The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-03-27
WHO SHOT MCPHERSON.
: The Story of an Eyewitness to the KILL
ing of the Brave Union General


I The following communication APP
( pears in recent edition of the Atlanta
+ Constitution: Much has been said late
ly in your paper and others concern
ing the killing of General Mcpherson,
and these various accounts differ as to
I many points connected with that event
General Mcpherson was highly esteem
ed BY the Southern army. and it can
be well said of him that wherever he
went his gentlemanly department and
kindly treatment of the Southerners
was almost demoraliZing. 1t was in
marked contrast with much that his
fellow officers did Hence our people
even at the time regretted his death,
and now honor his memory.
The writer is well acquainted with
Captain Richard Beard, of Murfrees-
boro. Tenn, who claims, and no doubt
Justly. to have been eyewitness to the
killing of General Mcpherson. / may
not give his account with perfect ac-
cUracv, for it was told me years ago,
but my recollection is that the circum-
stances attending that event were sub
stantially as follows: Captain Beard
was ordered, with his company, then a
mere handful to make an attack upon
a fortification which it was supposed
WAS held by few men. While execut-
ing this order quite a number of Fed
cral officers came riding towards him.
HaIting his men he waited until they
rot near by and then commanded them
to surrender All did except one, who.
wheeling his horse and putting spurs
to him, while drawing his sword and
waving it over his head, dashed off ut
full speed towards the Federal lines
Captain Beard ordered his men to fire,
for. rs he states, he felt satisfied that
the officer, on account of the retinue
accompanying him, must be high in
command and he could not help add
miring his brave dash for freedom.
However, an Arkansas Sergeant, who
had become detached from his own
command, and was accompanying Cap
tain Boards company, drew down his
gun. and in spite of the order given.
fired, and the retreating officer fell to
the ground.
After disarming those who had sur
rendered, and putting them in charge
of one or two men, Captain Beard re-
sumed his advance, and passed the
PROSTATE form of the officer just killed.
Dashing with his brave Tennesseeans
up the fortification, he was astonished
to see Federal colonel jump upon the
embankment, within speaking distance,
who shouted in almost appealing tones
to Captain Beard: For Gods sake
surrender, brave man, for we have ten
to your one,' The Tennesseeans were
soon surrounded and taken prisoners
finding the statement of the Colonel
| true. The charge from the reinforced
Federals swept everything back until
they passed and retook the prison
ers, and then Captain Beard learned
that the officer killed was General Nc
| Pherson. This information was con-
| lirmed when he was carried before
General Sherman, the Colonel taking
him prisoner accompany him, and ask
| inc for kindly treatment in behalf of
| the brave Tennesseeans.
Captain Richard Beard, Murfrees-
| boro, Tenn, can give full and inter-
esting account of this event, authentic
and vouched for by number of living
witnesses. He is an exceedingly modest
man, and hence | have taken the liber-
ty of speaking thus fully abont him.
| Probably there may be some inaccu-
| racy about some of the details here
! given, but not as to the main fact, that
| he was an eye witness to the killing of
General Mcpherson by an Arkansas
| Sergeant and under the circumstances
stated. Gee.