River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-12-18
THE DAyIs.NELsoN HOMICIDE.
A Full Statement of the Causes Leading
TO the Tragic Occurrence---Gen Davis
Justification by the President and
Secretary of War.
Indianapolis Daily News.

indianapolis Daily News.
The presence in the city to-day of the
remains of Gen. jeff g. Davis, one of the
best soldiers contributed by Indiana to
the war of tue Union, recalls the event
which sent his name flashing over the
wires to all parts of the country on the
10Th of September. 1862-th3 shooting
of Maj .-Gen. William Nelson in the
corridor of the Gait House that morn
ing full and true statement of the
causes leading to the tragic occurrence,
and the intense provocation under
which 1t was committed, has never
been published, and this is ftting oc-
casion for relating the circumstances.
Gen. Nelson was one of the handsomest
and most imposing men in the army
and courageous soldier, but possessed
of an irritable disposition and ungov-
ernable temper, which led him to abuse
and curse those who offended HIM in a
most insulting and degrading manner.
This incident will illustrate his character.
He offered Carter Harrison, present
mayor of Chicago, a position on his
staff and requested aim to report.
Harrison arrived at headquarters after
night. Just as he came up Gen. Nelson
had ordered an aid to convey message
to another general in the corps. The
night was dark, the way led through a
field covered with stumps, ana the aid
said, "Why, General, / can't get over
there tonight; I'll break my neck on a
stump" TO which Gen. Nelson
brutally responded, "Break and be id;
l can appoint another aid in the morn
ing" Mr.. Harrison concluded he
would not accent the offer of the posi-
ton and retired.
Nelson and Davis had met in Charles
ton while the former was in the navy
and the latter stationed at Fort Sumter,
and had become warm friends. Shortly
after the war broke out Nelson was
given command in the army by Pres
ident Lincoln, and stationed in Ken
lucky. He came of an old Kentucky
family, and his appointment was popu-
larly supposed to be due to the desire OF
the president to do what he could to Sc
cure the influence if his relations in be-
half of the union cause. The two met
on the field in front of Corinth, where
warm mutual expressions of friendship
and delight at the meeting were in
dulged in. After the surrender of Cor
NTH Gen. Davis asked and was granted
leave of absence 10y Gen. Rosecrans for
himself and son of John l.. Morrison,
q volunteer aid on his staff, and he
returned to his home in Clark county.
In the meantime Gen. Nelson had been
defeated in the battle of Richmond,
where, in his anger at the action of
some raw recruits from Indiana, with
out considering that it was their first
action, it is said he struck them with
his sword. Gen. Bragg, flushed with
victory, made his march on Louisville,
and Nelson returned 10 protect that
city.
Gen. Davis, on leave across the river,
FASTENED to offer his service to the COM
handing officer. He was next in rank
to Nelson, and military etiquette de-
manded that he should have q position
assigned to him commensurate there
with, especially under the circumstan-
ces. Instead of this, however, ne was
directed to recruit the Home Guards,
and, with only a staff officer Mr.. Nor
rison), went to work, as becomes a good
soldier, to execute the orders of his SUI
perior officer. The material he worked
boat hands and other low classes of the
community, and, being somewhat of a
volunteer militia organization, it was
impossible to keep correct roster Of
the recruits. One day Gen. Davis APP
preached Gen. Nelson at his headquar-
tiers in the Gait House, where were seat
ed number of officers, and asked for
arms and accoutrements for his Home
Guards
Chow many men have your"
about twenty-five hundred or
twenty-six hundred" responded Davis
"About twenty-five hundred or
twenty-six hundred" yelled Nelson,
rising. CHATS a hell of a way for
General to make a requisition. By
God, sir, it's your business to know just
how 1nany you've got"
Suing to the quick by this unmerit-
ed and unexpected abuse and insult,
Gen. Davis at once retired, but, after
considering the matter; determined to
take no notice of it, and on one oc-
casion before shooting Nelson, when
referring to it, said he should not pay
any attention to it. Business, how
ever required that he should meet the
commanding officer, and it is said that
on these occasions Nelson would drop
into stage-aside remark: "That's the
Indiana fellow sat down on" "Here
comes that fellow Davis again." or
some such remark.
The condition of affairs continued
thus, until the morning of the Sept. 90.
On that day Gov. Morton was in Louis
vile, and in consultation with Gen.
Nelson about the conduct of Indiana
troops at the battle of Richmond, and
probably taking the General to task
for his action towards them on the
field. When Gen. Davis came down.
stairs on his way to breakfast he saw
Nelson and Morton talking together
near the foot, having just come out of
the dining-room. His resentment at
his own treatment, and the thought of
his abuse towards the lndina soldlery,
overcame his determination to say
nothing to Nelson, and on the impulse
of the moment he approached the
gentlemen. Addressing himself to
Gen. Nelson, he said; Gen Nelson,
you insulted and outraged me when |
volunteered my services to assist you
in the defense of Louisville, when /
was under no obligations to do so, be-
ing at home on leave of absence. Be-
fore | return to my command l de-
mand an apology for your treatment"
Nelson, being somewhat deaf, asked
him to speak louder, and the demand
was repeated. Nelson drew himself up
to the full hight of magnificent pro-
portions, and laughed contemptuously
at the quiet, determined little man
who stood at his side. He then turned
to Morton, and asked, in a savage tone
of voice: "Do you come to see this
little whiffet insult me?" Addressing
Davis, who stood awaiting reply, he
denounced him as coward, applied
vile epithet to him, and struck him
in the face. Boiling with rage, Davis
walked into the office, where he met I.
w. Gibson, a prominent attorney,
whom he knew well.
tom" he said. "have you got
pistol?"
"Why, yes, of course / have" pro-
ducing the weapon. you'd better let
me show you how to use it. It's
Tranter" a new style just then out
"Ohl know how to use any pistol"
said Davis, and, Selling it, he rushed
back TO the corridor. From the man.
ner in which Davis left him, and his
words. "This is not the last of il"
NeIson MIGHT Dsfurallv enOuoh have