New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-05


nobody TO protect
EXONERATINC; GENERAL CHALMERS
As1GSIrrcAxT CHANGE IN DEMOCRATIC OPINION
DIR. FlTCHs LITTER.
Washington. April (spcciaD.-A significant as we'll
as curious and amusing feature Of the contested eIc'
ton case Of Chalmers against Morgan OF Mississippi
IS an attempt BY the friends Of the latter to create
prendicc against General Chalmers among Repubn-
cans on account Of his Fort Pillow record rs
long a. General Chalmers remained In the Democratic
party and devoted his abilities and energies 10 pro;noe
It's success, the Democrats OF Mississippi, and other
Southern states also. wont to speak OF MN
fondly a. the hero Of Fort Pillow A. soon as lie
left the Democratic ranks that Democratic tune SUD
denly became unpopular. Now to prejudice his con
test il i, a. suddenly revived by the same southern
democrats hnt for a different purpose. on that ac-
count will be well to recall the facts as they &C sci
forth in letter addressed 10 General Chalmcr' oN
Dr. Fitch Of Charlton. Iowa. In $50 shortly bcioc
that time General Chalmers. then a Democratic hcP
rc.cntativc had demanded an inquiry by the House
concerning certain accusations brought against nm
In regard 10 his conduct at Fort Pillow lie was dis
,nadcd from pressing the matter and conented MN
elf with making a personal explanation III open
uou.c ON that occasion General Garfield also spoke
In part he said d, .
am ready 10 believe that massacre was pafy the
. A frenzy Officers
decd have heard years after TINS f'"is was
,sdo ,hore va, conversation between senator W ace hh
s.f and General Forrest on tho subject ~ me m'Nac''
and the rc,ul: of that ntorvie" Wa That en''" f'''
was not himself Tar personally Responsible ''' '"' ma
saee a. had been supposed. understand tn't one o' n'
,,.,. ip the cNuln.atl0n made bf Forrest was lat
number u the as'ane forces 'H n"' ''hS o
fore ,aptued suffers wagon containing some sp- ana
lad become 80 nlur.a'cl with drink that o. certain 'Nr
,he- officers lot ,ont.o ~ them. In N flr A. ms va
mani.
Dr. Fifch's l.tcr /, az follows:
Charlton Iowa. May 49, 1873
Genera, Chalmer. II. &. fson Mississippi
Sir iar, -oen different times and In 'n"us papers
tho charge made aean-t you that SOU murdered babe
and had hen also In numbering several "h''' anu
negro, q, Fort Pillow ON tho l2th " Aprii i7''
| h,,. no especial acquaintance with You. have Only
soon YOU rs Ice in ms f, The l.h and again on
the ls,h u Ap.l. 1904 bu, / desire 10 give YOU my
,.i.,,,on ~ th,, battle acting surgeon Of the
.t 20 tho time Tho ONLY surgeon there hI'' -" lo.
h, ,. 18Th on iac bluff above. wher' the gr'''e''
t, wore Killed the greats, Slaughter having occurred
.n.r th. hur. nest tn river. "a' under t"' o'r'
most ~ tr tine. The rratF portion 81 me o"''l ''
Commanded a.. too negro D., 1nfnt. were killed ~ tn' i"'
..,r. ta,fo va. d charge mad.. They wee W'N'u %"
f. I, f0,t.f- then h..ns several points mf'h "f"''
uan ,n. rA-erahic earthvo.A-. ti"m "A.'n 10 was p'
.,.g foi ii',ho,t.f, - rrA out almost any ''' ~
si..,d Booth h- adnfnni and -r''i" ONE ''','
~ lli.d .a-,y in the Afternoon. had nY 5000 h''p''
- ,h i,~. neat Q, tic fi.cr. When lufrc-t ci'is'
mo the niserltc fort the t"o n's-o regiments anu '
men o uc iSri T'nne-sc" Cavalry came down uh'f ''
t- vh.f. vas. followed ly qr.t' number oi S"'''i'
- Fo.f..t,. command / dh NOT Hrn bit T." oi"''i7
. ,.--,.,-- soldiers under thc ou.. none above th
| ,,,a. ~ lieutenant and captain. wa ti"'h "p r'
lur. hv a lieutenant of Mississippi Rebel cavalry an"
,h arrived on a.. blum within tn Tort th'fr were N'' q
. r.il soldier, tD,fc. Forrest UP there" sighting
, is.c, ~ artillery the httc eunhoht APP the IN'f
,, h.. sight 10 several and nic ora the @inbo''
,f,.r which / passed outside th' earti"o~- DO not
,nlnk Forrest knew what Wa gong "n "''"' N'' ".'
,nor had passed ont Of the nfihworA- mt f'"
ambulance, with their drunken co"aidy crew. VINO N''
non, Il, t,ke OF my boot, when you came riding near by
seeing you had the evidence - being genera"
,,d To- YOU rode UP To ne and asked me "h'' "'S
wanted. l asked you II you would a.o" those i'1""' ~
.trp prisoner Of his boots lon cursed t'm AL" P1'
guard me- giving orders to tn guard 10 SHOOT 1o""
th, INST that mol sted
,,n .,, YOU ON the 18TH rode part Of The way from
-, co., ., the river and went aboard Platte Valley
.tamboat with YOU ant saw you several uncs on 'h'
,o,, had the wounded taken boari the boat. l
do not believe that babe there Tor any one u
XIII Al early the morning all the women ana All o'
the nonconbatant- ordered on to some oaiR'' ana
wei. t,wcd up tn an island by sunboat be'r'
ANY one va, hurt. ! fail To see how You could have
gotten ON that Island Kill that BABE d. not believe
.ou knew what goins on under the piui> a. "iu
49, 49,. vo,, under thcrc whlc 1 Mas there. but saw You
eide nm a, | have stated. from opposite ulrrcton
a,.r had gotten upon bluffs. and the most Of h'
| work va, over before | left next thc river The most
Of the men Of the 18Th Regiment were G''erers from
| tor,,,t', command | have cAamn'd a great many o.
| tn.u m.,rf who told they Wolc. Ihef' seemed u
ne Great hatred on thu part Of Forests men toward
many of them personal fcelng-a, heard many q" for
,t men charge soldiers o. the 18Th Regiment Win
colng many things mean toward Their lf'ehu
since they had Forrest and Joined ne 5th f'def
REGIMENT am not aware that there was any lorna
| surrender u Fort Pillow to FORESTS communal.
looked upon many things that were done ~ the result
OF whl,hey bitter personal hate eSPAl9 a. 'S'u
In. lith REGIMENT. There considerable aoohoi QUO
side Of tn font which FORESTS men must have got HOLD
of ling before the charge wa made nave away
,.t that neither you Forrest knew anything th1
va, Going On a the tim under the bidns "h'V wa
done wac done very quickly. kro" that 20" treated
no, klnel, On the Eta and Il could tell you many
things about Fort Pillow doubtless. II had Time Al
believed published about your being such All i"hu
man creature on that occasion should - tell YOU
If YOU wish l., learn about further talk with General
Weaver. Member Of Congress ron Iowa thc ii"" n =
Dodge Henry Clay Dean Of Iowa. HcAhsp eNSrcrc'afl
Of war: ,corsc " Met and the Hon r. Is. iIsSrs
The att,r and myself young men lNnf III Fremont
while IT. was called Sandu-ky. call on hm and a.
him II hc knew {. Ich who read medicine Win Dr
t. o. Ramon Of Fremont. have not seen President
uo,rs for twcnt,-cgL ,caf- have been living here IN
cn,rn since 1882 and Of the time practising sirgcr
sud medicine. 1 acting surgeon at Fort Pillow 81
Tia. lath of April. 1864 was not before Wade Committee
II you wish 20 asking questions VIII tfJ
y, answer them honestly and fairly. looked upon You
III. t.th and 18th Of April 1864 far a. could see.
ANYTHING but q cold.bloodcd murderer. you to b.
rather good feeling Your conduct toward ne wa
that Of a gentleman. do not believe what Is charge
AGAINST YOU on occasion. General call Prcsdcn
uayos and give respects II you feel at liberty
so have not had correspondence with him sesi
him for twenty eight years. am not a politician zen
/ oral Weaver knows well. think. Give him IN.
respects. Yours truly. C. FITCH
poyDs OFFERED AND ACCEPTED.