The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-05-30
$500 PER YEAR IN ADVANCE.
WHO SHOT M.PnERsoN.
rise story OF an Eye wftness 60 the Eff1-
Ing OF the Brave Union General


The following communication APP
pears in a recent edition OF the Atlanta
Constitution: Much has been said late
" in your paper and others concern
ing the killing of General Mcpherson.
and these various accounts differ IS 70
many points connected with that event
General Mcpherson was highly esteem-
ed by the Southern army. and Ii can
be well said of him that wherever he
went his gentlemanly department and
kindly treatment OF the Southerners
was almost demoralizing. Il was In
marked contrast with much that bis
fellow officers did. Hence our people
even at the time regretted bis 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-
curacy. for it was told me years ago,
but my recollection is that the eireum-
stances attending that event were sub
stantially as follows: Captain Beard
was ordered. with his company. then
mere handful. TO make an attack upon
a fortihcation which il was supposed
was held by few men. While execut-
ing this order quite a number of Fed
eral officers came riding towards him.
Hating his men he waited until they
got 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 of at
full speed towards the Federal lines
Captain Beard ordered his men to fire.
for, as he states, he felt satisfied that
the officer. on account of the retinue
accompanying him. must be high ir-
command, and he could not help ed-
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 10
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 astouished
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 onei' 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
firmed when he was carried before
/ General Sherman. the Colonel taking
him prisoner accompany him. and ask
ing for kindly treatment In behalf o.
the brave Tennesseeans.
Captain Richard Beard. Murfrees-
boro. Tenn. can give full and inter
esting account of this event. authentic
aud Youched for by a number of liysrs
witnesses. He is an exceedingly mosedsl
man, and hence / have taken the iber
" 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, tina
! he was an eye witness to the killing O
General Mcpherson by an Ankansal
i Sergeant and under the circumstance.
{ stated.-JedH Gee