The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1880-07-09
GEN. HANCOCK AND Mas. Sunnarr-

visited Bishop Keane, of the Catholic
Church, at Richmond, Va, Thursday, aud
asked him 1t the charges as 10 Gen. Han
cocks connection with the Surratt case
would affect him with tho Catholics. H.
answered that most undoubtedly they would,
and with Protestauts as we'll as Catholics
and all others, if the truth were not told.
Since these charges, however, had been do.
MED and had been disproved as prcposter-
GUS and false, he could not see how Gen.
Hancock could be affected by them. The
Bishop then referred to the fact that Rev.
>. A. Walter, pastor of st. Patrick Church,
Washington, the spiritual adviser and con-
fessor OF Mrs Surratt, had several months
ago published a card stating in emphatic
language that there was no truth whatever
in the charges. Bishop Keane was tho as
sistant of Rev. Mr.. Walter for twelve years,
up to the time he became Bishop of Rich.
mond. The card referred to by Bishop
keane was written November l3 of last
year, and is as follows:
Truth and justice compel me to deny
the statement with reference to Gen. Han
cocks participation in the execution of Mrs.
Surratt, which appeared in the Washington
I1ost Of this morning. l attended Mrs.
Surratt on the occasion, aud met with no
interference on the part of Gen. Hancock
Gen. Hancock had great sympathy for this
unfortunate lady, and waited until the last
moment, hoping for repricvc. 1 consider
it an act of justice to Gen Hancock tha,
this statement should be made.
~. A. WALTER.
"Pastor of ST. Patrick's Church, Washing
ton"
A Washington dispatch to tho New York
Herald, describing the reception of the
news OF Gen. Hancock s nomination, says:
"The question of Gen. Hancock's posi-.
ton in the execution of Mrs. Surratt was
freely discussed, and the General was in
great measure cxoncratcd from doing any
thing more :hau his duty US a soldier.
"Mr. John T. Clampett, the only surviv-
ing attorney for Mrs Surratt, said to your
correspondent that Hancock was the best
selection the Convention could have made.
1t is splendid nomination, said Mr. Clam
petit, with emphasis, 'and his part in the
Surratt execution will not affect him, as the
General only obeyed the orders of his su-
pcrlors, and that is recognized by all we'll
Informed Democrats. Gen. Hancock was
not in the court room during the entire
time, and on the morning of the execution
came into the penitentiary, and was met by
me. Hancock said: L am carrying out
the death sentence, and it is the most
painful act Of my life. I would rather
take chances on tho battlefield, but l am
soldier and must obey orders. Rev. Fa-
ther Walter, who was Mrs. Surratts spirit
uul adviser, said: II do not desire to be-
come mixed up with politics. Gen. Han
cock has letter which explains my opinion
of the part he took in the execution"
The New York World says that when
Gen. Hancock's attention was called Thurs
day to paper containing charges against
him in connection with Mrs Surratt's exc
cation, he pronounced them downright
talschoods, without one scintilla of founda-
ton" He added that he was not on the
defensive, having nothing to defend him
self from, but named Gen. F. A. Darr, of
New York, ex-Congressman Tarbox, of
Massachusetts,, and others, who knew al! the
facts, and would quash such falsehoods
--~--
THE DAREDEVIL FoRREsr.-No man
ever exacted strictcr obedience or more
thoroughly maintained it. He brooked no
disobedience of his own orders, and he
resented their infraction with characteristic
FIRE.
When his command needed supplies he
stopped on no technicalities of obstruction
to obtain them. The writer we'll remem-
bers once sending requis;tion for food
and forage to an officer at one of the rail-
road stations, and was refused on the
grounds that the supplies belonged to au ill.,
tantry command in the rear. Forrest hav.
ing failed in the same manner to obtain
needed provisions, coolly took what he
wished without further parlcy, stating that
if any complaint was made he (Gen. For
rest) was responsible. His services were so
valuable that his summary methods were
overlooked. He said to the writer in cx.
planation OF his taking these supplies that
he never hesitated to override formalities
when he deemed it necessary; that he would
break thousand of them at any cost TO
himself before his men and horses should
suffer for want of subsistence, and that the
infantry in camp could get plenty more,
while his men, always in active service on
the front, could not obtain supplies all the
time,
Another instance of his disregard of rules
was that he allowed his men to absent them-
selves just when he pleased. He had his
troops on hand on all necessary occasions
for march and fighting or picket duty
He would turn whole regiment loose for
a day or two when in the vicinity of their
homes, or when they could be spared, and
this when there were positive orders against
it from army headquarters. And the prac.
tical result of it was that it absolutely ben
Gifted the service it satisfied and encour-
aged the men, and made them better SOL
diers. No General punished desertion more
severely or demanded harder service, and
| none fnok more resnnnsihilifu in hnhalf of