National Republican., 1883-04-19
CHICAGO PRODUCE MARKET.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR,
DEATH OF LIEUT.. MEIGs.
10 Lhe Ednor.


WASHINGTON, D. O., April 10.-Referring
to the recent statements and publications
made in your paper concerning tho circum-
stances attending the death of Lieut.. John r.
Meigs in October, 1864, inclose herewith a
copy of an affidavit made by G. W. Martin,
in Fauquier county, Va, and heretofore pub
lished in vol. TX. No. 9, Southern Historical
William Jones, ID. d., Richmond, Va. Re-
spectfully, &C., w.
WARRENToN, Oct. 9, 1S65--On the third of
October, 1854 / was scouting, in company
with F. NJ. Campbell of the same company
and regiment as myself (Black Horse troop,
4th Virginia cavalry, and - Shafer, of the
LIST Virginia cavalry, inside the lines of the
federal army, in the county of Rockingham,
near the village of Dayton. 1t was near dark,
the sun having about gone down, and the
evening cloudy and rainy. We were wear
ing oilcloths over our uniforms, so IL was diff
cult to ascertain to which army we belonged
We discovered riding in the same direction,
but behind us, three soldiers whom we sup
posed belonged to the federal army. We were
in such position-so near the camp of the
enemy-and they on the only road by
which we could escape, and between us
and our own troops, that it was a matter
Of necessity that we should either elude
them by passing ourselves as federal soldiers,
or capture or kill them. Holding hasty
consultation with each other We determined
to make the attempt to capture them. The
three federal soldiers were riding by file and
we abreast. Riding slowly along until the
foremost man came up by my side imme-
diately presented my pistol, which l had
drawn under my oilcloth each of my COM
panions did the same, dropping back to the
side of the man they selected. l ordered my
man to surrender; his response, which was an
immediate one, was the discharge of his pistol
which he must have had drawn and under his
overcoat cape, wounding me severely through
the body. l fired almost simultaneously, kill
ing my adversary dead One of the other men
surrendered without resistance; the other
sprang from his horse and, under cover of the
woods on the right of the road, escaped.
succeeded in avoiding capture with u great
deal of difficulty, owing to my wounded con-
dition and the proximity of the enemy.
We had ridden mile or two before ascer-
tanned whom it was / had shot. was told
by the prisoner whom We captured that it
was Lieut. Meigs, Of Gen. Sheridan's staff.
My wound was 30 severe that could not
be moved from the first place of safety taken
for six weeks, and did not return to The
service for three or four months. The course
of the ball having been diverted by bone
was told by the surgeon, alone saved my life.
q. W. MARTIN.
ocT, 6, 1s65.-Personally appeared before
me, a justice of the peace for the county of
Fauquier and State Of Virginia, G. w. Mar
tin, whose name is signed above, and made
oath that the above statement is true.
j. G. BEcKHAM, j. p.
G. w. Martin was an enlisted man in nv
company during the whole war. The high
character he always bore together with the
corroborating account of the two men who
were with him, and which have heard from
them, assures me of the truth of his state
ment. A, ID. PAYNE,
Captain company II Tor Black Horse troop,
4th Virginia cavalry, Wickham's brigade,
Fitz Lees division, A, NV.