Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-04-15
RefutatiOn OF the Calumny Against
Gen. Logan.

| AVSous
The following letter was addressed by
Senator Logan to the New York World:
March 81, 1875
To the Editor Of the New York World:
| In your issue of the 10th inst. was pub
lished statement based upon a pretended
affidavit OF one John 8. Wheatley, stating In
substance that had recruited a number Of
men in Williamson County, H., at the Begin
ming OF the late war, for the Southern Con.
| federacy, that marched them to the Ohio
| River and then deserted them, etc, etc.
| have no knowledge whatever Of Mr. Wheat
| ley except through his false affidavit, never
having seen him. If he ever resided In Will
hanson County am not aware OF it. This
base and false statement of his was published
| In Illinois several years ago, and at the time
wholly refuted by men OF standing in the
county, who declared every one Of his state
| ments to be utterly false. / understood at
the time that this affidavit was procured from
a man In one Of the poor.houses in Illinois,
by the name OF Wheatley, for 4 considera-
| ton, and afterward denied by the same man.
| had supposed that no one would ever again
think OF putting this base fabrication before
| the public, but inasmuch as II has been done
presume you will not refuse to publish
refutaton Of 1t made by gentleman whose
knowledge of the facts is such that his state
ments cannot be questioned. refer to Col.
crluted the men referred to by Wheatley and
| commanded them during the war. He was
raised in Maryland, removed to Williamson
County, H., short time before the war; and
| is now merchant in Baltimore, well known
| in that city. therefore ask an act Of JUS
tice to me that you publish this note, with
the letter Of Col. Brooks appended, In as con-
spicuous part OF your paper as you did the
false statements against me. Very respect
| fully, JOHN A. LOGAN
REBEL vINDICATIoN OF SENATOR LOGAN
WARRINGTON, ID. c., April 4, 1873.
| The local papers have published let
ter Of Col Thorndyke Brooks relative to
the story which has been revived, to the
effect that Gen. John A. Logan recruited
men for the Confederate service. The
letter is from Col. Thorndyke Brooks, Of
Baltimore, who recruited the men re-
ferred to in the Wheatley affidavit, and
| commanded them during the entire war.
| Brooks is a native of Baltimore and is
| now wholesale shoe merchant there.
Shortly before the war he removed to
Williamson, Ill, and claims to have re-
cruited the only men in Williamson
County that entered the rebel service.
Brooks, while Boosting that he is still
rebel, shows that the Wheatley affidavit
is a libelous fabrication. The following
is Brooks letter:
The Hon. John A. Logan.
DEAR SIR-Your letter OF this date is re-
ceyed, and, In reply to your request fer
yindication at my hands, | will state that /
have read the statement published in the
New York World and copied into other papers,
purporting to be an affidavit made by one
John Il. Wheatley, in substance as follows:
John q. Wheatley deposes that he was one of
the seventy men recruited for the Confederate
army by John A. Logan; that the said Logan
Ill., under cover OF night TO place on the
Ohio River, where they crossed into Kentucky to
join the Confederate army; that Logan chose his
crossing place In order TO avoid Union troops
stationed at Cairo that Logan left the recruits at
the river for the purpose Of going back for more
promising faithfully to join the first In "A few
days and then command the regiment la the
Confederate service.
| wish to say that said affidavit Is a lie
throughout The only body Of men ever
taken from Williamson County, H., to the
Confederate army that know Of were those
that went with me. With the recruiting Of
these or sending off you certainly had moth
ing TO do. Said Wheatley was never in Illinois
that know Of before the war. Joined the
Southern cause believing Il the right one, and
have never changed my opinion on that
point. However, not believing any good can
be accomplished by propagating lies or with
holding the truth, have written you this let
ter as requested. Respectfully yours,
tsigned) THoRSDYKE BgooRs,
Late Lieutenant Colonel Confederate states.