Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-03-10
HEADQUARTERS IRON BRIGADE, |
Camp Reunion, Milwaukee. J
DAvIS-NELSON.
Another VersiO,s Of the Shooting Of Gen
Nelson by JEFF. C. DaUis.

Another VersiO,s of the Shooting Of Gen.
Nelson by JEFF. C. Dauis.
To the Editor of the Globe.
article which Appeared in your issue of the
23d inst, in reference to the shooting of Gen.
Nelson at the Calf house, in Louisville, KY,
in 1862.
think am perfectly justified in making
the statement that this member of the Sec
ond Minnesota has done great injustice to
the memory of jeff. G. Davis, whose charao-
ter and reputation as soldier and gentlemen
stand spotless and almost unequalled since
the first gun was fired on Fort Sumter until
the stars and stripes again proudly waved
over every State in the Union: and not even
then could his valuable services be dispensed
with. Think for moment how he avenged
the death of our beloved Gen. Candy in the
Mcdoc war. 1, too, was in the Gait house
at the time the shooting occurred; and
this, I think, you will find cor
rect statement of the affair. Davis had on
several occasions spoken to Nelson about the
suffering of his men for food and clothing,
after the long and wearisome march from
Corinth, Miss, for which he was insulted
and ordered back to his command, but on
this occasion the insults became so abusive
both to Davis and the soldiers of Indiana,
that it was more than true soldier and a
tender heart could bear, and am positive,
from that moment until Nelson fell dead at
the top of the stairs, Davis and Morton had
no interview whatever, for no longer time
elapsed than it took Davis to walk down
stairs, prepare his revalver, and return to
the top, where he met Nelson and demanded a
retraction of his insults, which was refused.
Hence the fatal shot, the result of which
saved Nelson from a more disgraceful death.
Had this not occurred he would have had to
answer to the many charges preferred against
him, in betraying his own army on the re-
treat from Corinth and allowing his men
and rations to be captured by Gen. Bragg,
who commanded the rebel army.
Just word in regard to the "big hear" "
He has been seen on several occasions, on the
march through Tennessee and Kentucky, to
ride up and strike with his sword some sick
and exhausted soldiers who were lying in the
fence corners unable to keep up with their
command. Only an hours ride among the
troops in the vicinity of Louisville on the
day that Nelson was shot would have given
anyone correct idea in regard to their ap-
probation of Nelson as an officer. Not only
Indiana soldiers bnt four-ffths of the whole
army gave cheer after cheer and said they
were rid of one tyrant. So far as Capt
Gibson furnishing the pistol 1 have only to
say knew Gen. Davis since he first led the
Twenty-second Indiana from Madison, and
was with his command most of the time
turing the rebellion, and never met him
on duty without side arms, and think am
pretty safe in saying that such was the case
on this occasion. A few words more and 1
am through. The facts are that Gov. Nor
ton did not engage Gen. Davis to kill Nelson,
but, On the other hand, knew nothing of the
circumstance until after the death of Nelson.
Then, in common with the whole army, he
complimented Gen. Davis for the protection
of his soldiers, for which he was also exon
Grated at the war department few months
later. l care not what Gov. Morton's polit-
iual views were before or after the war; but
bis history stands unequalled as the war gov
ernor, and his memory will be fondly cher
ished as long as there is one soldier left to
tell the story. E1GHTY-FIRsT INDIANA.