The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1891-10-22
P pLk'S RECORD AS a SOLDIER,
The Alliance Presidents Answer to
Serious Charges.

The Alliance President's Answer to
Serious Charges.
RALEIGH, n. c., Oct. Cool l.. l..
Polk publishes lengthy statement, in
| which he says:
ut has been charged IN the ncwspa-
pers that l skulkcd the battle of Win
chester of September 10, 1861; that |
was hidden behind q stone fence on the
morning Of that day, when my regiment
had gone on and was engaged in battle
that Brig Gen Bryan Grimes saw me
there and had conversation with me:
that L claimed to have chill; that Gen
Grimes called special attention to the
matter and said with an oath that he in
tended TO Court-martial me for it, and
would summon Devcreux as witness:
that Tor some reason was not Court
martialsd. but was allowed to resign.
~ have i'll my possession the official
record Ola Court-martial which proves.
on the sworn testimony Of Gen Grimes
himself and fourteen other witnesses,
that the above charge contains no truth.
The official record shows that the charges
were: 'MlsbehaviOr in the preseuce of
the enemy and absence without leave
Gen Grimes makes no allusiOn, either
IN the charges or specifications, or in his
sworn teStlmoncy, to any lack of duty
on my part during tho morning. Upon
my petition he was mstrutcd to try the
case before the Court-martial of Rhodcs's
division, and thus was allowed to select
officers who should try the case. Brig
Gen w. II. Cox was appointed prcsi-
deut.
1.-The record shows that upon to Sep.
tcmbcr is, was acting adjutant Of the
43d North Carolina regiment, being then
lieutenant in Company |. On uhaL day
received certificate from the sheriff
OF Anson County showing that | had
been elected Il member of the I.ogisla
ture. That day turned over my horse,
books, etc, to the proper authorities, pre-.
paratory to leaving for Raleigh on the
18TH. The commanding officer of the
regiment released me from duty, and on
the morning OF the 10th | had prepared
to start home having previously field the
proper application for release from duty.
Finding that battle was imminent [
went to tho cOmmandant of the regiment
and asked his opmiona as to whether l
ought to 90 into battle. lie said was
under no obligation whatever to 90, but
suggested that | speak to Gen Grimes
about it. After the line Of battle was
tromcd L approached Gen Grimes, and
asked his advice as friend. lie advised
me to so i'll, saying there might lie talk
if1 did not remain III tho fight.
81 told him | would 90. l then took
charge o: Company II, it having no of.
liccr. We advanced and were halted
under heavy fire OF skirmshcrs. The
order, forward, was repeated. For some
reason the regiment did not advance un-
Til | went in front and called to the color
sergeant TO follow me. l led the charge
through open ground for two or three
hours under hcavc and destructive fire.
l was the only officer seen in front dur
ing the charge and remained in front
until the line was ordered to halt. When
ordered to fall back by Gen Grimes |
assisted him III rallylng the regiment on
a line indicated by him, until the COM
maudant Of the regiment, who was my
former captain, was brought to me near
Gen Grimes, and, being, as he thought,
fatally wounded, implorcd me to take
HIM 20 the rear, insisting that had no
business there and appealed to me as a
brother mason.
81 took him from the field to the hos
pltal. soon after reaching the hospital
the report came that our line had been
broken and the wounded should get out
if possible. | seized my pistol and
sword, and, going out, met some flying
cavalrymhn. | drew my pistol on an
officer and halted and held Inn until
our troops came up. The COurt-marti, :,
al, after hearing all the evidence, order
ed the following verdict to be sent me:
lin accordance with the Act of Oon-
gress, published in General Order No.
o3, AdJutant and Inspector Generals
Office, present series, have the honor
to inform you that you have been hon
orably acquitted of the charges against
yeu. II. G.. Barper.
Major and Acting Judge Advocate."
"That night | was aroused, pulled
from my bunk and placed on a stump
and made speech to my friends of the
brigade, who had come to honor me
with serenade. 1t was on the eve of
my departure for Raleigh. | left the
next morning.