The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-08-01
GEN. BussEY.
How lie Treated sorss Todd, of the list Ark. Cav.

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How lie Treated Scrg't Todd, OF the LIST Ark. Cav.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: read with
great deal of interest the biographical sketch OF
Gen. Cyrus Bussey, In THE NATIONAL TRIB-
UNE of July a. The reading revived in menu
DRY some incidents connected with his admin
istrati0n of the District of Western Arkansas
and the Third Division, Seventh Corps, which
/ have never seen in print. write from
memory, having made no written record at the
Time and might be in nonessentials slightly in
error; but in the main the statements are sub
stantally correct, for some of the incidents can
never be forgotten.
The writer was q clerk In tho Adjutant-G Gen.
erals Office of the Seventh Corps. He was
mailing clerk, and the papers mentioned below
came under his Immediate notice. Northwest
ern Arkansas and southwestern Missouri were
radically divided into loyal and disloyal ele-
ments, and these were bitterly opposed to each
other. Rebel bushwhackers were numerous,
and they made relentless warfare on the loyal
lists in the country, with Fort Smith, Fayette-
Vile and Springfield "a the centers. Amongst
the regiments of Union men recruited in this
country was tho 1st Ark Cav, commanded by
Col. La Rue Harrison. Between the members
Of this regiment there was an unrelenting war
fare; neither side Heglecting any opportunity
TO leave the other souvenir of earnest atten-
ton.
and Serg't John Z. Todd between whom there
was no friendship. Todd had no respect for
Wisdom believing him to be q spy, which was
subsequently established. But to the story.
The regiment, or portion of it, was Mt Van
Buren, Ark, in the year 1864. One day Wis
dom got drunk and swore he would Kill Sergt
| Todd, who was cautioned by his friends to DO
on the lookout for Wisdom. Todd knowing
| the character Of Wisdom, determined that the
| bushwhacker's spy should then meet his de-
| serts. armed himself and started on the hunt
for Wisdom, whom he shortly met at street
corner and instantly shot him dead. Ho was
arrested, tried by court martial and sentenced
| to execution. Tho findings of the court were
sent to Little Rock, Ma. Gen. Fred. Steele COM
manding, for approval; whore they wore pig
eon-hoed, and where they remained until
| Gen. Steele was relieved and Mai. -Gen. j. j.
| Reynolds placed in command. Almost stimuli
| taneonsly with tho change of corps command.
ers came n change of division commanders, and
| Gen. Bussey was placed in command of the
| Third Division, relieving Gen. John NJ. Thayer.
| In the interim Serg't Todd had escaped from
| confinement and returned to duty with his
regiment at Fayetteville, Ark. Shortly after
| Reynolds assumed command, the findings of
the court-martial were sent to Fort Smith,
| approved. There was no such person in Gus
| tody. Inquiry developed the fact of his being
| sent to his command.
| Gen. Bussey Immediately wrote to tho COM
manding officer at Fayetteville to send sergt
| Todd TO Fort Smith under arrest. The mail
| was weekly, with cavalry escort, and required
several days. With tho return mail escort
! there was no prisoner sent. Instead was n
| long letter TO Gen. Bussey setting forth tho
characters Of both Todd and Wisdom pleading
earnestly that Todd might DO allowed to re-
main with his regiment. and plcdging the per-
sons of the officers Of the regiment for his safe
| delivery at Fort Smith IL they were unsncccss-
| full in tho appeal for pardon they had made 10
| President Lincoln. Gen. Bussey refused their
| appeal, and with tho return mail came Serg't
Todd. Right here Is where he showed the
| grandest horoism. Ho knew what was In store
| for him, he having been informed Of tho result
| of the findings of the court-martial. He came
| as one OF tho escort fully armed, and upon ar
rival at headquarters he went into Gen. Bussey's
| Office, introduced himself. and unbuckliug q
| pair Of ravolvcrs he laid thom on the table boz
fore tho General, romarking as he did so. Those
are Buck Browns Tevolvers; | killed him on
last Monday, and these taking OF another
| pair-"are my own; will show you how q
| brave man can die" Gen. Busscy, quick TO
| read character. saw that no had grand hero
before him. and, being grand man himself,
| no acted at the moment from the noblest inn
| pulses. He sent an Orderly for the Sergeant Of
tho Provost. Guard to whom he gave these
| orders: You will give this man tho freedom
Of the garrison avenue aud the garrison during
the day. lie win report TO you at roll-eall
every evening. Do this until further orders"
For many days he had tho freedom thus ac-
corded by magnapinons commander. At
| that day communication with Washington city
| was difficult, aud number OF days elapsed boz
| fore President Lincoln was heard from. At
last the auxiously Io0ked.fo answer came. In
q few minutes it was known by all the clerks
| OF the division, aud We gathered into the Gem
erals Office. lilo sent the Provost Sergeant for
Sergt Todd. lie came. not knowing tho issue.
Gen. Buasey commenced talking 10 him in a
manner completely Disgusting the results Of
effort for a pardon. This no continued for a
short time, aud then reaching into drawer OF
the table no drew out pair Of reyolvers and
the pardon. aud handing them TO him said /:
Take these aud report to your command"
| When bis eyes saw the pardon he commenced
| crying. aud / am not ashamed TO say that those
standing by cried too.--WM. III. AMBROSE,
Sergeant 20. d. 18th Kan, Lane. Kan.
| sBuck Brown was n blood thirsty desperate
operating la southwestern Missouri and north
western AFkansaH. lie had slain many loyal
| men. Sefg'I Todd killed him in hand.to.hand
encounter.