Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-11-10
From the New York Times.
In the Light of Cancellation.

| ~ VIZ htF ~ WI
Fortune was kind to Gen. Forrest in permitting
him to live until the era of Cancellation. Had he
died year ago, the friends of the so-cslled Union
would have recognized bis skill and bravery as a
soldier. but would have felt compelled to say that
he fought in behalf Of a bad cause and stained his
reputation by an ATTRACTIONS massacre. Since,
however, the day of Cancellation has arrived, it is
the duty Of every one TO speak in the highest
terms of gallant Confederate officer, and to as
sumo that the charge of having msssscred the
Font Pillow prisoners was a wicked Fenersl lie.
Let us, then, in spirit of conciiation comment
briefly upon the life and services of this di,tin-
gui-hed man.
The great Southern cavalryman took part in the
late unfortunate civil war from the purest and no.
liest Of motives. lie fought to defend his beloved
South from the invading Federal troops. 1t is
quite possible that the latter believed that they
were right. but that belief could not alter the
character Of their acts. This is one of the pecul-
larities which chiefly distinguished them from the
Confederstes. The Southern soldiers believed
that they were right, and hence they were right.
OF the misery they caused by taking up arms they
must he held blameless because they fought to
| sustain their honest convictions. On the other
troops slaughtered thousands of Southern men and
laid waste miles of Southern territory. Nothing
can alter the fact of this slaughter and devssta
ton, although charity and Cancellation require that
the soldiers of the so-called Union should be for
given and their deeds forgotten. There can be no
cancellation unless forget the deeds of North
ern soldiers and celebrate those of their Southern
foes, always remembering that the latter must
have been right because they thought they were
right, and that the former were wrong in spite of
their ALLEGED convictions of uuty.
OF Gen. FORESTS skill rs a cavalry leader there
is question. In the interests of Cancellation
we should, however, go further, and concede that.
with the possible exception of Stewart, he was the
foremost cavalry leader of the century. As to
such persons As Sheridan and Fitzpatrick, the least
that is said about them the better. The mention
of their names tends to excite unpleasant remlnis
cences among our Southern brethren, and thus in
terleres with Cancellation. In any event, they
must have been greatly inferior to Forrest, from
The simple circumstance that they commanded
Federal troops. Throughout the war they showed
a spirit of hostility TO the South, and while they
were in the field they made no effort to conclliate
the Coniederates
The charge that Gen. Forrest mastered the
coloied defenders of Fort Pillow is, of course, q
malignant partisan falsehood. ln the fits place
there j. no evidence of the truth of the charge
Not single colored soldier can be found from the
Atlantic to the Pacific, from Maine to Texas-to
use the Presidents tavorite geographical remark
who will testify under oath that he was massa-
cred by Gen. Forrest at Fort Pillow or elsewhere.
1t is true that several Federal soldiers were killed
in battle when Fort Pillow was captured, aud it is
possible that after the Confederates had entered
the fort few of the simple negroes, dazzled by
the sperdid appearance of the chivalroas South
horsemen, may have stumbled and fallen
against a sabre, or may even have persisted from
sheer fright when the piercing gaze OF the great
cavalryman fell upon them. 10 suppose that they
were literally massacred, Is to assume that Gen.
Forrest was capable of an atrocous act, and no
one who cares anything for Cancellation could
capable of such an assumption. More
over If we concede, for the sake Of argument,
that the whole story of the Fort Pillow massacre
was true it does not follow that any blame should
attach to the Confederates. 1t is fundamental
principle of the policy of Cancellation that because
the Confederates thought they were right in re-
being against the so-called Union, they were
right. Hence, if Gen. Forrest thought it right to |
the colored troops, he should be praised
rather than blamed for massacring them. 1t is |
childish to treat the Southern rebellion mere
matter of taste involving no question of right |
shd at The same time to find fault with mere de- /
tail of the rebellion Besides the whole subject of
the alleged Fort Pillow massacre should be buried /
as deep as the dead Federal soldiers for nothing /
inlerferes more with Cancellation than to charge
those who are TO be conciliated with participating
In revolving crimes.
Had Gen. Forrest lived few years longer he |
might have been made a Cabinet officer, Judge /
Of the Supreme Court or a foreign Ambassador,
and thus been publicly honored one of the most
eminent of American soldiers. Of course, tue
place to which he was really entitled was the
now held by the person
known as Sheridan bat the latter is unaccounta-
oily popular, and his removal, in the interests
Of cancellation, migtA have met with some oppOsi-
lion. Still, Forests services should undoubtedly
have been recognized la some conspicuous way.
l. Il Is exceedingly unjust to reward such men as
Sheridan and Sherman for fighting in a cause
ShlCh they fare led WAS right. and to ignore the