The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-11-13
THE CARTER LETTER.

The following very full and satisfactory
statement Of the entire matter is in Mr.. NJ B.
Carriers reply TO the inquiry of Comrade Wills:
FRANKLIN, TENN, Oct a. 1884.
Col. A. w. Wills, Nashville, Tenn.
DEAR SIR: The inclosed letter from W. NJ. Barns
70 John S. kountz sent me by Dr Ciiff'e for my
consideration. i will answer il plainly and
briefly as practicable.
IT is fact that human bones were removed on
my place in leveling hillside for a barn.
This occurred in the early part of 1882, and was
frequently mentioned by me TO friends and stran-
gers visiting the battle ground, and was matter
of establishment 10 all, every one. like myself,
had supposed all remains had been removed to the
respective cemeteries-Federal and Confederate.
In making this excavation for the barn, the work
was done with pillow and rOad-scraper, and while
the ground was very wet The first bones noticed
were sniaIl ones, suppose, frofa the hands and
feet. with now and then large one They were
scattered about over the f by the scraper. which
was dumped wherever convenient. and so dis
gulsed with the adhering mud TO he scarcely
ognzed. The work may have progressed some
time before bones were discovered the ground
was tbickiy set with locust roots and we were not
suspecting bones In that locality. At length
PIECE OF JAw-BoNE WAS FOUND
and recognized as that of a human being That
fact being ascertained, sought the place whence
they were removed and after diligeni search found
It. 1t showed some slight vcstige of clothing Of
blush color from which fact. taken with another
the locality, il being abou. where the Federal
works stood-I concluded the remains were those
Of Federal soldier soldiers. This evidence,
however, was not conclusive of that since Confed-
crate soldiers were often dressed in Federal uni
forms
deposited in the FILL few Of the smaller ones not
noticeable at the time in the mud, were revealed
after the mud was washed off by the rains. These
intended gathering up and burying but, with a
Hale exposure 20 the air, they crumbled and my
KIND intentions were lost.
no BONES ARE VISIBLE NOW,
and have not been since a very short time AFTER
the excavation was made
i amy ipdea hon In
town. did not take time 10 examine for himself as
% the truth OF the matter in question. 1t would
have afforded me pleasure TO have extended TO
him the same courtesy extend TO Others and 10
have shown my new barns and surroundings and
70 have pointed out all points Of interest this
You may rest assured Mr. Barns has been mis-
informed as TO the extent of the vandalism COM
planned OF in his letter A-moe-hII has certainly
been magnlted into d mountain.
"A person who would pillow up the bones Of a COL
der % either side and leave them scattered around
community.
Very respectfully, yours, etc.
NJ B. CARTER.
THE GRAND ARMY NoN-PARTIsAN.
The Commander-iD-Chief has continued to
received soldierly responses of approval of his
General Order. calling attention to the nom
partisan character of the Grand Army of the
Republic and of the Importance of comrades
preserving their fealty TO its cardinal princi-
Ples-Fraternity, Charity, and Loyalty-even
IN the midst of heated political campaign.
The order has been cordially approved by the
representative men of the Grand Army every
where, but nothing more clearly expresses
the sober. second thought of the "true blue, /"
shan letter received by Adju't-Gen Alcorn
from Comrade II. S. Morrow, Department Com
nander of Washington Territory. Comrade
Morrow writes as follows:
THE GAR. NO MACHINE
do not suppose that Gen Eountz needs INV
appreciation TO assure him of the perfect correct
nsss of his counsel In relation to GAR. Posts
Keeping themselves aloof from political compiica-
Cons, but desire TO express to him my personal