The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1875-04-30

should form and protect the cenwr - WIZ
drew, and afs-r that 10 aishs mounted un.n
the &C, Of withdrawing We were heavily
sstscked, and then eusued perfect
stampede Of everything sxceps
the fourtn Kentucky regimen, and . email
battalion under witcser. The rvtress wse
continued In rea, confusion TOT several
Of heavy timber, where We succeeded In ra-
lying lev men and forming those that we're
IN order. We checked the sdvaacs % Tie
enemy at this point, and the rstreos from
there on was successfully conducted, tho mon
fighting In line and from their saddles.
Az niGhtfsll the enemy gave up the pursuit.
and We were free 10 continue our retreat until
Ne vent into camp at Devsit's Ford, and IN
the vicinity Of i.eesburs.
I have tnus undertaken 10 give . some.
what fuller detail OF this disaster theo shas
contained in the letter 10 Colonial Johnston,
but can give no correct idea Of the morti-
flying and disgrHceful condition 81 s6airs -
II really existed. II the responsibility for
belongs 10 anybody. 10 belonxs 70 0ceerel
Williams. lie vas urged by ell the otncers
by whom he was surrou nded 10 abandon the
tdeAsof going into camp directlv IN the fsce
and under the guns Of the enemy. Captain
Jenkina, In his letter N General williams.
makes . substantial statement 10 this effect,
a. far a. he aud Colonel Msrris are concerned.
Captain stanton told me that he he'd urged
the General 10 move on. and ell the oflcsrs with
whom talked we're astonlshed and alarmed
at the condition % thtngs the terrible In
pertinent of the army % that time. ! rive ~
extract from Capt jenkins letter upon this
point;
son after you had Indicated where you would
MATE vcuv beadquarters. tooe the lfnsfty, WA.
out orders, 10 ride down W Col Giltuers utgedc.
ana 10 say to hin that Dol Morris and myself h.
lpsved that We would ~ attached IN IittN vails.
and 90 had ~od~svor~d 70 tnduce tssa. Williams
W conreue the r-trrsf, and that wanted him "
cone with me and So n be could not Induce TIE
General Col GiHoer and myself we're On osf
uuy IN ten. Williams when the sssaet wss 0ads
I have nothing TO say about the many
certificates gsihered by Gen. Williams Of the
time charles were preferred against hin, an
cept that they sstooish ne beyond sxprsasiou.
4 AN sur~ many Of the officers who sought 70
shield him from the action OF . court martial
were impelled BY kindness 10 give him theas
papers. Neither Col Morris noe Capt Jsnkina.
81 whom ten. Williams refers - having
''compl-telv overwhelmed and crushed my
statement" has s-s-rted that Gen. Williams
was not drunk on thai occasion, nor do ] be-
i'eve either al them would he willing N make
IN uoequivocl assertion To that effect.
can not see how any man, officer or colder,
Who participated In thai affair ecu have failed
:, know IL his condition.
A day &c too after th-ss events, When We
were 81 Abinsdoo, ! called 10 see the 8enes-
81 with view OF talking Of our khestown
troubles. Told him such go the object of
my visit He remarked, 81 wish you 10 talk
With me, not ~ Cot Glsnet W Con Williams.
but a. Henry Gil,ner " John wLliams-vs
are both ksntuckisns and ought 10 BE-
friends" ! then said ~ him, '0easral,
When my command ~ss brigsded under yoa
ve were all highly delighted, PERFECTLY aatis-
ned, both officers and men, but since our
kneAiown troubles great Dissatisfaction baa
existed- The command hss Toe, confidence
In you, and ~i-h ~ say to you that from Ills
time forth, 10 long - 1 am . member Of your
command, ! shall totally disregard any order
that you may give me whilst sadsr the
influence OF whisky, upisss such ortiss 10 In
conformity With my own Judgment" He
then dcnied being drunk. said he had taken
but too DRINKS OF vhisky that morning. To
which replied. thought n would b. W his
credit N acknow ledge that he Vas drunk.
That II be ~as not drunk he YES NOT compe-
tent to have the lives OF men infrusted 10 bic
judgment Whilst n his inefiiciency vas
caused by drunkenness, that could be rene
died by abstaiuins from liQVor. This iatsr-
view vas temperate and wttnout any unplsas
antne-s, hut ten. Williams maintained thai
he vas not drunk.
OAs . question Of verzcity l en- perfectly
willing M place my character In The sol.
with that OF General Williams or any other
man. 4 do not lear the Truth In its eject
upon me, and regard 10 alwsys best 70 spsak
piainly. have not thought % necessary tn
accumulate papers, "a General Wllliams hes
done, upon this point. b>causs have no oc-
ession Ia bolster my memory upon any point
OF this Kind, OF 10 sustain my asssrtious b.
documentary proof IN any coannsity vhers
am known
SThe clearest witness for Gen. Williams, and
the man Who ought TO have known his coa-
dnion as we'll OF better than sns Other, 10 Dr..
Bssil 4. Duke mot 10 be eonfoupdsd with
DR. John NJ Duke or ten HAIL w. Dukr \
his brigade surgeon. but, unfortunately for
ten. Williams, the character Of DR.. Duke II
such that, among those Who know him.
his testimony In favor of ten. Willissna is
enough In itself 10 eoavict that ssnueman-
have addressed . letter to Major Henry
7. Stanton, Who vas chief OF stad under
General Williams during these scenes, and
append his reply. II. l.. 6lLrNER.
slatemenl Of MAJOR ssansoa.