Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-05-03
DAVIS AND GILLEM.
The killing Of "Bull'' Nelson and
John Morgsn-SOTne "Reminiscences
of eOur Late Unpleasansness.s

Of "Our Late Unpleasansnessss
From the Chattanooga Times.
The murder of General Candy, the coz
setiuent prominence it has given to Gille1n
bis second in command, and the assignment
of Col. jeff, G. Davis to the place made
vacant by Candy Is death, have revived the
stories of the killing of Gen. Nelson, and
John Morgan. We notice in some Of the
newspapers account of these events that
are remarkable orly for the lack of correct
information up ID the part Of those who
write them.
One account of the killing of Nelson in
the New York Tribune is as full of blund-
ers as It is of sentences, These are briefly
the facts: Gen. Bragg had fanked Buell.
out of Tennessee. He was pressing him
closely in Kentucky. Gen. Wright com
mapding the department ofthe Ohio NOV
ed his Headquarters from Cincinnati to
Louisville about the first of September,
1862. Louisville was threatened by Bragg,
whose headquarters were then atBardstown.
On the 18th of September, 1852, Nelson ar
rived in Louisville, and by virtue of his
superior rank assumed command. Davis
who bad been sick, and was still feeble, re-
ported 10 Wright for duty on or about the
18th, and was assigned to the command Of
all the odds and ends, volunteers, stray
glers and deserters returning to their COM
mands, hospital bummers, convalescent,
etc. On the 10Th be an6 other officers in
command of Brigades and Divisions were
ordered to report to Nelson in person the
number of troops In their commands, as q
basis for the correct issuance OF supplies,
rations, arms, etc. When Davis reported
| Al hn, fe;1-
sand men," or words to that purport. Mel
son at one denounced him for fol, and
applied various other epithets to him for
his Ignorance of the exact number Of his
command. As usual with him he would
listen to no explanation, and Davis quit bis
presence deeply offended. The next y
Davis sought Nelson accompanied by Sen
ator Morton, then Governor of Indiana, and
VIM. Gibson, ESQ.,, of Louisville, in hope of
obtaining an apology for the insult put upon
him. They found Nelson in the reading
room OF the Gait House. He was more
brutally abusive than on the previous occa-
sion, replying to sll requests for an expla-
ration in the most insulting language; final
" striking Davis on the side of his face with
the tips of his fingers, and at the same time
| exclaiming, "Get out Of my presence,
/
quick by this insult, inflicted in the pres
ence ofseyeral officers and civilians, rushed
from the room TO the sidewalk where lie
met Gibson, and asked him for pistol.
He was handed Deringer, andimmediate-
ly returned to the room to find Nelson one
third the way up the stairs. Davis shout
ed, "Halt, Gen. Nelson, and defend your
self" He was replied to by q yolley of
| chO
throu b the body, Of which wound be die
in about an hour and quarter. The writer
of this was officer Of the guard in the city
the day of the killing, saw and talked with
both Nelson and Davis during the day, and
after the killing, withthe aid of Lieut., Mel
SOD, of the 9th Kentucky cavalry, and a
guard of his company, cleared the reading
room and Office of the Gait House of an
angry and excited crowd OF lndisna and
Kentucky officers, who were taking sides,
aud threatening to bring on bloody
fight. Davis az once surrendered aud de-
manded court Of inquiry of the President
The court sustai ed him IN shooting Nell
son, and the entire army with almost one
voice, while they deplored the loss of Mel
son to the cause of the Government, said:
'We cannot see how Gen. Davis could have
done otherwise and preserve his honor and
manhood" These are the unVarniShed
facts, most of which were gained by occu-
lar observation. 1t may be proper to add
the story that there WIS en- old grudge be
tween these officers, at the bottom OF which
there was woman Nelson put girl in
the guard house while the army was lying
at PIttsburg Landing. She passed for hos
pital nurse, but was said to be in reality
Davis mistress. She bad treated Nelson
ungrasiously, hence her arrest and final ex-
pulsion from the lines. This information
is by gentleman who was on Lew Wal
lace's staff at the time, and personally intl-
male with Davis and his staff officers.
John Morgan was killed at Greeneyile, Oh
the night of the 10Th Of June, 1864, under
the following circumstances: He had been
operating in the upper part Of East Tea
nessee for some months, and Gillem was
sent with brigade of Tennessee cavalry &c
drive him across the Virginia line. Morgan
on the night in question, was sleeping al
Mrs. Williams brick residence in Greene
vile, accompanied by few Of his staff OF
ficers. Duke was east of town with Oh
brigade and battery. Dick Morgan wa!
camped with his regiment in field just on
of town, on the main road leading to Bu!Pi
, Gap. Gillem having been reinforced by th
10th Michigan cavalry at Knoxville, pushed
up to within three miles OF Greenville wher'
! he halted aid ordered Capt. Winslow Of In
18th Tennessee cavalry, and Capt. Roberts
of the 10Th Michigan, to proceed with thei
companies-abeut hundred men--ln eth
direction of Gree leville, and ascertain Nor
CAMS whereabouts and strength. They wer
ortered not, on any account, to bring Oh
any engagement before morning. winston
, | and Roberts, two as harem-scarem dare
| devils as either army held, found out il
some way that the command was not we
posted to repel dashing attack and tn
| whereabouts Of the General.
/ Winslow proposed that they rush pas
Dick Morgan's camp, surround the WI
liams mansion, capture or kill Morgan an
| his staff, ride through the town, make
| detour round it, and so get back to th
main force. No sooner said than done, Of
/ hey dashed ike troop Of Comanches. TIL
house was surrounded in twiDkliug, an
| Morgan and his staff, taken completely b
| surprise, jumped from their beds and raj
! half dressed into the yard. Morgan Wit
nothing on but pants, shirt and boots al
tempted to escape through a grape srbo
| into the heart of the town. As he stoope
: / 10 pass INTO the aGOOF H6 was eSpleu ny
. | private, Andy Campbell, Of Winslow'
Company, who knew him. He paid no al
!, tention to the order shalt and surrender,
! when Campbell shot him through the body
killing him almost instantly. He then di:
mounted, threw the body over bis horse
withers and rode out of town with bis CON
mand, carrying Gen. Morgan's body wit
; him. The result of this brilliant dash mad
in violation of his orders, was the promo
. ton of Gen. Gillem to be Major General {
. Volunteers, and finally made him Colonel {
: cavalry in the regular army, which al goe
10 show what slim foundation "the bahbl
reputation" sometimes has for its basil
: Had Gillem's orders teen obeyed job
: Morgan would probably have been livi7
: now, private Campbell would not hold
d Second Lieutenants Commission in th
) regular army, and Gillem would most likel
: be at most, q Major in the Quarter Master
Department. 1t may be added that the tW
leading spirits in this brilliant coup wei
never in any manner rewarded for the
$ skill and pluck. Winslow, if be is living,
l farmer in Campbell county, in this Stat
!, and Roberts is clerking in store in Detroi
e Michigan.
It There may be some slight errors in th