Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1877-05-19
JUaG ". Gully.

and u press f business have pre-
vented me from performing an act
OF jlStlr" H. the memory and char
AFTER at Iabn W. Guiy Win war
recently as-p-sI"arcd nrilr his holhr
~ h"opsr &,dhty.
The lrrblcal events growing ont
OF that cruel art, gives importance
to everything prominently connect
ed with it, and the public should
know who John W. Gully was. 1t
has been my lot TO be associated
with him under circumstances
which gave me an opportunity Of
knowing him better and more init
matcly than most men.
MIR, Gully's manner was rough,
and he was not prepossessing on
first appearance. On the contrary,
his general appearance might be
said 10 have been forbidding to a
stranger. ! had seen him but to
know who he was previous to the
war, and l'con!ess | did not seek
or desire All intimate relation with
him, During the second year OF
the war VIC were thrown together,
when he. was the commander of. u
company attached to a regiment
under my 'tommand. Thought he
would be unruly, and | anticipated
some trouble in controlling him.
and enforcing that discipline ncces-
sary to good order and government
in military organizations, and more
especially in militia bodies Of men
hurriedly thrown together But /
was disappointed in tho character
and conduct of Mr.. Gully. There
was no man, officer or private, more
governed than he was. Al.
ways ready to obey commands and
execute order, | found him one of
the most pleasant and agreeable
soldiers OF my command, and none.
more worthy of trust and conf.
About two years after this, we
again thrown together in the
intimate relation Of Judge and
Sheriff, | as the presiding Judge of
tho Circuit Court District, and he
AZ the Sheriff Of Kempcr, one of the
counties composing the District,
| cannot give q truor or more
faithful account of him, as the Elk.
scutive officer of that noted coun-
y, than to detail u conversation
between Gen. Gillem and myself
| was in Vicksburg while Gen.
vas the military command
n of the State. He informed me
hat he had good reports from all
he counties in my district, except
hat of Kemper, and that county
gave him more trouble than all
he other counties in the State, that
here was u man up there named
ohm W. Gully who must be a ter.
ibiy bad man." ! asked what
harges were against him. The
General repeated several. Some of
hem | knew to be false and | did
Iot believe any of them were true.
told Gen. GilIcm | might possibly
my own place in contradict.
* these reports, but, nevertheless,
felt it to be my duty to speak the
ruth in vindication of an injured
ian. | told him Mr.. Gully was,
'elhaps, the best Slandered man in
he country, that | knew some OF
he charges were false, and doubt.
d the correctness Of any of them,
hat he was the best Sheriff in the
%istricl, that no caplas in Il State
was left uneXecuted, when
nc defendant could be found In his
The only plan to escape
is vigilance was to get out of the
The General expressed
nrprisc at my opinion, but l heard
I no more complaints against Mr..
nor did | lose my Office tor
laklng the revelation.
During my recent canvass for
enatOr OF the 18th Senatorial Dis.
Iict, which embraced Kcmper
ounty at the Lime, | was again tor II
NV days the intimate associate Of
ir. Gully, being his guest and en-
Dying with him the hOSpitalit!6s Of
Is home, and mingliIig amongst
he people freely with him.
On one occasion, while spending
night with him at his house, the
anne Of Judge Chisholm was men,
He spoke of some things
Judge G. had done il terms Of dis;
pprobAtion, but no harsh remarks
scaped his lips. He said they had
wed together rs neighbOrs, and he
ad contributed much to the sup
.ort OF Chisholm's family, express
d hrs good opinion of Mrs. c. and
hlldren, and closed by saying that,
lthoughrhe had done much for c.,
believed he was his bittorest on
my, aud without cause, as he new
r did nor would do him any harm.
1t is not my purpose to speak of
that l hope is the end Of those
deeds Of Kemper. | know
Iothing but what / have heard of
hcso unfortunate matters, and am
.ot disposed to speak harshIy Of
no dead, or to form uniavorable
'pinions Of the people, whom l
ave at all times found civil, obe-
lent to law, respectful, generous
nd kind. ii; W. FOoTE.