-
lima Del Rey, Cherabusco and
sChepultepec. He placed the stars
and stripes upon the grand palace
of the City of Mexico and turned
to receive the plaudits, not. only
of his own country, but also of
the world, as the greatest captain
of his age.
He was victorious while he
served his whole country, but
alas! when, like Coriolanus, he
had, by the force of circumstances
or ambition, or a sense Of duty, to
turn his saOord against the bosom
of his own mother State, it was
shivered to the hilt in the first
battle of Manassas. With Amer
lean soldiers fighting for Am erica