The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-08-22
THE MURDER OF GEN. VAN DORM.
A "Reminiscences Of the War Of the Rebel
lion.

yesterday, heard him say he was on
the staff Of Earl Van Dorm during the
war.
Are you familiar with the circum-
stances of Van Dorn's death?" asked.
"Yes; was right there. He was as
sassinated at Spring Hill, Tenn, by DIR.
Peters, in 1864" (Spring Hill is in
Maury county, not far south of Frank
lin, where Stanley fought his battle
against Hood.)
"What kind of man was Van Dorm ?"
"In all physical and social respects he
was perfect knight, belonging to the
middle ages rather than this age. He
was quite young fellow when he was
killed, perhaps SO, but had been, dis
tinguished in the old army before the
war as celebrated Indian fighter. He
was in those days what Crook and
Miles and Custer have been in ours.
Marvellous statements are told of his
Workmanship, and how he would ride
into the Comanches, Navajoes, and
other bands, sabering right and left. On
the field of battle he was the coolest
man ever saw. Often when I have
felt sick at the stomach and wanted to
compress my shoulders and ribs into a
little space, have seen Van Dorm sit
there under a rain of bullets, absolutely
enjoying himself. He was knightly
fellow to look at. His hair was clear
golden color, and in natural ringlets it
fell all around his shoulders and neck,
and looked likes King Charles wig. He
had rich, golden mustache, which
sprung across the whole upper part of
the face and showered itself around his
chops, and then he wore q chin whis-
ker. He had the softest blue eyes,
clean-cut features and good teeth. He
was rather below middle size, and a
splendid horseman and man-at-arms.
Besides, he could blush like girl.
This, with his winning address, made
him absolutely irresistible to women.
Wherever he went they gave way"
"What were the circumstances of the
assassination"
Doctor Peters was practicing ply
stefan at Spring Hill. He had married
his second wife, considerably younger
than himself-a giddy, foolish, pretty
woman. It was absolutely certain that
when such creature should be seen by
Van Dorm, and listened to him, there
would be Irritation, and perhaps an
intrigue. It happened, of course"
"Had not Van Dorm figured notably
in the WARP"
"Oh, yes he rose very rapidly in the
Mexican war from Second Lieutenant
to be Captain at Cerro Gordo, and a
Major at Cherubusco. From the very
beginning he was one of the most daunt-
less officers in our army. I think am
in error about his age. believe he
was born in 1923. In 1858, in an at
tack upon the Comanches, he killed fif-
ty-six Indians, and was dangerously
wounded in four places. No man in the
old army was more intense in his devo-
ton to slave property on account of his
ia ally, marriage, birth and tempera-
ment. He was one of the earliest ma
tive sons of Mississippi. AS early as
January, 1861, he resigned his COM
mission, became Colonel III the Con-
federate service, aud took a leading
part in Texas in capturing other regu-
lars. He took the Star of the West
steamer, received the sword of Major
Sibley, and almost Immediately became
a Major General, when he was put
in charge of the Trans Mississippi
District. He fought his leading battle,
which was a reverse, at Pea Ridge
"Now, as to the murder?"
well, Van Dorm held his headquar-
ters at Spring Hill several weeks. lam
of the belief that nothing criminal had
happened between himself and this
woman, though I do not acquit him of
possible bad intentions. The woman,
however, but recently welded to Peters,
had sufficiently inspired his mind with
the idea that criminal intrigue had
commenced. Peters then deliberately
arranged the assassination of Van Dorm
and his own escape. He established re-
lays of horses to carry him into the
Federal lines by rapid flight. He went
from his house down to Van Dorn's
quarters, and, saying that ne had some
business just inside the Federal lines,
would like to have a pass to get through.
Probably glad to get him out of reach,
with that interesting wife behind him,
Van Dorm cheerfully consented, and
leaned forward on his desk to write the
pass, and signed his name to it.
At this moment DR.. Peters, leaning on
the desk on his left hand, drew his
pistol while Van Dorm was leaning for.
ward over his signature, and shot the
General right through the spinal mar
row at the back of the head. The ball
did not pierce the brain but produced
paralysis, and he died in two hours.
Peters seized the pass, got on his horse
and was far on the road to the Federal
lines before it was discovered that Van
Dorm had been shot. One of his staff,
coming in, found him leaning over the
table muttering incoherently and bleed
ing. They placed him on lounge and
heard him say, Peters has murdered
me-"
"What became of DR.. Peters?"
well, he got in the Federal lines. 1t
was no harm then to have killed Van
Dorm, so he was not molested. After
the war it was not thought proper in any
body to indict him for murder COM
mitted during hostiities under the cir
cumstances. He condoned his wife's
offense at the end of the war and took
her back, and they moved to Arkansas.
In little while the woman began to
cOuueffa aOain and aUain arOused